Adelaide United Youth kept alive its slim hope of finishing top of the Conference A standings after defeating Brisbane Roar Youth 2-1 at Marden Sports Complex.
Carlo Armiento opened the scoring from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time for the hosts before Pacifique Niyongabire was dismissed for a reckless tackle.
Parity would be restored when Louis D’Arrigo inadvertently turned the ball into his own net though it was immediately cancelled out, as a minute later Aladin Irabona put Adelaide back in front.
Late drama ensued in the final few minutes with the Roar also reduced to 10 players for a foul in the box and a subsequent missed penalty.
However, the Young Reds held on, ending a three-game losing streak ahead of their final match of the season against Melbourne City Youth.
https://twitter.com/aufc_YouthTeam/status/1086570237925814273
They will need to win that and rely on other results to have any chance of progressing to the Grand Final.
Al Hassan Toure had a great chance in the 12th minute when his one-on-one effort was saved by Macklin Freke.
The match ebbed and flowed for much of the first-half until Toure had his shirt pulled inside the area and a penalty was aptly awarded.
Armiento stepped up and drove his penalty low and hard under the keeper’s left to score his fourth of the season.
Niyongabire was then sent off for a dangerous lunging challenge, but despite the numerical disadvantage Jai King-Byrne almost made it 2-0 with a stunning, swerving drive. The substitute replaced Reds midfielder, Mirko Boland, at the break as he looked to get minutes into his legs after a lengthy injury lay-off.
Brisbane equalised on 73 minutes when D’Arrigo, facing his own net, diverted a cross past Isaac Richards in goal.
But Irabona instantly replied, finishing King-Byrne’s square pass one minute later.
The match descended into a physical battle in the dying minutes with challenges flying in.
Roar captain, Aaron Reardon, was brandished a red card for a blatant shove in the box on Domenico Costanzo.
However, his ensuing penalty was saved by Freke as it finished 2-1.
Match details:
Saturday, 19 January 2019
Foxtel Y-League 2018/19 – Round 9
Adelaide United Youth 2 (Armiento 45+1’ Irabona 74’)
Brisbane Roar Youth 1 (D’Arrigo OG 73’)
Venue: Marden Sports Complex
