Adelaide United Youth’s unbeaten streak has ended following a 2-1 loss to West Torrens Birkalla at Smith Partners Stadium on Sunday.
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos’s second-half equaliser was ultimately rendered inconsequential as Birkalla successfully converted a spot-kick just past the hour mark to grab the three points.
The loss snapped a five-match unbeaten streak, however the Young Reds remain in fifth place on the National Premier League ladder, ahead of West Adelaide on goal difference.
It was a frenetic start to the Round 11 clash as Adelaide looked to dominate the opening exchanges.
But despite having more of the play they struggled to manufacture any clear-cut chances.
As the match ebbed and flowed, both teams created half-opportunities until Birkalla struck at the worst possible time.
In first-half stoppage time, Jake Monaco broke the deadlock, handing the Eagles a 1-0 advantage.
But the lead was short-lived when Stamatelopoulos steered in a low cross from Carlo Armiento to level proceedings eight minutes into the second stanza.
Though Birkalla responded from the penalty spot and Fumiya Suzuki dispatched the resultant spot-kick.
United huffed and puffed to restore parity but could not capitalise in front of goal, ending a strong run of form.
Adelaide will look to bounce back when they host cellar-dweller Sturt Lions on Sunday afternoon.
Key moments:
9’ | Armiento delivers an inviting ball into the box which flashes just beyond the far post.
45’+1’ | GOAL: Monaco opens the scoring right on the stroke of half-time to give the visitors the lead.
53’ | GOAL! Stamatelopoulos nets the equaliser in clinical fashion after meeting Armiento’s cross – his fifth of the season and third goal in two matches.
57’ | Armiento unleashes a rocket from distance which the goalkeeper parries into the path of Pacifique Niyongabire, only for his follow-up header to be off target.
64’ | GOAL: Suzuki buries the penalty awarded to Birkalla following a foul in the box to re-gain the lead.
83’ | Suzuki cuts inside from the left and, aiming for the top corner, curls his shot wide.
90’ | Lachlan Brook is inches away from grabbing an equaliser as his shot on the edge of the area falls astray.
Reserves:
Adelaide United 2
West Torrens Birkalla 1
