Marcos Flores and the Mariners' Matthew Crowell.

© AUFC

Adelaide United FC has had a solid hit out against the Central Coast Mariners with a 1-1 draw this afternoon at Hindmarsh Stadium, in preparation of the Reds’ next AFC Champions League match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

With the Reds to face Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Hindmarsh Stadium on March 24, the Mariners gave United a highly competitive contest in trying conditions, as Coach Aurelio Vidmar attempts to continue his squad’s winning ACL form.

Except for captain Travis Dodd, who was rested, the Reds ran out with the same starting eleven that took the field in the first two AFC Champions League encounters, Brazilian Cassio the one to come into the line up and take up a place in left midfield.

A first United goal to Argentinean Marcos Flores, which came by way of a close range header, gave the Reds the lead in the 24th minute, before Central Coast striker Matt Simon gave United’s defence a reminder that they can ill afford any lapses against Hiroshima, as he pounced seven minutes later to make it 1-1.

There was no further addition to the score line for the remainder of the match as both sides continued to experiment, Vidmar ringing the changes at half time as he replaced all but Cassio for the second 45 minutes.

Defender Nigel Boogaard went up against his former side in his first competitive hit out since joining the Reds, while youngster Joe Costa made a successful comeback in his first run since undergoing knee surgery nearly six months ago.

Assessing the game, Vidmar was relatively pleased with the outcome, the warm humid conditions making it tough for the players to maintain the intensity they will be need to play, when they come up against a Sanfrecce Hiroshima side desperate to keep its AFC Champions League hopes alive.

“It was ok. Obviously it was very difficult conditions playing at 2pm, the tempo was a bit slow, but that was typical of the conditions, so I was reasonably pleased with the hit out,” Vidmar said.

“In the second half we played most of the players that haven’t had much game time, so that was a good hit out for them, so I was pretty pleased with that.”

“We needed the run. We still want to do that (play games) because there’s a fortnight between games…and we thought after having an internal trial, which we’ve done, we’d give them (the players) a different stimulus and we’re thankful for Arnie (Graham Arnold) and the Central Coast for coming down here to give us a hit out, and it was a good hit out.”

“For us it’s about moving forward, we’re happy where we are at the moment but it’s really important that we get a win on Wednesday night just to give us that little bit more of a buffer.”

United’s match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Wednesday kicks off at 7.30pm and tickets are available through Ticketek.

Match Details
Adelaide United FC 1 (Flores 24’)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Simon 31’)
@ Hindmarsh Stadium

Adelaide United starting XI: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 4.Iain FYFE, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 14.Scott JAMIESON, 17.Michael MARRONE, 19.Mathew LECKIE

Substitutes: 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 10.Adam HUGHES, 12.Paul REID, 15.Francesco MONTEROSSO, 16.Inseob SHIN, 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 22.Dane MILOVANOVIC, 23.Joe COSTA, 27.Adam GRIFFITHS

Central Coast Mariners starting XI: 20.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 2.Matthew CROWELL, 4.Pedj BOJIC, 5.Bradley PORTER, 10.Panagiotis NIKAS, 12.Matthew LEWIS, 17.Chris DOIG, 19.Alex WILKINSON, 19.Matt SIMON, 21.Mark WARREN

Substitutes: 6.Brady SMITH, 9.Trent SAINSBURY, 15.Andrew CLARK, 16.Bernie IBINI ISEI, 30.Mathew RYAN (gk)