A depleted Adelaide United have gallantly held ladder leaders Sydney FC to a 0-0 draw at Coopers Stadium on Sunday night.
Despite missing several players through injury, the Reds showed a plucky resolve to remain compact and contain the defending champions.
There were four changes made to the starting XI by Head Coach, Marco Kurz from the draw against Western Sydney Wanderers. Mark Ochieng received his second start of the campaign, Daniel Adlung returned from a back injury, while Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was awarded a starting debut with Baba Diawara out injured. However, compounding the Reds’ injury woes saw Nikola Mileusnic ruled out in the warm-up with 16-year-old Lachlan Brook given his Hyundai A-League debut.
Adelaide coped well in the first-half despite being undermanned, and dominated the majority of the opening 45 minutes.
Ryan Strain and Ochieng had the best chances for the Reds, while Adrian Mierzejewski had two guilt-edge opportunities to capitalise on some sloppy defensive play to give Sydney the lead.
Adelaide’s bad luck with injuries showed no signs of relenting when Ersan Gülüm had to be substituted for Ben Warland on 40 minutes, after sustaining a rib injury in an altercation with Alex Brosque.
Isaías showed his leadership qualities in the second stanza to rally the troops and stay defensively disciplined.
Brook came the closest for the Reds with a shot wide of the target in the second-half, but both sides could not find the opening and it remained goalless.
Key moments:
1’ | An early chance for the Reds falls to Ochieng when his flicked attempt off Stamatelopoulos’s cross forces Andrew Redmayne into a save.
14’ | Daniel Margush makes an impressive save to thwart Adrian’s one-on-one shot.
17’ | From outside the box, Strain’s curling strike hits the crossbar after beating the outstretched Redmayne.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5708747044001
42’ | Adrian is unable to take advantage of a goalkeeping error and fires his stinging drive inches wide of the upright.
52’ | Brook fires astray on a decent angle after some great interchange of passing involving Jordan O’Doherty.
58′ | Jordy Buijs shoots from distance, Margush makes a strong save.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5710751393001
65’ | Margush dives to his left and parries away Adrian’s bouncing volley attempt.
Match details:
Sunday, 14 January 2018
Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season – Round 16
Adelaide United 0
Sydney FC 0
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 9,959
