As Adelaide United take on Melbourne City at Coopers Stadium, here are four memorable home triumphs over our Victorian opponents.
2-1 win – 12 January 2017 @ Coopers Stadium
In a season of few bright spots, Adelaide’s match against City was one for the ages. Bruno Fornaroli struck first in the fourth minute, but the Reds duly replied thanks to a header from Dylan McGowan. But substitute Mark Ochieng stole all the headlines with a brilliant cameo appearance, rounding off an incisive counter-attack with an emphatic finish into the top corner.
4-1 win – 22 April 2016 @ Coopers Stadium
The Hyundai A-League 2015/16 Finals Series pitted Adelaide against City in what was a home semi-final for the Reds. More than 15,000 supporters were in attendance with a place in the grand final on the line. A scoreless first-half was followed by an entertaining second with Bruce Djite curling a shot from outside the area and then converting a penalty in the 60th minute.
Nick Fitzgerald halved the deficit only for the hosts to put the result beyond doubt late on. Dylan McGowan then volleyed home a corner before Pablo Sánchez added the icing on the cake by smashing in Djite’s back post cross to book a home grand final at Adelaide Oval.
4-1 win – 25 April 2015 @ Coopers Stadium
Adelaide raced to a 3-0 lead just past the half-hour mark in the final match of the 2014/15 regular season. Miguel Palanca capped of a nice passing move, and four minutes later Pablo Sánchez doubled the advantage. But the clash will forever be remembered for Tarek Elrich’s scintillating individual solo effort which won the Hyundai A-League Goal of the Year Award.
The left-back received the ball from inside his own half and drove forward at pace before beating the goalkeeper and sending the crowd into simultaneous feelings of disbelief and jubilation. Cameron Watson’s long wait for his maiden league goal ended when he dispatched a penalty to make it 4-0 after the break. Aaron Mooy grabbed a consolation from the spot for the visitors 25 minutes from time.
3-2 win – 20 August 2010 @ Hindmarsh Stadium
The Reds’ inaugural meeting versus new boys Melbourne Heart proved an instant classic. The match could aptly be described as a game of cat and mouse. Mathew Leckie pounced on a mistake to clinically nutmeg Clint Bolton to open the scoring inside three minutes, before Rutger Worm levelled proceedings just before half-time.
United re-took the lead through Iain Ramsay but Eli Babalj equalised with a simple finish. But in the 88th minute Ramsay would seal the Club’s first win of the 2010/11 season. Marcos Flores played through the winger who guided his effort past the goalkeeper on the angle.
Adelaide United host Melbourne City in Round 4 of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season on Saturday, 28 October at Coopers Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.20pm ACDT.
