Adelaide United Youth will look to continue their positive start to the Foxtel Y-League 2018/19 season against Melbourne Victory at Marvel Stadium in the curtain raiser for the Hyundai A-League’s Original Rivalry on Saturday.
Sitting atop of the Group A standings, the Young Reds have collected seven points from their first three games, while Victory are still searching for their maiden triumph of the campaign.
United Youth defender, Cooper Nunn, discussed the team’s impressive start.
“The boys have started really well and we’ve played really well under Pez (Paul Pezos),” Nunn said.
“He’s worked hard and the boys have worked hard in pre-season and I think we’ve showed in our first few games we’re playing well.”
It will be the second time the two sides meet with Adelaide prevailing 3-2 in a thriller in the corresponding fixture back in Round 1.
Nunn believed his side could take confidence from the encounter heading into Saturday’s meeting.
“Victory was the first game of the round and it was a hard match,” Nunn said.
“Obviously because it was the first game, fitness levels were a little down but I feel like the boys played really well.
“We were able to shut them down really well and it’ll be good to travel over there and see how we do.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5974543882001
However, the centre-back expected Melbourne to try a few different tactics and jumpstart their season given they are still winless.
“When a team is not winning a lot of games they’ll have to change stuff up,” he said.
“And I’m assuming they’ll look back at the game against us and see what they can do both without the ball and with the ball and see how they can counter what we do.
“And just as much we’ll do what we can to stop them.”
Indeed, Nunn scored the opening goal in the Young Reds’ 2-1 win over Perth Glory last weekend.
The defender brilliantly dispatched his first-time strike into the bottom corner from an improvised free-kick routine, which saw Louis D’Arrigo play a square pass at the edge of the area.
https://twitter.com/aufc_YouthTeam/status/1069450842435010560
Nunn said it was a great feeling to get on the scoresheet and revealed a bet he made with his Dad.
“It was actually pretty funny because normally I stay at the back, at the half-way line,” he said.
“Unfortunately, Lachlan Brook had to go off and because I was the only left-footer on the pitch Pez just said go up and have a go.
“And Louis did a good pass across and I’m never up there so I thought I’d give all I can and have a hit and it happened to go in.
“And I made a bet with my Dad and he said if I got a goal in the NYL he’d give me my PS4 (PlayStation 4 console) soon so happily got my PS4.”
Adelaide United Youth face Melbourne Victory in Round 5 of the Foxtel Y-League 2018/19 season on Saturday, 8 December at Marvel Stadium. Kick-off is at 4.30pm ACDT.
