A Ben Halloran brace either side of half-time has helped 10-man Adelaide United hold on for a 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
Halloran’s double ultimately proved the difference for the Reds before Henrique pulled a goal back midway during the second-half.
Taylor Regan was then dismissed late on after a melee broke out and tempers continued to flare after Stefan Mauk was red carded for a strong tackle on Craig Goodwin.
Michael Marrone made his 150th appearance in Red as Marco Kurz named an unchanged starting 11 for the match following the Reds’ 3-1 away win over Wellington Phoenix. Goodwin alternated between the wing and attacking midfield like he did against the ‘Nix, while Ken Ilsø was the focal point up front.
It was a pulsating first-half with both sides implementing expansive playing styles, in particular the Reds.
Adelaide looked to get on the front foot early and dominated possession looking to expose Brisbane’s high-line with diagonal long balls.
Adam Taggart should have put the visitors ahead when he retrieved the ball in midfield and struck the post from his finish.
Adelaide were also denied by the woodwork minutes later when Ken Ilsø’s header bounced off the post from Craig Goodwin’s inviting cross.
We hold on with ten men to secure all three points in another wild game with the Roar! #AUFC #ADLvBRI pic.twitter.com/xLtzzJ9vNJ
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) November 30, 2018
It was a similar case four minutes later in the 37th minute, with this time Regan seeing a looped header hit the crossbar.
But Adelaide duly broke the deadlock through Halloran with his maiden league goal for the Club against his former side.
The winger expertly dispatched Goodwin’s low cross after he was released by Isaías on 43 minutes.
Adelaide started the second-half with more endeavour and they scored again through Halloran when he happened to be in the right place at the right time.
Kitto’s low cross was inadvertently parried by Young and lands to the forward, who comfortably finishes to net his second of the evening.
Chances continued to fall for both sides before all hell broke loose as things became heated. It saw Regan dismissed with the assistance of VAR after a ruckus on 78 minutes.
Adelaide defended resolutely for the final 10 minutes while Brisbane were also reduced to 10 men.
It was a gutsy win in the end in what was an entertaining contest as United secured a second successive victory.
Key moments:
22’ | CLOSE: Taggart wins the ball in midfield and drives forward before his one-on-one finishes smacks the post.
33’ | CLOSE! Goodwin’s delightfully clipped cross finds Ilsø, but the Dane’s glancing header ricochets off the upright and is repelled by Young.
37’ | CLOSE! Regan meets the recycled cross back into the area and sees his looping header strike the crossbar.
43’ | GOAL! Halloran makes a near post run to meet Goodwin’s low cross and dispatch his effort clinically into the bottom far corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5973521783001
49’ | GOAL! Halloran gets his second of the night after Kitto’s cross from the right is pushed into the path of the 26-year-old and make no mistake.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5973523383001
67’ | GOAL: A sliding Henrique taps in Wenzel Halls’ low delivery.
78’ | RED CARD: Taylor Regan is shown a second yellow following an altercation with Stefan Mauk.
90’+1’ | RED CARD: Mauk is now given his marching orders for a reckless tackle on Goodwin.
Match details:
Friday, 30 November 2018
Hyundai A-League 2018/19 – Round 6
Adelaide United 2 (Halloran 43’ 49’)
Brisbane Roar 1 (Henrique 67’)
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Crowd: 8,005
