Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix – Thursday, 27 February 2014
This season we will be looking ahead to the Reds’ Hyundai A-League matches by rolling back the clock and revisiting some of the club’s most memorable clashes against our upcoming opponents.
Our fixture in focus this round saw it rain goals at Cooper Stadium on a Thursday night in the 2013/14 season. Wellington Phoenix travelled to South Australia to face an Adelaide United side looking to bounce back after a disappointing defeat to Melbourne Victory five days earlier, whilst the visitors were coming off a 4-1 win against Central Coast Mariners.
The Reds settled the quickest and 23 minutes in hit-the-front through a Jeronimo wonder-strike from 19 yards out. With the Argentine receiving the ball on the left flank, he looked to cut the ball back onto his favoured right foot and across defender, Michael Boxall. With his second touch being poor, Jeronimo was forced to smack a half-volley into the top right corner, leaving Phoenix ‘keeper, Glen Moss, with no chance.
Six minutes later and United were up by two, this time through Spaniard, Sergio Cirio. Cirio, who had scored a hat-trick the previous round, finished from close range following a great cut back from Fabio Ferreira, in what was a great team goal by.
And after the break it was much more of the same, with the Reds taking just 13 minutes to find the net again. This time it was Ferreira who found his way onto the score sheet and did so in style with an absolute rocket that was hit across Moss’ goal and into the far post from an odd angle.
Ferreira’s involvement in the match wasn’t finished there, as he notched up another assist to help Jeronimo score his second from eight yards out.
But it wasn’t all bad for Phoenix, who were able to beat Eugene Galekovic in the 67th minute through Kenny Cunningham – whose effort from distance rifled into the bottom corner.
United would have the last say, though, Awer Mabil rounding off a terrific team performance with a lucky finish that came off of his knee from a metre out – the score ending 5-1.
The following round would see United fall to eventual champions, Brisbane Roar, 2-1 and Wellington share the points at home against Perth Glory. The New Zealand outfit would finish the season in ninth position and United in sixth, but the Reds’ season would be ended by Central Coast in the first round of the finals.
Match Details
Thursday, 27 February 2014
Hyundai A-League 2013/14 Season – Round 21
Adelaide United FC 5 (Jeronimo 23’ 62’, Cirio 29’, Ferreira 59, Mabil 90+2’)
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Cunningham 67’)
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Crowd: 8,596
Adelaide United take on Wellington Phoenix on Saturday 15 November 2014, at Coopers Stadium in Round 6 of the Hyundai A-League 2014/15 season. Kick-off is at 4.30pm ACDT. To purchase tickets, click here.
