Adelaide United kick-off the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 season by hosting Sydney FC at Coopers Stadium.
We take a trip down memory lane to look back at some of our most memorable home openers.
Round 1 – 2013/14 season 3-1 win vs Perth Glory
The opening round of the 2013/14 campaign saw Adelaide defeat Perth 3-1 in Josep Gombau’s first game in charge. Jerónimo scored on nine minutes with a sliding finish before Perth hit back through Ryo Nagai.
But parity was short-lived as the Argentine tapped into a vacant net midway during the first stanza to restore Adelaide’s advantage. In the second-half, Fábio Ferreira scored, beating his opponent to the ball and poking in Michael Zullo’s delivery on the bounce.
Round 2 – 2012/13 season 1-0 win vs Western Sydney Wanderers
The Reds were looking to string successive league wins together against the Wanderers at home after dispatching Newcastle Jets 2-0 in the Hunter a week earlier. New signing Jerónimo was the protagonist in a match he single-handedly decided. A goalless first period was followed by a fairly open and attacking affair. The Argentine forward squandered a penalty near the hour mark, but would atone for his miss eight minutes later after clinically placing the ball into the bottom corner while one-on-one with Ante Covic.
Round 2 – 2011/12 season – 1-0 win vs Melbourne Victory
After suffering a Round 1 defeat away to Perth Glory a week earlier, Adelaide welcomed fierce rivals Melbourne Victory in their home opener for the 2011/12 season. A scoreless first-half was succeeded by Sergio van Dijk breaking the deadlock with a brilliant low strike. The Dutchman intercepted Fábio Alves’ errant pass and duly took full advantage, driving the ball beyond the ‘keeper and giving the Reds a 1-0 win.
Round 1 – 2008/09 season – 1-0 win vs Perth Glory
Travis Dodd got Adelaide’s season off to a brilliant start when he finished a neat one-two move with Cristiano. The well-worked goal proved decisive as it gave United all three points. Dodd flicked on Scott Jamieson’s pass to Cristiano, who headed the ball forward for Dodd, and as he continued his run, he nodded the ball to himself before blasting his effort past the goalkeeper’s near post.
Round 3 – 2006/07 season – 5-1 win vs Newcastle Jets
Adelaide had begun the season with successive defeats and without scoring. They were in desperate need of a victory to jump-start their campaign. And on familiar territory they certainly delivered in their first clash of the season at Coopers Stadium. Brazilian, Fernando Rech, headed in Jason Spagnuolo’s crossing free-kick at the near post on eight minutes, before Robbie Cornthwaite added a second courtesy of his looping header.
Another set-piece, this time direct, made it 3-0 as Shengqing Qu’s low free-kick hit the back-of-the-net. Mark Bridge got a goal back for the Jets but it was a mere consolation, as Andrew Durante scored an own goal before Rech completed his brace to seal an emphatic victory.
Adelaide United host Central Coast Mariners in the Round of 32 of the FFA Cup 2018 on Wednesday, 1 August at Marden Sports Complex. Kick-off is at 7.00 PM ACST.
