A goal in each half has helped Adelaide United claim a 2-0 pre-season friendly win over Western Sydney Wanderers at Valentine Sports Park on Monday evening.
Fresh from netting a hat-trick last week, Kusini Yengi continued his impressive goal-scoring form after his composed finish 15 minutes into proceedings broke the deadlock. The 21-year-old has now found the back of the net five times in four pre-season games.
The Reds then doubled their advantage approaching full-time courtesy of a wonderfully struck Nathan Konstandopoulos free-kick.
Western Sydney had a few chances to get on the scoresheet, but United for the most part were defensively resolute and importantly can take confidence from another clean sheet – their fourth this offseason.
Adelaide will remain in their New South Wales pre-season training camp before facing new A-League outfit, Macarthur, on Thursday.
Speaking after the contest, Carl Veart was overall pleased with his team’s display.
“I’m very happy, we ran out of legs a little bit in the last 15 or 20 minutes,” Veart said.
“But very happy with the performance, that’s our first hit-out against an A-League side and I know Western Sydney have had two or three games against A-League opposition, so very happy with the performance.
“You could see the intensity in the game was a lot higher and if you make a small mistake in the game you can get punished.
“Fortunately, enough tonight our defensive set-up was very good, we limited them to just one or two chances.”
Veart also discussed Yengi’s solid form in front of goal, praising the young attacker and said he will benefit immensely when new Reds signing and fellow striker Tomi Juric joins the squad.
“It was good build-up play from Benny (Halloran) down the left and a good ball and Kusini did well, rose well and got a good goal,” he said.
“I think he’d be a little disappointed that he didn’t come away with two or three goals.
“… He’s a work in progress, he hasn’t had a lot of football in the last two years with injuries and stuff.
“He’s still learning and that’s why it’s going to be really important when Tomi comes and he can see what a top striker and the movements that they do.
“And the flexibility of Kusini as well is that he can also play in a wide area just not through the middle.”
Match details:
Monday, 7 December 2020
Pre-season Friendly
Western Sydney Wanderers 0
Adelaide United 2 (Yengi 15’, Konstandopoulos 90’)
Venue: Valentine Sports Park
Adelaide United
Starting XI: James Delianov (GK), Ryan Strain, Jordan Elsey, Michael Jakobsen, Noah Smith, Louis D’Arrigo, Joe Caletti, Stefan Mauk, Yaya Dukuly, Kusini Yengi, Ben Halloran
Substitutes: Michael Marrone, George Timotheou, Domenic Costanzo, Nathan Konstandopoulos, Pacifique Niyongabire, Dakota Ochsenham (GK), Yared Abetew, Jonny Yull
Western Sydney Wanderers
Starting XI: Daniel Marguš (GK), Tate Russell, Dylan McGowan, Patrick Ziegler, Tass Mourdoukoutas, Thomas Aquilina, Keanu Baccus, Kosta Grozos, Anthony Lesiotis, Nicolai Muller, Simon Cox
Substitutes: Mo Al-Taay, Jarrod Carluccio, Alessandro Lopane, Dean Pelekanos, Ali Auglah, Nectarios Triantis, Alex Badolato, Jack Warshawsky (GK)
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