Adelaide United have suffered a 5-0 loss to Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Sunday night.
Quick-fire braces from Marcin Budzinski and Dario Vidosic as well as a thumping hit from Ross McCormack handed the hosts the three points.
Marco Kurz made just the one alteration to the starting XI which recorded a determined 0-0 draw with Sydney FC last weekend. Nikola Mileusnic recovered from illness to replace Lachlan Brook. Meanwhile, Daniel Margush and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos retained their places in the line-up as Australia U-23 trio Paul Izzo, George Blackwood and Ben Garuccio returned to feature on the bench.
It was a cagey start from both sides in the opening 15 minutes, though Adelaide had the best chance through Stamatelopoulos’ one-on-one effort.
But the hosts gradually began to dominate the play in the final third thereafter.
Daniel Arzani was lively on the right-wing causing havoc with his silky skills and mazy runs at pace.
The 19-year-old assisted Budzinski’s deflected goal on 30 minutes, before the Polish midfielder completed his brace five minutes later.
Kurz brought on Garuccio at half-time and pushed Ryan Strain into midfield in search of a response.
Adelaide showed more endeavour in the second-half, but they could muster anything from their improved performance.
An awful leg injury to Nathaniel Atkinson forced 10 minutes of added time and it was City who put the game to bed somewhat flattering the scoreline through a Vidosic double and a McCormack screamer.
Key moments:
15’ | Stamatelopoulos forces Michael Jakobsen into an error before shooting straight at Dean Bouzanis.
24’ | Nicholas Fitzgerald bursts through the Reds defence and drags his left-footed effort off target.
30’ | GOAL: Arzani lays the ball to Budzinski, whose shot from outside the box deflects off Ersan Gülüm and beyond Margush.
35’ | GOAL: Budzinski doubles City’s lead at the second time of asking. Fitzgerald picks out Dario Vidosic, who cushions his header for the Pole and after his initial mishit shot was saved, he made no mistake on the follow-up.
45’+2’ | Daniel Adlung forces Bouzanis into diving save, tipping the German’s 22-yard curling strike round the post.
53’ | Strain finds space before firing a stinging drive at Bouzanis.
66’ | George Blackwood is fed through by Strain and his one-on-one attempt is expertly saved by Bouzanis.
89’ | GOAL: Vidosic controls the ball with his chest on the angle before shooting his half-volley past Margush.
90’+2’ | GOAL: Vidosic pounces on an errant pass to clinically finish into the bottom corner.
90’+6’ | GOAL: McCormack from distance unleashes a sumptuous strike leaving Margush helpless.
Match details:
Sunday, 21 January 2018
Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season – Round 17
Melbourne City 5 (Budzinski 30’ 35’ Vidosic 89’ 90’+2’ McCormack 90’+6’)
Adelaide United 0
Venue: AAMI Park
