Adelaide United moved into fifth place on the Hyundai A-League table following a 0-0 draw against Perth Glory at HBF Park on Wednesday night.
It was a valuable point for the Reds as they held the league leaders scoreless and in the process leapfrogged Wellington Phoenix on goal difference after their loss to Sydney FC earlier in the day.
Marco Kurz made two changes to the side against Perth one tactical, the other enforced. Nathan Konstandopoulos came in for George Blackwood, moving Ben Halloran up front, while Ryan Strain replaced the suspended Michael Jakobsen, with Michael Marrone shifting into centre-back.
Adelaide were the quicker side to settle as they looked to get on the ball and play passes over the top to try and get in behind a resolute Glory defence.
But it was not long before the hosts grabbed the ascendancy, controlling a lot of the possession and suffocating Adelaide into playing several backwards passes as they struggled to keep the ball higher up the field.
However, Perth could only muster half chances with Dino Djulbic and Joel Chianese firing shots from the edge of the box.
The Reds had to wait until the 43rd minute for their first real sighting at goal; Craig Goodwin’s angled shot was spilt by Liam Reddy. Ben Halloran was there on the rebound but his shot was blocked by the custodian.
Isaías thought he had a legitimate claim for a penalty but that fell on deaf ears, despite appearing to beat Juande to the ball as he was caught on the stroke of half-time.
It was a half where there was a lot left to be desired with the quality eluding both teams for the majority of the first-half.
Adelaide showed improvements in the second stanza without generating enough guilt-edge opportunities.
United’s best chance fell to Goodwin after the ball sat kindly in the box for the winger, but an act of pure desperation saw Djulbic slide in, throwing his body on the line.
Ryan Kitto and Ben Halloran caused a few problems for the Glory backline and Ken Ilsø tried his luck with a powerful strike from distance.
But it finished all square irrespective of the Reds finishing the match stronger.
Key moments:
34′ | Paul Izzo gets down low to parry Djulbic’s shot for a corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5992816656001
37’ | Chianese is played through and his left-footed shot is mishandled by Izzo before he is fouled in the process of retrieving the loose ball.
43’ | Goodwin’s shot is fumbled by Reddy which Halloran is first to react but his effort at the second attempt is also denied.
45’+2’ | Shouts for a penalty are waved away after Isaías was seemingly clipped late by Juande.
75′ | CHANCE! Djulbic makes a desperate block on Goodwin’s shot as it would’ve been a certain goal.
90’ | Ilsø fires a blistering shot from distance which Reddy is equal to.
Match details:
Wednesday, 23 January 2019
Hyundai A-League 2018/19 – Round 15
Perth Glory 0
Adelaide United 0
Venue: HBF Park
Attendance: 7,213
