A late second-half goal from Riley McGree has given Adelaide United a 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar at Coopers Stadium on Sunday.
McGree continued his sensational goal-scoring form with his sixth goal in his last six matches across all competitions to help seal the Reds’ second league victory of the campaign.
The midfielder finished off an incisive passing move to break the deadlock on 84 minutes, which was manufactured by James Troisi.
Adelaide were far from their fluent best but their best passage of play yielded the decisive goal to secure a deserved three points in the Remembrance Round clash.
Gertjan Verbeek made two changes to the side that defeated Newcastle Jets two weeks’ ago as Mileusnić and Michaël Maria replaced Kristian Opseth and Louis D’Arrigo.
Adelaide began brightly and struck the woodwork inside three minutes after Maria’s header cannoned off the crossbar from Ryan’s Strain’s curling cross.
However, that was their best chance of the opening 45 minutes with chances hard to come by with a lot of sloppy turnovers, compounding the issue.
As expected Brisbane sat deep with two banks of four with the hosts dominating possession and probing but unable to find a breakthrough, and needing to play at a higher intensity.
In the 28th minute, Al Hassan Toure tapped home Maria’s shot but the assistant’s flag was correctly raised for offside.
But it was a largely insipid half football as both teams went into the sheds goalless at the break.
The second-half saw Mileusnić put the ball in the net for the Reds after an audacious flick but it was chalked off for offside.
Paul Izzo was then called into action for the first time minutes later, producing two impressive stops to deny Scott Neville and Macaulay Gillesphey from an initial short corner.
The goalkeeper then stood tall to thwart Bradden Inman who was through one-on-one, as Brisbane started to attack.
Mileusnić, from outside the box, struck a sweetly-timed volley but it flashed just off target.
Brisbane squandered another golden opportunity when James O’Shea blazed over the bar before McGree bagged his fourth Hyundai A-League goal in three matches.
Troisi played a neat one-two with Mileusnić, and from the byline squared his low cross for the 21-year-old to finish.
Tomas Dale Medal: James Trosi won the Tomas Dale Medal for conducting himself in the most sporting manner during the match.
The Tomas Dale Medal goes to the player who conducts himself in the most sporting manner during the match. The Tomas Dale Medal commemorates Private Dale who died in Afghanistan during operations with the Australian Defence Force in 2010.
Key moments:
3’ | CHANCE! Maria’s header rattles the crossbar following Ryan Strain’s cross.
28’ | OFFSIDE! Toure has the ball in the back of the net but it won’t count as he was in an offside position.
58′ | SAVE! Izzo pulls off an wonderful double save to keep the clean sheet intact.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6102265986001
84’ | GOAL! McGree opens the scoring after slotting the ball home after a slick attacking move.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6102267956001
Match details:
Sunday, 10 November 2019
Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Season – Round 5
Adelaide United 1 (McGree 84’)
Brisbane Roar 0
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 8,428
