Adelaide United FC has recorded its sixth clean sheet of the season following a nil-all draw against the Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium.
Adelaide United FC has recorded its sixth clean sheet of the season and taken a point from its first game of the New Year following a nil-all draw against the Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium this afternoon.
Testing summer conditions in Newcastle meant it was always going to be a tough afternoon at the office for both sides and that it the way it panned out. The Reds enjoyed the better of the opening 45 minutes before the Jets worked their way into the game, however there would be no late drama as the points were shared.
The majority of the first half was dominated by the Reds but despite making regular inroads into the Jets- half of the field they could not hit the back of the Newcastle net.
In form duo Dario Vidosic and Bruce Djite both found themselves with chances in the opening six minutes but Jets and former United keeper Mark Birighitti proved up to the challenge to deny Vidosic, while Djite miscued his effort, the ball flying into the side netting.
On a warm afternoon, genuine goal scoring chances were few and far between, Eugene Galekovic tested for the first time in the 29th minute as he was required to keep out a sharp side footed attempt from Ryan Griffiths.
The Reds continued to probe the Jets defence as Vidosic fired a free kick into the wall before Iain Fyfe connected with a header from distance that went a metre wide of the post.
For all of their dominance, the Reds then nearly found themselves behind in the 41st minute as Fyfe interceded to clear a goal bound shot by Griffiths, the home side ending the half strongly as they directed their attacks through James Virgili on the right hand side.
The home side were dealt a blow from the resumption as marquee striker Emile Heskey failed to reappear for the second half with a quad injury and it was his replacement that would have opened the scoring in the 58th minute if not for a superb save from Galekovic with his outstretched left foot.
With players fatiguing, the Jets arguably had the better of the second half as the substitutions made from both sides could not manage to bring about a goal.
Having consolidated their second spot, the Reds will now return home to prepare for the visit of Perth Glory on Friday 11 January 2013.
Match Details
Newcastle Jets 0
Adelaide United FC 0
Referee: Matt Gillett
Crowd: 10,721 @ Hunter Stadium
Newcastle Jets starting line-up: 20.Mark Birighitti (gk), 7.James Brown (19.Michael Bridges 63-), 8.Ruben Zadkovich (c), 9.Emile Heskey (22.Adam Taggart 46-), 11.Connor Chapman, 12.Josh Brillante (18.Jacob Pepper 83-), 13.Sam Gallaway, 14.Taylor Regan, 15.Craig Goodwin, 17.James Virgili, 23.Ryan Griffiths
Substitutes not used: 1.Ben Kennedy (gk)
Yellow Cards: Zadkovich 15-
Red Cards: Nil
Adelaide United starting line-up: 1.Eugene Galekovic (gk) (c), 5.Iain Fyfe, 6.Cassio, 8.Marcelo Carrusca, 10.Dario Vidosic (18.Fabian Barbiero 72-), 11.Bruce Djite, 12.Antony Golec, 14.Cameron Watson, 16.Daniel Bowles, 17.Iain Ramsay (21.Jeronimo Neumann 81-), 23.Evan Kostopoulos (7.Zenon Caravella 63-)
Substitutes not used: 20.Paul Izzo (gk)
Yellow Cards: Fyfe 70-
Red Cards: Nil
