Adelaide United FC will go into next Friday night’s trial match against Melbourne Victory high on confidence after putting three past Brisbane Roar in a 3-0 result at Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba.
Despite being without the likes of captain Jon McKain, Dario Vidosic and Andy Slory among others, the Reds were more than up for the challenge against last season-s Hyundai A-League champions.
An own goal credited to Roar midfielder Massimo Murdocca after a deflection from a Spase Dilevski free kick, plus goals from Bruce Djite and young local South Australian trial player Michele LaStella gave the Reds the win on a night that Head Coach Rini Coolen asked his players to put their hand up and take their opportunity, and they duly obliged.
A less than ideal pitch surface made slick passing and fast flowing football near impossible for both sides as United went into the game looking for improvement on last Friday-s scoreless draw with Gold Coast United.
It did not take long for the Reds to get into the groove as they went ahead after 10 minutes when a Spase Dilevski free kick took a deflection off Massimo Murdocca and beat Roar keeper Michael Theoklitos.
Dilevski then almost went from hero to villain as he pulled down Luke Brattan on the edge of the penalty area, the referee showing a yellow card to the Reds midfielder. Roar midfielder Thomas Broich was unable to capitalise from the resultant free kick.
The Roar enjoyed a positive ten minute spell but could not crack United-s defence as the Reds held firm heading into the break.
Coolen brought on Sydney based trial defender Antony Golec in place of Evgeniy Levchenko for the start of the second half and barely two minutes later the Reds doubled their advantage through Bruce Djite.
Finding themselves in an unfamiliar predicament following their record breaking unbeaten streak last season, Erik Paartalu tried his best to bring the Roar back into the game with a fierce drive from long range, the midfielder-s shot hitting the upside of the crossbar.
Looking to impress, Golec came up with a superb challenge to deny Issey Nakajima-Farran when the new Brisbane signing seemed destined to score.
However Golec-s fine effort in defence was overshadowed by another of the Reds- trial players as LaStella replaced Dilevski and then almost immediately found himself on the score sheet as he slotted a shot past Theoklitos.
The Roar keeper prevented Sergio van Dijk from adding a fourth for the Reds in the dying stages, however it did not matter as the result was already beyond doubt, Adelaide United scoring an impressive, disciplined victory over the last season-s standout club.
The Reds will now turn their attention to the highly anticipated trial match against Melbourne Victory and Harry Kewell on Friday 23 September at Hindmarsh Stadium. Tickets are available through Ticketek. Adelaide United 2011/12 members receive free entry (Click here to find out how to become a Reds member).
Match Details
Brisbane Roar 0
Adelaide United FC 3 (Murdocca 10- (og), Djite 48-, LaStella 69-)
@ Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba
Adelaide United starting line-up: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Osama MALIK, 6.CASSIO, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA (Michael MARKHAM), 8.Evgeniy LEVCHENKO (Antony GOLEC), 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 11.Bruce DJITE (Evan KOSTOPOULOS), 14.Cameron WATSON, 16.Spase DILEVSKI (Michele LASTELLA), 17.Iain RAMSAY, 21.Francisco USUCAR (John MAVROMATIS)
Substitutes not used: Duncan SHORT (gk)
Brisbane Roar starting line-up: Michael THEOKLITOS, Ivan FRANJIC, Matt SMITH, Mohammed ADNAN, Shane STEFANUTTO, Erik PAARTALU, Massimo MURDOCCA, Luke BRATTAN (Rocky VISCONTE), Issey NAKAJIMA-FARRAN, Thomas BROICH, James MEYER (Besart BERISHA)
Substitutes not used: George LAMBADARDIS, Tommy CIRJAK, Nicholas FITZGERALD, Corey BROWN, Chris BUSH, Matt ACTON
