A rampant second-half performance from Adelaide United has secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar in Round 2 of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Two late goals in five minutes from substitute Ryan Kitto and Johan Absalonsen rendered Massimo Maccarone’s first-half opener inconsequential to claim Adelaide’s first three points of the season.
There were two forced changes made to the starting line-up which drew to Wellington Phoenix last time out by Head Coach, Marco Kurz.
WINNERS ARE GRINNERS! ? #AUFC #ForeverUnited pic.twitter.com/yfeu60cFbU
— Adelaide United FC (@AdelaideUnited) October 13, 2017
Jordan Elsey, replaced the injured Taylor Regan in the heart of the defence, while Vince Lia returned from suspension to make his Adelaide league debut in midfield with Karim Matmour out with a knock.
It was a sluggish start to the first-half from the Reds despite enjoying more of the possession, however they failed to muster any genuine sightings at goal.
The Roar dominated the early exchanges and took the lead in the eighth minute through Maccarone.
The second-half saw Adelaide gradually get back into the encounter controlling possession and creating more chances in an end-to-end encounter.
However, Kurz’s men sealed the win thanks to Kitto’s equaliser and an empathic stoppage time strike from Absalonsen.
90'+2' | GOAL! Absalonsen makes it 2-1 for #AUFC! #BRIvADL
— Adelaide United FC (@AdelaideUnited) October 13, 2017
Key moments
8’ | GOAL: Maccarone peels off his marker at the back post to volley home Corey Brown’s whipped cross, leaving gloveman Paul Izzo with no chance.
13’ | Daniel Adlung cleverly beats his man and his cross is side-volleyed over the top of the crossbar
30’ | The Roar break swiftly and find themselves in a promising attacking position until Izzo rushes off his line to save Skapetis’s strike.
49’ | Maccarone forces Izzo into a mistake before the ball spills to Nicholas D’Agostino, who has two bites of the cherry but is brilliantly denied thanks to a double save by the custodian.
53’ | George Blackwood cuts inside and sees his shot cannons off the foot of the post.
70’ | Izzo stands tall to save Brett Holman’s swerving shot.
83’ | Michael Marrone marauds forward and unleashes a stinging shot which is parried by Michael Theo.
88’ | GOAL! Kitto restores parity after combining with Baba Diawara inside the box before firing a powerful strike which deflects of Theo.
90’+2’ | GOAL! Absalonsen seals the smash-and-grab victory with a thunderous hit which smacks the underside of the crossbar, to make it two goals in two weeks from the Danish winger.
Match Details:
Friday, 13 October 2017
Hyundai A-League Round 2
Brisbane Roar 1 (Maccarone 8’)
Adelaide United 2 (Kitto 88’ Absalonsen 90’+2’)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
