Ten-man Adelaide United Youth had to settle for a share of the spoils, after a 2-2 draw with Brisbane Roar Youth in Round 9 of the Foxtel National Youth League at Elite Systems Football Centre on Saturday.
Marc Marino’s audacious lob and an own goal was not enough as the Reds surrendered a two-goal advantage, thanks to two second-half strikes. Jayden Prasad brought the visitors within a goal, before Kye Rowles’ last-gasp finish denied United Youth the win.
United dominated the opening exchanges, threatening the visitors’ goal early, before breaking the deadlock courtesy of a Rowles own goal.
Defender Ben Warland sent a searching ball into the direction of Marino, but Rowles headed the ball into his own net.
Roar looked to equalise soon after, with Nicholas Panetta venturing forward at pace and threaded a pass to Shannon Brady, who dragged his shot wide of the target.
On 21 minutes, Adelaide would make it 2-0 when Apostolos Stamatelopoulos flicked on a header to Marino who cleverly dinked the ball over the charging Tomislav Bilic.
The Reds appeared in complete control as they preserved a two-goal buffer heading into the sheds at half-time.
However, the second stanza was a totally different complexion with Adelaide pegged back in their own half for lengthy periods, and unable to keep possession of the ball.
The Roar’s persistence paid off when the Reds could not clear their lines inside the 18-yard box with Prasad halving the deficit from close range on 62 minutes.
A minute later, Adelaide had gloveman Daniel Margush to thank for a spectacular instinctive save with his legs to thwart Brady.
And as the match opened up, Marino almost had his second of the afternoon, but saw his venomous shot parried away by Bilic.
United had to see out the remaining 10 minutes with 10 men, following Ryan Strain receiving his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
But United’s resistance would be broken in the final action of the game as Rowles made up for his earlier error tapping home from six yards out.
