Adelaide United lost out 1-3 to a strong Adelaide City side in Round 4 of the South Australian National Premier League 2018 Season at Smith Partners Stadium.
In what always promised to be a tough test for the Young Reds, Paul Pezos’ boys went down to an experienced Adelaide City side.
United took early control, having a large share of the possession but were unable to pierce through the Adelaide City defence.
In the 26th minute, Pezos was forced into a substitution, taking off Carlo Armiento after a nasty head collision, with Ninko Beric taking his place.
In the 37th, Daniel Margush made a series of saves that kept the scores level, after City took a firmer grip on the game.
A late and contentious penalty call against Kristin Konstandopoulos in the 43rd minute saw Nicholas Bucco coolly convert from the spot, just before the half.
Coming out into the second half, City were in firm control of the game, with chances coming thick and fast for their side.
Seven minutes after the break, Yuel found Anthony Costa in the box, who headed the ball past Margush, giving City a two-goal lead.
In the 74th Evan Kostopoulos smashed the ball from 25 yards out, which hit the underside of the crossbar, bouncing in even after Margush’s best efforts to keep the ball out.
City seemed content with their three-goal lead ad the Reds worked their way back into the game, but unfortunately United could only convert one of their many chances.
Twenty-one minutes from time, Lachlan Brook, with some tidy footwork, was able to create a chance out of nothing, spinning past the City defenders and smashing the ball into the top left corner to decrease City’s lead.
The last chance of the game fell to Jai King-Bryne in the 87th minute, when he struck a sweet volley across the City keeper, who made a diving save to deny the Reds.
Key Moments:
3’ | An early chance opens up for Stametolopoulos, who smashes his chance into the City goalkeeper.
26’ | Armiento is taken off after a head collision. Beric comes on to take his place.
30’ | Margush makes an acrobatic save, punching the ball clear of the box after an Adelaide City set piece.
37’ | Margush keeps it goalless with another great diving save from a shot at the edge of box.
43’ | Goal: A contentious penalty call given against Konstandopoulos is converted by Bucco to give City the lead.
52’ | Goal: A cross from Yuel finds Costa in the box, who heads the ball past Margush to double City’s lead.
54’ | Stametolopoulos forces a huge save from the City goalkeeper after a powerful free kick
74’ | Goal: Kostopoulos strikes the ball from 25 yards, hitting the underside of the crossbar and in.
79’ | Goal: Brook receives a one-two from King-Byrne, roulettes past the Adelaide City defenders and smashes the ball home into the top left corner
87’ | King-Byrne hits a sweet volley across goals but is denied by a diving effort from the City goalkeeper.
Reserves:
Adelaide United 2
Adelaide City 1
