The Adelaide United Youth Team suffered a 6-0 loss against Adelaide City in Round 7 of the National Premier League at Adelaide City Park on Saturday afternoon.
A top of the table clash produced a dominant all-round performance by Adelaide City, while the Young Reds were unable to capitalise on any promising chances that were made in another game that was full of intensity.
The start of the match showed positive early signs from United, with Captain, Dylan Smith, creating a chance in the early minutes, but he was immediately blocked by Adelaide City’s defence.
The Reds created more attacking play in great fashion, when Riley Mcgree showed off skill to set up an attack and Alec Maiolo then worked together with Mark Ochieng with a close miss.
But it was Nicholas Bucco of Adelaide City in the 12th minute who volleyed the ball into the back of the net, as United were caught defensively off guard.
The Young Reds showed no signs of giving up as they pressed hard to get the game back on level terms and just as the game started to open up, Nikola Mileusnic curled the ball home from the edge of the box in the 18th minute.
Adelaide United coped well with the pressure, as their hunger for attack began to reveal 33 minutes in, when Mcgree, Jordan Elliott, and Jordan O’Doherty worked their opponents defence.
By the end of the first half, Ruon Tongyik, Tommy Stokes, and Johnny Koutroumbis were solid defensively as they kept the score line at 2-0.
As play resumed for the second half, City were quick to find a third goal past United ‘keeper Daniel Margush in the 55th minute through Anthony Costa.
The Young Reds continued to fight hard, as passes were intercepted and the aspiration to create chances had not worn off as Smith and substitute Blake Carpenter forced attacking moves.
As the Reds unable to make their mark on the score line, Mileusnic hit his second goal in the 80th minute before Mamadi Kamara got City’s fifth and Mileusnic completed his hat-trick later in the match.
Following the game, Adelaide United Youth Team Head Coach, Mark Jones, said it was tough and difficult to get past City’s defensive display, but there was a lesson to be learned through his side’s performance.
“Adelaide City were smarter in the first half, leading 2-0 and we couldn’t penetrate their defence,” Jones said. “We got fatigued in the second half and that’s the lesson to be learned.
“At this level, if we make mistakes we will be punished and that’s what happened today but it’s a learning curve.
“Sometimes you need this to happen in football and learn from it, there is still work to be done.
“We faced the best team in the competition today, they kept decent shape and structure and they were just better on the day.
“We will move forward and prepare for our next match against Adelaide Comets next week.”
