Adelaide United’s Youth Team has recorded its second win of the season with a dominant 4-1 victory over Melbourne Heart at Epping Stadium.
Adelaide United-s Youth Team has recorded its second win of the season with a dominant 4-1 victory over Melbourne Heart at Epping Stadium.
The Reds started the game strongly from the outset, controlling possession with ease and precision, forcing the Heart to set up camp in their own half. It took just four minutes for the Heart defence to crack, Jacob Melling shooting from long range, his shot proving too hot for Heart keeper Marko Stevanja to handle.
After opening the scoring, the Reds sparked to life with more great scoring opportunities and passages of play as Antony Golec, Melling and Anthony Costa all had chances.
With United giving their opponents little time on the ball and few opportunities to press forward, the Reds scored their second courtesy of a fantastic switch of play following a chain of passes involving Cameron Watson, Mellling, Ryan Kitto and Dion Kirk. A searching cross from Kirk down the right found Nikola Mileusnic who finished well to make it 2-0 at the break.
The second half started much the same as the first with the Reds giving the Heart players limited time on the ball. A smart run down the right flank by Mileusnic was rewarded when Melling found him in space with a great through ball, Mileusnic producing a classy finish to make it 3-0 and shut the door on any chance of Heart comeback.
The Heart did enjoy a positive ten-minute period but a solid Reds defence together with goalkeeper John Hall denied the Heart any chance of finding the back of the net.
Having taken back control of the contest, United was rewarded again for its hard work as substitute Jordan O-Doherty pounced after Nathan Konstandopoulos- powerful shot was initially blocked by Stevanja. Sensing the opportunity, O-Doherty clinically chipped the ball over Stevanja to give the Reds an unassailable 4-0 lead.
The home side did manage a late consolation but by the final whistle saw the Reds run out convincing 4-1 winners.
Coach Michael Valkanis was delighted with his players- application.
“I was really happy with how the boys turned up to play and with the overall performance,” Valkanis said.
“The pleasing thing for me was how every player executed their responsibilities when in possession of the ball and when we did not have possession.”
“The challenge for us now is to continue performing like we did today week in week out and keep playing the same style and creating goal scoring opportunities.”
The Young Reds- next match is at Thebarton Oval on Saturday the 7th of December. Kick off is 3pm.
Match Details
Adelaide United 4 (Melling 4-, Mileusnic 21-/53-, O-Doherty 86-)
Melbourne Heart 1 (Cartanos 90-)
Referee: Patrick Chaplin
Melbourne Heart staring line-up: 1.Marko Stevanja (gk), 3.Philip Petreski, 4.David Vrankovic, 5.Ross Archibald (c), 6.Alexander Dao (11.Jonathan Bounas 61-), 7.Hernan Espindola (2.Andrew Cartanos 61-), 8.Paulo Retre, 9.Ben Garuccio, 10.Marcus Schroen, 14.Ersin Kaya (13.Tyler James 61-), 15.Sam Mitchinson
Injury substitution: Nil
Substitutions not used: 16.Philip Petrovski (gk)
Yellow cards: Kaya 51-, Petreski 66-, Bounas 83-, Cartanos 86-, Archibald 90+1-
Red cards: Nil
Adelaide United starting line-up: 1.John Hall (gk), 2.Dion Kirk (c), 3.Shaun Harvey, 6.Jack Bladen, 9.Anthony Costa (17.Jordan O-Doherty 59-), 10.Ryan Kitto (7.Bruce Kamau 59-), 11. Nikola Mileusnic, 15.Matthew Bouzalas, 16.Jacob Melling (8.Nathan Konstandopoulos 59-), 19.Cameron Watson, 21.Antony Golec
Injury substitution: 2.Dion Kirk (10.Ryan Kitto 89-)
Substitutions not used: 20.Daniel Margush (gk)
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
