Sydney FC was made to rue missed chances as high-flying Adelaide United registered its first-ever Hyundai A-League victory in the harbour city.
Sydney FC was made to rue missed chances as high-flying Adelaide United registered its first-ever Hyundai A-League victory in the harbour city.
Branko Culina’s team had 18 attempts at goal and 54 percent of possession but it was not enough to prevent Adelaide United breaking its Sydney Football Stadium hoodoo at the sixth time of asking.
Lucas Pantelis scored the only goal of the game in the 52nd minute to snatch all three points for Adelaide United at the expense of a Sydney FC side missing key personnel through injury and suspension.
Bans meant that Steve Corica and Ruben Zadkovich were absent from Sydney FC’s line-up and Mark Milligan was a late withdrawal after failing a fitness test on the calf that he hurt while captaining the Qantas Under 23s in their 2008 Olympic Games qualifier.
Sydney FC attacked from the outset, with Juninho forcing Adelaide United goalkeeper Daniel Beltrame to make his first save in the third minute. The marquee man motored through the centre of the park, beating two defenders and making space to shoot from 20 metres out but Beltrame pushed his effort around the post for a corner from which Alex Brosque volleyed across the face of goal, just out of Patrick’s reach.
Adelaide United responded quickly. Brazilian left back Cassio put Pantelis through down the left flank and Pantelis took it to the byline before centering the ball into the path of Dez Giraldi but Clint Bolton stole the ball from under Giraldi’s feet.
Sydney FC received an indirect free kick inside the box in the 18th minute when match referee Matthew Breeze adjudged that Beltrame had handled a back pass from Angelo Costanzo. Unfortunately for the home team, Juninho could not pick out a teammate and Adelaide United cleared its lines with ease.
Three minutes later and Bolton pulled off a quality save to deny Jason Spagnuolo, whose powerful left-footed shot was destined for the top corner until Sydney FC’s custodian stuck out his right hand.
Sydney FC’s best chance of the game came in the 32nd minute when Adam Casey, man of the match in the first period, crossed the ball from the right. It was met on the volley by Patrick but the Brazilian striker could only shake his head as the ball bounced back off the crossbar with Beltrame beaten all ends up.
Just before the interval, Patrick had another chance to put the home side into the lead after Nikolas Tsattalios, making his first Hyundai A-League start one day after beginning his Higher School Certificate examinations, dashed down the left wing and put over an excellent cross. Patrick’s header, Sydney FC’s 12th effort of the game, flashed wide.
Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar made two changes for the second half and, within seven minutes of the restart, his team got its nose in front. Away skipper Travis Dodd got in behind Mark Rudan and picked out Pantelis, whose first-time finish found the net.
Sydney FC pushed forward in numbers in search of an equaliser and Patrick almost delivered it. Brosque raced behind Adelaide United’s reshuffled back three and squared the ball to his strike partner but, just as Patrick was about to pull the trigger, Beltrame got his fingertips to the ball and pushed it away.
Sydney FC 0
Adelaide United 1 (Lucas Pantelis 52′)
Date: Saturday, October 20, 2007
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Matthew Breeze
Crowd: 12,922
Sydney FC: 1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Iain FYFE, 3. Nikolas TSATTALIOS (11. Brendon SANTALAB 62′), 4. Mark RUDAN, 6. Tony POPOVIC (captain), 7. Robbie MIDDLEBY, 12. PATRICK (9. David ZDRILIC 81′), 14. Alex BROSQUE, 18. Adam CASEY (15. Terry McFLYNN 67′), 22. JUNINHO, 23. Ufuk TALAY.
Substitutes not used: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk).
Yellow cards: Mark Rudan 57′, Robbie Middleby 85′.
Adelaide United: 1. Daniel BELTRAME (gk), 2. Richie ALAGICH (3. Milan SUSAK 46′), 4. Angelo COSTANZO, 6. CASSIO, 7. Lucas PANTELIS, 13. Travis DODD (captain), 15. Jonas SALLEY, 18. Robert CORNTHWAITE, 21. Jason SPAGNUOLO (10. Nathan BURNS 46′), 22. DIEGO, 23.Dez GIRALDI (8. Kristian SARKIES 70′).
Substitutes not used: 20. Robert BAJIC (gk).
Yellow cards: Dez Giraldi 52′, Robert Cornthwaite 69′, Lucas Pantelis 73′.
