HALF-TIME: A belter from Brendon Santalab in the final minute of the first half has hauled Sydney FC level at 1-1 against Adelaide United at the Adelaide Oval.
The striker curled a cracker into the top right-hand corner of the net to cancel out Kristian Sarkies’ 19th minute opener for United.
To add to Adelaide’s woes they are down to 10 men following the dismissal of Robbie Cornthwaite for a foul on Alex Brosque.
The first ever Hyundai A-League clash to be staged at the Adelaide Oval saw both coaches on a sticky wicket as far as injuries were concerned. The duo, so recently master and apprentice for the Reds, were looking to put a real dent in the other’s finals ambitions.
Aurelio Vidmar has recently seen Shaun Ontong sidelined for the rest of the season with an ankle problem and he joins a long term injury list which already includes marquee striker Paul Agostino (quad) and Nathan Burns (hamstring). The United boss was able to welcome back defender Ang Costanzo and injury-ravaged Dutch winger Bobby Petta as he made four changes from the club’s last outing.
Former Adelaide United coach John Kosmina returned to the city where he enjoyed a bitter-sweet experience with a Sydney FC side still buzzing from last week’s astonishing 5-4 triumph over the Central Coast Mariners. The visitors, still unbeaten away from home in the competition, were boosted by the return from injury of goalkeeper Clint Bolton, defender Mark Milligan and marquee man Juninho. Ruben Zadkovich was also back in the shake up after completing his suspension. Juninho had to be content with a place on the bench but last week’s substitute heroes Adam Biddle and Brendon Santalab were both given starts by Kosmina.
However, last week’s match-winner Ufuk Talay served a ban with Michael Bridges (flu) and Mark Robertson (hamstring) also missing.
Bruce Djite climbed to meet a Travis Dodd cross from the right on seven minutes and as the ball looped over the top he felt a corner should have been awarded – the ball appearing to come off Iain Fyfe last.
Perhaps it was the unfamiliar surface, the heat, or a combination of both, but it was certainly a quiet start to proceedings in the opening 10 minutes at the Oval.
Sydney forced a couple of fruitless corners before the home side forced its first set piece on 15 following good work from Petta. It came to nothing and Adelaide had to get back smartly to prevent Alex Brosque surging clear down the left.
The game finally sparked into life in the 19th minute as Sydney failed to clear Petta’s cross from the right and Kristian Sarkies pounced to slam in his first goal for United – his first goal since scoring against Adelaide in last season’s grand final. Sydney, who had started the slower of the two sides, responded quickly and Eugene Galekovic was forced into a hurried clearance before holding on to a Zadkovich strike.
Sarkies crashed an effort high and wide on 22 as Vidmar’s men looked to add to their advantage in front of the watching Pim Verbeek.
Clearly the heat was a factor as referee Matthew Breeze whistled for a drinks break on 25 minutes. When the action resumed Travis Dodd scuffed a 20 yard shot wide of the left post, Petta again the provider.
Dodd became the first player to go into the book on 28 for halting Robbie Middleby’s charge down the left, the Adelaide skipper none too happy with the decision. From the resulting free-kick, Steve Corica the provider, Galekovic punched clear convincingly under pressure from Sydney skipper Tony Popovic.
Fyfe followed Dodd into the notebook on the half hour for a clumsy foul on Lucas Pantelis but Bolton was able to gather Sarkies’ woeful free-kick. Sydney broke quickly but Santalab’s strike from the edge of the area lacked the pace to trouble Galekovic.
On 33 the match took an unhappy turn for Adelaide as Robbie Cornthwaite was handed a straight red card for pulling down Alex Brosque on the edge of the area – hardly the ideal way for the defender to mark his 50th appearance for the club.
From the resulting free-kick Fyfe got his shot over the Adelaide wall but the ball comfortably cleared the crossbar.
Diego threaded a ball through the Sydney defence on 37 but put a fraction too much pace on the pass for Richie Alagich to benefit.
Cassio tried his luck with a long range free-kick on 40, awarded for Zadkovich’s clumsy foul on Djite, but the ball sailed harmlessly off target. Milligan entered the book for a trip on Pantelis moments later but Bolton comfortably gathered the resulting free-kick which was floated into the Sydney box.
Santalab thundered a drive straight at Galekovic following a great run by Corica before Biddle missed an absolute sitter.
Dodd’s header back towards his own goal was pounced on by Biddle. He rounded Galekovic but took far too long to pull the trigger. It allowed Dodd to atone for his error and clear the ball.
On 44 though Sydney did haul themselves level with an absolute cracker from Santalab. He turned past Alagich before curling a pearler into the top right hand corner of the net from the left edge of the area – his second goal in successive games.
More to follow...
To add to Adelaide’s woes they are down to 10 men following the dismissal of Robbie Cornthwaite for a foul on Alex Brosque.
The first ever Hyundai A-League clash to be staged at the Adelaide Oval saw both coaches on a sticky wicket as far as injuries were concerned. The duo, so recently master and apprentice for the Reds, were looking to put a real dent in the other’s finals ambitions.
Aurelio Vidmar has recently seen Shaun Ontong sidelined for the rest of the season with an ankle problem and he joins a long term injury list which already includes marquee striker Paul Agostino (quad) and Nathan Burns (hamstring). The United boss was able to welcome back defender Ang Costanzo and injury-ravaged Dutch winger Bobby Petta as he made four changes from the club’s last outing.
Former Adelaide United coach John Kosmina returned to the city where he enjoyed a bitter-sweet experience with a Sydney FC side still buzzing from last week’s astonishing 5-4 triumph over the Central Coast Mariners. The visitors, still unbeaten away from home in the competition, were boosted by the return from injury of goalkeeper Clint Bolton, defender Mark Milligan and marquee man Juninho. Ruben Zadkovich was also back in the shake up after completing his suspension. Juninho had to be content with a place on the bench but last week’s substitute heroes Adam Biddle and Brendon Santalab were both given starts by Kosmina.
However, last week’s match-winner Ufuk Talay served a ban with Michael Bridges (flu) and Mark Robertson (hamstring) also missing.
Bruce Djite climbed to meet a Travis Dodd cross from the right on seven minutes and as the ball looped over the top he felt a corner should have been awarded – the ball appearing to come off Iain Fyfe last.
Perhaps it was the unfamiliar surface, the heat, or a combination of both, but it was certainly a quiet start to proceedings in the opening 10 minutes at the Oval.
Sydney forced a couple of fruitless corners before the home side forced its first set piece on 15 following good work from Petta. It came to nothing and Adelaide had to get back smartly to prevent Alex Brosque surging clear down the left.
The game finally sparked into life in the 19th minute as Sydney failed to clear Petta’s cross from the right and Kristian Sarkies pounced to slam in his first goal for United – his first goal since scoring against Adelaide in last season’s grand final. Sydney, who had started the slower of the two sides, responded quickly and Eugene Galekovic was forced into a hurried clearance before holding on to a Zadkovich strike.
Sarkies crashed an effort high and wide on 22 as Vidmar’s men looked to add to their advantage in front of the watching Pim Verbeek.
Clearly the heat was a factor as referee Matthew Breeze whistled for a drinks break on 25 minutes. When the action resumed Travis Dodd scuffed a 20 yard shot wide of the left post, Petta again the provider.
Dodd became the first player to go into the book on 28 for halting Robbie Middleby’s charge down the left, the Adelaide skipper none too happy with the decision. From the resulting free-kick, Steve Corica the provider, Galekovic punched clear convincingly under pressure from Sydney skipper Tony Popovic.
Fyfe followed Dodd into the notebook on the half hour for a clumsy foul on Lucas Pantelis but Bolton was able to gather Sarkies’ woeful free-kick. Sydney broke quickly but Santalab’s strike from the edge of the area lacked the pace to trouble Galekovic.
On 33 the match took an unhappy turn for Adelaide as Robbie Cornthwaite was handed a straight red card for pulling down Alex Brosque on the edge of the area – hardly the ideal way for the defender to mark his 50th appearance for the club.
From the resulting free-kick Fyfe got his shot over the Adelaide wall but the ball comfortably cleared the crossbar.
Diego threaded a ball through the Sydney defence on 37 but put a fraction too much pace on the pass for Richie Alagich to benefit.
Cassio tried his luck with a long range free-kick on 40, awarded for Zadkovich’s clumsy foul on Djite, but the ball sailed harmlessly off target. Milligan entered the book for a trip on Pantelis moments later but Bolton comfortably gathered the resulting free-kick which was floated into the Sydney box.
Santalab thundered a drive straight at Galekovic following a great run by Corica before Biddle missed an absolute sitter.
Dodd’s header back towards his own goal was pounced on by Biddle. He rounded Galekovic but took far too long to pull the trigger. It allowed Dodd to atone for his error and clear the ball.
On 44 though Sydney did haul themselves level with an absolute cracker from Santalab. He turned past Alagich before curling a pearler into the top right hand corner of the net from the left edge of the area – his second goal in successive games.
More to follow...
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