Adelaide record tough away win

An 83rd minute goal from veteran striker Carl Veart has given Adelaide United all three points, with the table toppers winning a tough away encounter 1-0 against the Melbourne Victory at Olympic Park tonight.

The game was played in front of 16,201 fans, another fantastic crowd from the Melbourne sporting public, but most went home disappointed as a very defensive Adelaide outfit turned the game into a dour tussle, instead of the free flowing football we have been used to seeing from the Victory.

The match received a lot of publicity during the week after the outrageous comments from coach of the Essendon Football Club, Kevin Sheedy, where he said “Anyone going to watch the Victory this Friday needs to get a life”. These comments fuelled plenty of derogatory chants towards Sheedy throughout the course of the match, and a banner from the crowd which read “Sheedy the world is round”.

Melbourne just made the one change to the line-up which lost to the Perth Glory 2-1, with utility Carl Recchia replacing the former West Ham midfielder Michael Ferrante, whilst their opponents opted to go in un-changed.

Both sides entered the field to a parade of fireworks, but from the first half it was clear that the way Adelaide were playing, this wouldn’t be a game full of fireworks, or goals for that matter.

Melbourne’s Austrian midfielder Richard Kitzbichler had the first real chance of the game in the 16th minute, when after receiving a layoff from Socceroo Archie Thompson, he shot just over the bar with a curling left foot shot.

The game sprung to life, after the 27th minute when Adelaide’s Chinese import Shengqing Qu’s superb free-kick crashed into the crossbar. Qu’s right footed effort caught Victory keeper’ Eugene Gelakovic off his line but the ball thudded into the bar, and Michael Valkanis’ follow up effort sailed high and wide.

In response to this, the Victory surged forward and earnt themselves a corner just a minute later. The corner was momentarily cleared, before Melbourne centre-half Mark Byrnes launched a spectacular long range left-foot shot which was headed for the goal. Byrnes was denied by a fantastic save from Daniel Beltrame, who tipped the ball over the bar, much to the relief of the travelling Adelaide United fans.

Melbourne had two more chances towards the end of the first half, both created by pocket-rocket Kitzbichler, but they were unable to convert and the half-time score showed both sides goalless.

The first half brought about some of the most defensive and negative football seen all year at Olympic Park, and all of the 16,201 fans were hoping for some free-flowing and attacking play in the second half.

The Victory came out firing and seemed destined to score. Archie Thompson produced a mazy run along the right flank, before cutting inside in a run which brought the home fans to their feet. Just as Thompson seemed ready to pull the trigger, he was brought down by Angelo Costanzo on the edge of the area. However, referee Matthew Breeze was in a poor position and handed out a yellow card to Thompson for a dive – a very harsh decision.

This didn’t stop the home side in search of a goal, and Carl Recchia hit a speculative 35-yard effort which came close to getting the game’s first goal.

However the best chance of the night fell to Richard Kitzbichler, who fluffed a shot from close range. Danny Allsopp and Thompson set the play up with good work on the wings from Allsopp, and top work from Thompson in holding the ball out. Adelaide keeper’ Beltrame came off his line as Thompson slipped a pass to Kitzbichler. The Austrian controlled the ball, and then hit the ball goal-bound, only to see it be cleared off the line by Adelaide defender Kristian Rees.

Melbourne continued to stamp their authority on the match, with another chance coming at the 60 minute mark. Andy Vlahos made his way to the penalty box, before laying off a ball for Archie Thompson. Thompson got past his defending opponent and then had a one on one chance with Adelaide keeper’ Daniel Beltrame. Much to the disappointment of the home fans, Thompson’s shot sailed over the bar.

Danny Allsopp completely missed the ball just four yards out, just three minutes later and it became clear it was not Melbourne’s night.

To compound Melbourne’s misery for missing a hatful of chances, Adelaide striker Carl Veart made the Victory pay the ultimate price, with his goal after 83 minutes.

Adelaide central defender Angelo Costanzo played a long ball, which sailed over the top of the Victory defence. Veart was quickest to react, and ran onto the ball despite the best efforts of Mark Byrnes. Melbourne keeper’ Gelakovic came sprinting out of goals, but Veart produced a delicate chip which sailed over his head and thudded into the back of the net. Veart’s calmness under pressure was a sign of his experience and the travelling army of Adelaide fans went into a state of delirium.

The final ten minutes saw the Victory not have any real chances, and despite the best efforts of the scoreboard management at Olympic Park (which saw the Victory scoring a late goal, and earning a 1-1 draw), the game finished 1-0 in Adelaide’s favour.

At the post match press conference Melbourne manager Ernie Merrick said “It was a fantastic performance without the killer punch”. Adelaide manager John Kosmina said “We’re a good side which plays to our strengths; we get bodies in the right areas at the right time”. Kosmina also hailed his side’s spirit, when questioned why were Adelaide so good on the road – they have won five of six road matches.

Melbourne are still scoreless against Adelaide, from five matches – three of them pre-season, and two of them in this year’s Hyundai A-League season. They have a problem with the long ball style that United play, and the combative and uncompromising defence led by Michael Valkanis and Angelo Costanzo.

Next week sees Melbourne play game two of their four Friday night home games, at home to the Queensland Roar, whilst Adelaide hosts Perth on Sunday at Hindmarsh Stadium.

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