Reds holds off Knights

Adelaide United has moved into second spot on the Hyundai A-League ladder following an entertaining 4-2 victory over the hapless New Zealand Knights at Hindmarsh Stadium this evening.

United completely dominated the crucial first half and with Jason Spagnuolo and Bobby Petta instrumental on the wings, moved to a comfortable 2-0 lead at the interval. They extended that advantage 11 minutes into the second half through Petta, who scored his first goal for club and it seemed as if Adelaide would cruise to an easy win.

However, those thoughts would evaporate in the space of seven minutes, as the Knights twice hit back against the run of play to haul themselves within striking distance of a remarkable draw. But substitute Travis Dodd ensured they would get no closer, his powerful header securing the valuable three points, much to the relief of a partisan home crowd.

United’s third straight triumph allows them to leapfrog Queensland into second position after nine rounds, eight points behind runaway ladder-leaders Melbourne, ahead of a difficult assignment away to Newcastle next Friday night.

New Zealand remains anchored to last place following another humbling defeat- their seventh in a row- and their season already appears headed for extinction, with fixtures against Victory, the Roar and Sydney FC looming on the schedule.

Starting in place of Socceroos team member Dodd, Spagnuolo had an immediate impact out wide, crossing early to Nathan Burns whose glancing header barely looped over the bar. Minutes later, he cut inside and let loose a long-range effort which flashed past keeper Danny Milosevic’s near post, as the Reds wasted no time in stamping their authority on the contest.

Their good work was finally rewarded in the 23rd minute, when under-21 international Burns converted his second golden opportunity of the match. Playing as the set-up man up front, Carl Veart released Spagnuolo down the left and his first time cross found Burns at the near post, who managed to cleverly turn in his third goal in four games.

Adelaide’s deserved lead was doubled 12 minutes later, courtesy of a crafty Petta chip over the Knights’ defence that put Veart into open space, and the veteran made no mistake, firing a low, angled shot past Milosevic.

New Zealand import, Malik Buari, attempted to resurrect his team’s flagging hopes with some nifty play on the flanks, but his speculative efforts into the box were handled easily by keeper Robert Bajic and the Reds’ back four.

A stinging 25-metre volley from Knights’ midfielder Richard Johnson drew Bajic’s first genuine save of the night just before the break, however, with no targets up front and a lack of creativity through the midfield, only the most optimistic of fans could have seen a New Zealand recovery forthcoming.

The visitors came out in the second half in an attacking frame of mind, playing more centrally and employing two legitimate strikers, as they tried to end an amazing run of 588 scoreless minutes dating back to round two.

They also looked to deny United’s playmakers time on the ball with close checking and a congested midfield; tactics which momentarily unsettled the home side.

However, the Reds would restore the balance with a wonderful team goal in the 56th minute, as Greg Owens and Burns combined to play Spagnuolo in behind the Knights defence. His low cross was met inside the six-yard box by Dutchman Petta, who toe-poked the ball home for a commanding 3-0 lead.

The momentum was now well and truly with Adelaide and only the linesman saved New Zealand going further behind a minute later. Defender Matthew Kemp’s left-foot shot from inside the penalty box appeared to be helped in by Veart on the goal line, but he was ruled marginally offside.

The decision was the reprieve the Knights were looking for and they pulled one back shortly after. A long throw-in at the corner flag was flicked on to Noah Hickey and he steered home New Zealand’s first goal in nearly two months.

Emboldened by the drought-breaking strike, the Knights pressed forward in search of another, while United tried to minimize the damage with a series of substitutions. Veart dropped back to solidify the defence, as Owens, Spagnuolo and Petta all took a seat on the bench.

The changes only served to upset the Reds’ lineup and New Zealand would take full advantage, scoring for the second time in seven minutes, this time from a Buari corner, which defender Adam Van Dommele deflected past a flat-footed Bajic at the near post.

The visitors continued to attack with vigour and should have almost drawn level, as striker Adam Casey twice sprayed clear shots from 15 metres, while Darren Bazeley’s long left-foot effort bounced just wide.

However, the Knights were always vulnerable to Adelaide’s specialty, the counter attack, and so it would prove in the 84th minute, when a slick move initiated by Ross Aloisi and Burns was finished by an unmarked Dodd in the box. His strong header beat a sprawling Milosevic and ensured United coach John Kosmina a pleasing night in the stands.

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!