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Played
February 3, 2012 8:00 PM EST
Hindmarsh Stadium — Adelaide
Referee: G. Parsons
Attendance: 8425
February 3, 2012 8:00 PM EST
Hindmarsh Stadium — Adelaide
Referee: G. Parsons
Attendance: 8425
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| Adelaide | 2.35 | 41.00 | 2.42 | 36.00 | 2.40 | 40.00 | 2.27 | 2.30 |
| Draw | 3.25 | 6.00 | 3.15 | 6.00 | 3.30 | 6.50 | 3.65 | 3.20 |
| Wellington | 2.80 | 1.07 | 2.85 | 1.15 | 3.00 | 1.07 | 2.95 | 2.75 |
Match report: Adelaide United 1 Wellington Phoenix 2
Dani Sanchez's 38th-minute goal was the difference as Adelaide United's poor run of form continued, while the Phoenix confirmed their finals credentials.
By Steve Barrett
Getty
Red-hot Wellington Phoenix have taken advantage of some sloppy defensive lapses from Adelaide United to record a thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 triumph over the Reds at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday.
The victory saw the Phoenix further strengthen their hold on second position on the A-League table and extended United's winless spell to six weeks.
It was just Wellington's second win on South Australian soil.
Bruce Djite opened proceedings for the fast-starting hosts, who held sway for prolonged periods of the second half and had plenty of chances.
But two costly errors in defence was all it took for the visitors to strike twice, through Tim Brown, shortly after Djite's opener, and Dani Sanchez late in the first half.
Adelaide started a captivating first half in positive fashion when Cameron Watson, in the opening minute, went for a run in space down the right wing before spraying his cross over the cross-bar.
The aggressive Reds opened with energy and purpose and it did not take long before they were rewarded, when Djite picked up the crumbs after Dario Vidosic was dispossessed inside the penalty area and found the bottom right-hand corner of the net in the 10th minute.
Moments later, United very nearly made it two goals in the space of barely 60 seconds when Vidosic curled a free kick from the left of the box, which Djite almost got on the end of before Cassio hit it past Phoenix gloveman Mark Paston and into the right post.
The visitors' defence, statistically the second best in the competition, was under siege as Adelaide played some of their most inspired football for the season.
Wellington withstood the short onslaught before equalising in the 13th minute courtesy of some sloppy defensive work from the home side.
Veteran Paul Ifill gathered a lobbed through ball, back-heeled to himself and dished a clever left-foot pass to Brown who, given far too much latitude, slotted it from close range past wrong-footed Reds custodian Eugene Galekovic.
Adelaide tried to make swift amends when Nigel Boogaard's nod sailed over the top five minutes later, before another chance for United to skip ahead went begging when Vidosic's 21st-minute effort from the left was comfortably cleared by Chris Greenacre.
On the advance, Djite chipped a nice cross in the 28th minute which Sergio van Dijk was fractionally too far forward to get onto, while Iain Ramsay's close-range deflection from his non-preferred right boot in the 32nd minute just missed to the right.
While Adelaide were creating more opportunities, Phoenix was holding sway in the middle overall and were unrushed in repelling the Reds' exciting attacks.
Osama Malik drew the night's first yellow card in the 37th minute after he blatantly grabbed Manny Muscat from behind as the Phoenix right-back burst forward.
On the ensuing set piece, the Reds failed to adequately clear and they paid the ultimate price when Alex Smith's cross found Spaniard Sanchez, who struck an easy 38th minute goal to send Wellington in front at the end of an enthralling opening half.
Cassio, back in the starting XI and playing his first game in three months after sustaining a serious foot injury, almost equalised in the 53rd minute when he thumped a free kick from 30m out which forced Paston into a desperate dive after the ball had brushed Smith on the way.
United bossed the match for much of the second half and claimed plenty of possession, but battled to make a decent impression.
Against the flow at the 65-minute mark, Ifill cut inside from the right and struck a shot that fractionally went over the top.
Eight minutes later, it was Ifill again at the forefront, with the former Barbados international almost putting the Reds out of the contest. After a positive run, his smashed volley from long-range beat Galekovic all ends up before crashing into the crossbar.
Adelaide regrouped but were found wanting when Djite's 76th-minute ball to the near post for Zenon Caravella, which looked ominous, ended with the United substitute stumbling to the ground.
Ben Sigmund's crude challenge on Djite as he was streaming towards goal in the 76th minute saw the experienced Kiwi earn a yellow card, with the parochial home crowd demands for a red card going wanting.
The Hindmarsh faithful had nothing to complain about in the 84th minute when Ifill, again looking dangerous, was denied a blatant penalty when he was pulled down from behind by Galekovic inside the box.
Djite had a late opportunity to salvage an eleventh-hour recovery deep into extra-time, but his shot, which beat Paston, sailed across the face, and the Reds' desperate final chance went begging.
The victory saw the Phoenix further strengthen their hold on second position on the A-League table and extended United's winless spell to six weeks.
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It was just Wellington's second win on South Australian soil.
Bruce Djite opened proceedings for the fast-starting hosts, who held sway for prolonged periods of the second half and had plenty of chances.
But two costly errors in defence was all it took for the visitors to strike twice, through Tim Brown, shortly after Djite's opener, and Dani Sanchez late in the first half.
Adelaide started a captivating first half in positive fashion when Cameron Watson, in the opening minute, went for a run in space down the right wing before spraying his cross over the cross-bar.
The aggressive Reds opened with energy and purpose and it did not take long before they were rewarded, when Djite picked up the crumbs after Dario Vidosic was dispossessed inside the penalty area and found the bottom right-hand corner of the net in the 10th minute.
Moments later, United very nearly made it two goals in the space of barely 60 seconds when Vidosic curled a free kick from the left of the box, which Djite almost got on the end of before Cassio hit it past Phoenix gloveman Mark Paston and into the right post.
The visitors' defence, statistically the second best in the competition, was under siege as Adelaide played some of their most inspired football for the season.
Wellington withstood the short onslaught before equalising in the 13th minute courtesy of some sloppy defensive work from the home side.
Veteran Paul Ifill gathered a lobbed through ball, back-heeled to himself and dished a clever left-foot pass to Brown who, given far too much latitude, slotted it from close range past wrong-footed Reds custodian Eugene Galekovic.
Adelaide tried to make swift amends when Nigel Boogaard's nod sailed over the top five minutes later, before another chance for United to skip ahead went begging when Vidosic's 21st-minute effort from the left was comfortably cleared by Chris Greenacre.
On the advance, Djite chipped a nice cross in the 28th minute which Sergio van Dijk was fractionally too far forward to get onto, while Iain Ramsay's close-range deflection from his non-preferred right boot in the 32nd minute just missed to the right.
While Adelaide were creating more opportunities, Phoenix was holding sway in the middle overall and were unrushed in repelling the Reds' exciting attacks.
Osama Malik drew the night's first yellow card in the 37th minute after he blatantly grabbed Manny Muscat from behind as the Phoenix right-back burst forward.
On the ensuing set piece, the Reds failed to adequately clear and they paid the ultimate price when Alex Smith's cross found Spaniard Sanchez, who struck an easy 38th minute goal to send Wellington in front at the end of an enthralling opening half.
Cassio, back in the starting XI and playing his first game in three months after sustaining a serious foot injury, almost equalised in the 53rd minute when he thumped a free kick from 30m out which forced Paston into a desperate dive after the ball had brushed Smith on the way.
United bossed the match for much of the second half and claimed plenty of possession, but battled to make a decent impression.
Against the flow at the 65-minute mark, Ifill cut inside from the right and struck a shot that fractionally went over the top.
Eight minutes later, it was Ifill again at the forefront, with the former Barbados international almost putting the Reds out of the contest. After a positive run, his smashed volley from long-range beat Galekovic all ends up before crashing into the crossbar.
Adelaide regrouped but were found wanting when Djite's 76th-minute ball to the near post for Zenon Caravella, which looked ominous, ended with the United substitute stumbling to the ground.
Ben Sigmund's crude challenge on Djite as he was streaming towards goal in the 76th minute saw the experienced Kiwi earn a yellow card, with the parochial home crowd demands for a red card going wanting.
The Hindmarsh faithful had nothing to complain about in the 84th minute when Ifill, again looking dangerous, was denied a blatant penalty when he was pulled down from behind by Galekovic inside the box.
Djite had a late opportunity to salvage an eleventh-hour recovery deep into extra-time, but his shot, which beat Paston, sailed across the face, and the Reds' desperate final chance went begging.
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Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EST
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Besart Berisha
Striker Brisbane |
21 | 1 |
|
Shane Smeltz
Striker Perth |
17 | 3 |
|
Carlos Hernández
Midfielder Melbourne Victory |
10 | 3 |
|
Mitch Nichols
Midfielder Brisbane |
10 | 1 |
|
Ryan Alan Griffiths
Striker Newcastle Jets |
9 | 1 |