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Adelaide United duo Bruce Djite and Sergio Cirio scored as the Reds tipped Brisbane Roar out of the FFA Cup with a 2-0 triumph on Tuesday night.
The Reds advanced to the quarter-finals with a slick display in the round of 16 fixture before 4,053 spectators at Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium.
Djite scored in the 35th minute and Cirio added another just after halftime to reward sustained dominance of the reigning A-League champions.
Djite tapped in after a sharp build-up initiated by a long Dylan McGowan pass from inside his own half.
McGowan’s pass was deftly flicked on by Marcelo Carrusca to play Awer Mabil into space and the speedy winger crossed into the box, and Djite slid in to score.
The goal justified Adelaide’s command of the opening half – the Reds controlled possession and territory and allowed Brisbane only rare forward sorties.
Adelaide flankers Mabil, on the right, and Cirio, on the left, tormented their opposition with dash and dare which the Roar found impossible to contain.
And after leading 1-0 at halftime, the Reds doubled their advantage two minutes into the second stanza when Cirio nodded into the net.
The Spaniard was beautifully set up by his compatriot and new recruit Pablo Sanchez, who arrowed a cross into the penalty box to find Cirio unmarked against a flat-footed Roar defence.
Some 12 minutes later, Brisbane forward Henrique produced the visitors’ best chance of the night – a powerful shot from 15m out which was parried away by Adelaide captain Eugene Galekovic.
The clubs will meet again in their A-League season opener in Brisbane on October 12.
Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau was content with the cohesion of his outfit.
“I am happy with the way that we played … we showed a little bit of what we want to do,” he said.
“This is one more step, but we know there is a long way to go.”
Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulvey said his side were unable to find rhythm in what he described as a strange encounter which felt more like a friendly than a competitive fixture.
“We wanted to win the game but it didn’t feel like a cup tie … I can’t put my finger on why,” Mulvey said.
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