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Adelaide United have won the 2016 A-League Grand Final in their fourth attempt at a winner’s plate, beating out the Western Sydney Wanderers three goals to one in a thrilling season finale.
Goals to Bruce Kamau and Isaias Sanchez in the first half sunk the Wanderers early, but a second-half fight back reminiscent of Western Sydney’s semi-final win the week before brought hope back to the visitors.
Both sides played with caution in the opening stages of the game, sharing an even split in possession and field position through the first 15 minutes before play started to open up.
More A-League grand final:
» A-League Grand final scores and highlights
» Grand final player ratings
» Three big talking points from the grand final
It wouldn’t take too long before 21-year-old Kenyan-born Bruce Kamau latched on to a wonderful Carrusca low cross, punching the ball into the back of the net to send the thunderous home crowd into hysteria.
After conceding the early opener the Wanderers looked stunned, and it showed, with sloppy ball retention and poor short passing giving United all the chances in the world to double their lead.
Adelaide took just 12 minutes to hit a brace, and what a goal it was. Isaias curled in a remarkable free kick into the top left corner of goal, leaving Wanderers keeper Andrew Redmanyne with concrete boots as he watched it sail over the wall into the back of the net from the edge of the box.
The visitors limped to the sheds at halftime with a two-goal deficit and hopes of winning a grand final slipping.
Coach Tony Popovic must have given his Wanderers some pretty strong oranges at half time, as the Western Sydney men came shooting out of the blocks and completely dominated the majority of the second stanza.
Frustration grew for the Wanderers though, giving away fouls left, right and centre as Scott Jamieson earned a yellow for his efforts in defence.
From one Scott to another, it wasn’t too long after that Scott Neville finally got his side on the board, finishing off a sublime piece of lead up play from Brendon Santalab and Romeo Castelen on the edge of the box.
Western Sydney were shaping up for a herculean comeback but the Adelaide defensive unit parked the bus and refused to give up their lead, giving the Great Wall of China a run for it’s money in keeping the constant Wanderers barrage out.
Hope turned to desperation as the clock ran down and a simple slip up at the back in the final minute was the nail in the coffin for the Wanderers. Perennial goal scorer off the bench Pablo Sanchez pounced on a loose pass at the back and netted home the final piece in the puzzle.
It was truly a game of two halves but you do feel the better side won in the end. Credit to the Wanderers though for sticking with it despite the early setbacks and heartache for them, losing their third grand final in four years.
Celebrations for Adelaide who have finally held aloft the golden toilet seat after a pretty rough grand final history.
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