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Brazilian striker Cristiano notched a second half double as Adelaide United wore down 10-man Newcastle Jets to win 2-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight.
The victory kept up Adelaide’s perfect A-League home record this season and sent them back into third position to keep them on a high after qualifying for the Asian Champions League semi-finals three days ago.
However, reigning A-League champions Newcastle fell foul of injuries and found themselves down to 10 men from the 55th minute when midfielder Jason Hoffmann had to leave the pitch.
Coach Gary van Egmond could do little as key pair, brothers Adam and Joel Griffiths, succumbed to leg injuries before halftime and Dane Jesper Hakansson was forced off in the 51st minute.
Cristiano ensured Adelaide cashed in late with strikes in the 72nd and 89th minutes in front of 8,111 fans, to take his season’s goal tally to four after an earlier double against Wellington.
He forced Jets keeper Ante Covic into a fine save inside the first minute, but had to be patient against a sturdy Newcastle defence marshalled by captain Jade North and Tarek Elrich.
He netted with a header to open the scoring from close range after a shot from fellow Brazilian Alemao was brilliantly parried by Covic onto the crossbar.
South Korean midfielder Jin Hyung Song had the Jets’ best chance in the first half but his turn and shot in the eighth minute was well blocked by in-form Adelaide keeper Eugene Galekovic.
Joel Griffiths tackled Cassio crudely in the 35th minute and paid the price, coming off injured after a caution.
Adelaide got on top slowly after Hoffmann’s departure and substitute Alemao added bite going forward.
Cristiano ensured Adelaide got back on track after A-League losses to Melbourne and Sydney in their past two matches by embarrassing Covic in the dying minutes to make it 2-0.
The Jets keeper had his clearing kick blocked by Cristiano just outside his penalty area in the 89th minute and the striker stroked the ball into the open goal from 12 metres.
Just a minute earlier Galekovic produced the save of the match to protect Adelaide’s lead when he palmed a fierce shot from Tarek Elrich over the crossbar.
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