Roar Guru
After 85 minutes of to-ing and fro-ing, the final 5 minutes at Adelaide Oval proved well worth it as goals from Adelaide United’s Cirio and Melbourne Victory’s Khalfallah turned a seemingly dire goalless draw into an electric 1-1 encounter.
On a slippery and fast pitch neither team could settle into any real consistency and it took some great work from United’s Cirio to open the game right up with a superbly taken goal.
Sparking Victory into life, it took just minutes for new signing Khalfallah to smash home a corner after some poor Adelaide marking.
Adelaide then pushed for all three points but couldn’t grab a winner and might walk away from the game satisfied but disappointed at squandering their lead so quickly.
Victory should be happy with the point after a subdued performance where new man Besart Berisha was kept under wraps.
They now sit top of table ahead of second placed Adelaide on goal difference.
Was this an early season encounter between two potential champions? Either way a few positives and negatives for both sides as they remain undefeated in A-League Season 10.
FINAL SCORE:
Adelaide 1
Melbourne 1
Adelaide United host Melbourne Victory at Adelaide Oval as both teams look to push on after successful opening round matches. Join The Roar from 7:40pm (AEDT) for live scores and coverage.
Having shell-shocked the Western Sydney Wanderers 4-1 last Friday night, Melbourne will be eager to prove their credentials on the road as they tackle Adelaide on their home turf.
Adelaide meanwhile return home after a come-from-behind 2-1 away win against last year’s champions, Brisbane Roar.
After a drilled Bruce Djite strike, Adelaide wrapped up all three points against Brisbane, having forced a Roar own goal.
With the ever-dangerous Djite up front and Marcelo Carrusca along side him, the returning defensive rock of Sergio Cirio and veteran goalie in Eugene Galekovic, United are a well-rounded side seemingly primed for a promising season.
But up against an equally promising and hungry Melbourne Victory outfit, Adelaide’s credentials will be put under heavy scrutiny, particularly their defensive abilities.
Besart Berisha made a resounding A-League debut for Victory, scoring one and setting up another against the Wanderers, and will pose a real threat to United’s defence.
With strikers Berisha, Archie Thompson and Connor Pain, as well as a midfield packed full of talent, Victory will be hard team to keep scoreless this season.
Conversely however their ability to keep clean sheets will also be tested. At times soft against the Wanderers, Melbourne’s defence will be tested by an attacking United side.
Both sides are injected with fresh legs, with Mark Milligan returning from international duty for the Victory while Osama Malik and Cirio both return from injury for United.
Although slight favourites in my eyes, Victory away from home are no sure thing and up against United I can see them sharing the spoils.
Join us on The Roar from 7:40pm (AEDT) to see Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory battle it out in pursuit of a continued perfect start to the 2014-15 A-League season.