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The opening match of the 2018-19 A-league season kicked off at Coopers Stadium in a rather dull affair between Adelaide United and Sydney FC in-front of the 10,018-strong crowd.
Not only the dawn of thew new season, but it was time for new Sydney FC manager Steve Corica to lead his troops out for his first competitive league match.
However the first 45 minutes was tricky for the Sydneysiders with Marco Kurz’s Adelaide side very hard to breakdown with good chances for either side few and far between.
Craig Goodwin for Adelaide was causing some problems for down the left flank.
The returning Socceroo forward had the first major chance of the match where after receiving the ball from Spanish midfielder Isaias fired a near post shot that forced Sydney keeper Andrew Redmayne into a fine save.
Although the game seemed balanced Reds manager Kurz was audibly calling to players asking “what can you do better?”
Former Johnny Warren medal winner Milos Ninkovic tried to lift Sydney but was drowned out by midfield pressure, a clear tactic from Kurz to nullify the Serbian.
Sydney did get some joy down their flank with Michael Zullo and Rhyan Grant getting past the Adelaide fullbacks.
However their final product was just not up to scratch with import Siem De Jong visibly frustrated at the lack of quality service.
The Dutchman tried too hard to be the man for Sydney at times, repeatedly taking the more selfish option at times.
Sydney were made to pay for their wastefulness when on the stroke of halftime Scott Galloway beat a questionably positioned Redmayne to make it 1-0 to Adelaide.
Adelaide United celebrate a goal (AAP Image/ James Elsby)
Galloway received the ball from Goodwin on the top of the box and proceeded to curl a looping shot over the advanced Redmayne to give United a deserving lead.
The goal was Adelaide’s first goal against Sydney in over 630 minutes of game play, the last being scored by Bruce Djite back in April 2016.
When the second half resumed the match reverted back to where it finished with Adelaide having the best of it.
Joshua Brillante showed signs of fight for Sydney after an altercation with Mirko Bolland, with the Sydney man being booked for his efforts.
Not long after Grant followed him into the book with a hard bump on Bolland, despite De Jong already committing the foul.
Adelaide however were well in control of the match, despite possession stats being even, with Corica looking for a spark for his side.
Yet, in the 78th minute new signing Adam Le Fondre equalised for the visitors.
The former Bolton Wanderers player tapped in the ball from Milos Ninkovic to grab a rather undeserved equaliser with Sydney’s first real chance of the match.
Kurz responded by bringing on Danish Under 21 player Ken Ilsø to try and wrestle the result back their way.
The final minutes spurred a late revival from Sydney who for the only time in the match looked able to take a lead.
Halloran was unlucky not to score the winner in the 87th minute following a Jop Van Der Linden mistake but Redmayne was sure not to be culpable for a second.
Adelaide Veteran Michael Marrone had a late chance to put in a cross but it was the story of the day with quality lacking in the final third.
Adelaide will feel unfortunate to not get the first three points of the season but Sydney held on in the end for a 1-1 draw in the opening match of the season.
FULLTIME:
ADELAIDE UNITED: 1 (48’ Galloway)
SYDNEY FC: 1 (78’ Le Fondre)Crowd: 10,018
Referee: Jared GilleteADELAIDE UNITED:
Starting XI: 20. IZZO Paul, 2. MARRONE Michael, 3. GALLOWAY Scott (82’), 23. ELSEY Jordan, 22. JAKOBSEN Michael, 8. ISAíAS, 4 STRAIN Ryan, 31. BOLAND Mirko, 6. LIA Vince, 11. GOODWIN Craig, 26. HALLORAN Ben.Substitutes: 30. RICHARDS Isaac, 5. REGAN Taylor, 16. KONSTANDOPOULOS Nathan, 32. ARMIENTO Carlo, 10. ILSÖ Ken (82’)
Manger: Marco Kurz
SYDNEY FC:
Starting XI: 1. REDMAYNE Andrew, 23. GRANT Rhyan, 7. ZULLO Michael, 4. WILKINSON Alex, 5. VAN DER LINDEN Jop, 13. O’NEILL Brandon, 22. DE JONG Siem, 6. BRILLANTE Joshua, 10. NINKOVIC Milos, 9. LE FONDRE Adam, 14. BROSQUE Alex (86’)Substitutes: 20. CISAK Alex, 2 CALVER Aaron, 24. DEVLIN Cameron, 8. RETRE Paulo, 21. LOKOLI NGOY Charles (86’)
Manager: Steve Corica
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