Adelaide United
2
Match Complete
Sydney FC
3
| 87' |  | R. McGowan | ||
| M. Maria |  | 76' | ||
| R. Strain |  | 57' | ||
| A. H. Toure | | 51' | ||
| N. Mileusnic | | 44' | ||
| 28' | | A. L. Fondre | ||
| 22' | | A. L. Fondre |
| 14 | Shots | 14 | ||
| 3 | On Target | 7 | ||
| 14 | Fouls | 17 | ||
| 7 | Corners | 4 | ||
| 1 | Offsides | 3 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
Adelaide United take on reigning champions Sydney FC in week 1 of the 2019/20 A-League season at Coopers Stadium this Friday at 7:30pm (AEST). Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match.
Sydney FC has used this off season strengthening an already experienced and talented team, sounding a massive warning to the rest of the competition.
Joining top-tier A-League stars Milos Ninkovic and Adan Le Fondre for 2019-20 is the former Wanderer Alex Baumjohann, Victory wideman Kosta Barbarouses, City’s ball player Luke Brattan and Socceroo Ryan McGowan to sure-up defence.
It’s effectively an all-star A-League forward five now at Sydney, and manager Steve Corica has a wealth of diverse talents to structure up his forward play.
Barbarouses, in particular, can go out wide to give Corica the option of playing a 4-3-3, or fit inside in Corica’s regular 4-2-2-2.
Baumjohann can play anywhere in the midfield or upfront, and Brattan should slot in beside Brandon O’Neill to transition with more fluidity.
The big out for Sydney is Josh Brillante, who joined City in something of a player swap with Luke Brattan. While Brillante has his flaws, he did stiffen the Sydney midfield and a lot of destructive work now falls on Brandon O’Neill’s shoulders.
Adelaide United has also made significant changes, with a “talisman exchange” of Craig Goodwin out, who has moved to Saudi Arabia, for local boy Riley McGree who was officially purchased from Club Brugge for a reported fee of $150K.
McGree seems to be an A-League veteran but is still only 20, and is coming off a frustrating season on loan (from Brugge) in Warren Joyce’s turgid Melbourne City.
Club legend Isaias has also vacated the Adelaide midfield, leaving a few questions and unknowns in his place.
His former midfield partners Vince Lia and Mirko Boland remain, but neither is renowned for their pace or exquisite passing range.
McGree is a creative weapon who was never really allowed to express himself at City, and may slot into a midfield pair as a box-to-box option for the Reds.
Having to keep an eye on McGree may be a distraction to Brattan and O’Neill that the Reds could use to capitalise in this game.
Adelaide’s other major renovation from last season is at manager. German Marco Kurz has left for Victory, and in comes Gertjan Verbeek.
The Dutchman has started strongly, steering Adelaide into the final of the FFA Cup. But a league fixture against the reigning champions is the perfect level to measure his squad and tactics against.
For this fixture, which falls in an international window (why, A-League, why?), Sydney is the heaviest hit with both Rhyan Grant and goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne off with the Socceroos.
They are big losses at the back for Sydney, but with their front 5 they should create enough chances to overcome any gaps in their defence.
Prediction
There could be goals in this game. Expect an open contest, especially as Sydney transition, and it will be fascinating to see whether Verbeek takes Sydney on or takes a more conservative approach.
Sydney could leak goals with this makeshift defence, but ultimately should have enough firepower to produce a winning score.
Adelaide United 1 – Sydney FC 3
EJ
Roar Pro
Just watched replay, as a reds fan very happy with how my team played, feel like Troisi and Boland will make midfield when they come back/in, Blackwood needs to improve but not in midfield, while D'Arrigo good but looked a bit nervous at times, McGree, Halloren, Toure all very good, Mileusic as well, unfortunately had a red card when we looked the better team and possibly hitting the front, but that's football unfortunately, still very resilient and proud effort. Looking forward to the season.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Sydney will concede heaps of goals this year . Baumjohan is bad enough without the ball, but Brattan has reached a new low. Corica seems clueless about how physically uncompetitive his team is. Sydney man of the match was Ryan Strain because even if they scored they would have ben lucky to hold out Adelaide from scoring a couple more if they had 11. I can see teams running over the top of them with Brattan especially being left on and taking off players like Barbarouses instead.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Thanks for your time tonight. A pretty fun game which was let down by the red card, for mine. A lot to like for both teams really - especially if you're a Reds fan. They didn't get the points tonight but the Verbeek era looks like it could be an exciting one. See you all in round 2!
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT. Sydney FC the winners tonight 3-2 in a game that both teams will take a lot from. Despite the loss, and being architects of it through defensive errors and lapses which lead to all 3 goals, Adelaide had more possession, created as many chances and threatened all night even after going a man down after an hour. Indeed it was an open game with both defences strained throughout, and the attacking talent from both teams shone out. Sydney opened the scoring from the penalty spot and Adam leFondre through a fortunate handball call by VAR against Mikael Jakobsen. Despite creating multiple chances Adelaide found themselves 2-0 down after a well taken leFondre second, as Milos Ninkovic capitalised on a poor touch from Jordan Elsey to play the Englishman in. From there Adelaide fought hard to equalise with goals on either side of halftime. The first a glorious free kick from Mileusnic, the second a centimetre perfect lofted ball from Halloran who put debutant Toure behind the Sydney line to collect and calmly finish. What shaped to be an end-to-end last 30minutes was disrupted by the red card to Ryan Strain, who’s poor touch again allowed leFondre to win the ball and sneak in on goal. Strain’s tug back produced a red, somewhat unfairly as leFondre still had a lot of work to do and wasn’t acres in the clear, but it certainly set the scene for the final 30minutes. Understandably Sydney got on top and thrilled fans with their passing interchanges and wonderful control. Luke Brattan showed what he adds to the side with some brilliant throughballs and it seemed a matter of time before Sydney took the lead again. And take the lead they did, again from some poor (non-existent) defending when Ryan McGowan on his debut for Sydney thundered in an unmarked header from a corner with 3 minutes to go. It was probably the right result on the night, and Sydney fans will be heartened to see Ninkovic and leFondre up to their usual selves, while Barbarouses and Baumjohann slotted in seamlessly with Luke Brattan’s passing was a constant threat throughout. Indeed Barbarouses was denied a goal on debut by the finest of margins by a VAR offside call which looked almost pedantic in the closeness of the line. For Adelaide the McGree homecoming lived up to the billing. He was superb all night, had a couple of great chances he put just wide, transitioned the ball for Adelaide with pace and precision and was a constant threat. And young striker Toure showed enormous potential, scored, and looked like he might evolve into the finisher Adelaide has lacked for seasons. MAN OF THE MATCH was leFondre. The timing of his runs was sublime, and his interplay with Barbarouses was so sharp it looked like they had played together for years. His two finishes were the difference, and underlined for Adelaide that mistakes in the defensive third will not suffice if they want to challenge for the title.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Sydney will destroy a few teams this year but not if King and Retre are left and right back.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
FULL TIME. Sydney the winners tonight 3 goals to 2
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
90+4' - SAVE from Izzo. It's new guy Ivanovic who is played in by strike partner leFondre at the top of the box, but his shot is weak and Izzo has it covered | ADE 2 - SYD 3
Garry Jr
Guest
Maybe, maybe not. But the officials are literally wearing sky blue.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
90+3" - Sydney makes another change. Barbarouses is OFF for Ivanovic who will get a small run out there tonight. | ADE 2 - SYD 3
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
90+2" - leFondre into the side netting! On cue a superb diagonal ball from Brattan plays leFondre in and he drives and tries to tuck a left foot shot at the near post but puts it into the side netting. | ADE 2 - SYD 3
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Sydney's passing in behind Adelaide's back 4 has been superb all night.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
We cross the 90 and there will be 6 minutes of injury time.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
89' - SAVE from Izzo. It was leFondre again, getting on the end of a Ninkovic poke, and he took the shot from his left looking to slide it across Izzo from a tight angle but Izzo is up to it | ADE 2 - SYD 3
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
87' - GOAL McGOWAN. It was from the corner and the first real threat from one all night. He had a free head at that, a perfect ball in from O'Neill at the penalty spot and McGowan blasted it to the left of Izzo. Superb set piece there from Sydney... Adelaide seemingly fell asleep | ADE 2 - SYD 3.
87'
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
86' - Elsey throwing himself into another tackle, putting the ball out for a CORNER and preventing leFondre taking possession to shoot. | ADE 2 - SYD 2
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
84' - Ninkovic SHOT BLOCKED. Numbers in their forward third and space opening for them, Sydney's key player finds some space inside the box but he blasts it into his Red's opponent. | ADE 2 - SYD 2
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
We're inside 10 minutes to go. Sydney has lifted their workrate and possesion since the red card
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
82' - FREE KICK to Adelaide, right on the edge of the box. It was won by McGree after Retre dived in wantonly there. Opseth is standing over it.... and he blasts it over with his left boot. Odd choice, as it was just outside the left post and taken by a left footer. | ADE 2 - SYD 2
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Some superb interchange from Sydney in a couple of forward movements here, just struggling to break down Adelaide's defence.