Adelaide United have eliminated Brisbane Roar from the 2015 A-League season with a 2-1 victory at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
The Reds were well supported at home in the first finals match of the season. In form and confident to claim the trophy, Adelaide avoided a shock defeat with a late goal to crowd favourite Awer Mabil. Boosted by the return of Marcelo Carrusca, Adelaide looked to cope without the services of injured playmaker Bruce Djite.
The home side got off to the perfect start when Craig Goodwin netted a screamer from outside the box after James Donachie brought down an attacker with a brash challenge. Curling over the wall and dipping the ball with painful accuracy, Goodwin hit his 10th goal in the 7th minute.
Fortunate to be in the finals after the expulsion of Perth Glory, Thomas Broich made the match very interesting equalising in the 27th minute. A rookie mistake from Australian defender Dylan McGowan who mistimed his backpass to keeper Eugene Galekovic gave Broich a sniff. The German midfielder made no mistake, slotting home in the far corner.
Adelaide dominated possession in the first half with 59% and showed decent composure, kicking 70% passing accuracy. Both sides did well in limiting chances on goal with 2 each and a 1-1 scoreline at half-time.
The fans sensed victory in the second half in what was a tight tussle for the first quarter. Some poor touches from the Roar thwarted several opportunities and keep moral down.
Adelaide turned it on in the final stages, forcing some athletic and instinctive saves from Jamie Young. The animated keeper could not prevent what would prove to be the match winner in the 86th minute when Mabil finished off an excellent run down the right wing by Cirio, who cut back in to find the Kenyan.
MATCH REPORT | @AdelaideUnited‘s late winner breaks @brisbaneroar‘s hearts – http://t.co/xmQIG9jzdC #ALeagueFinals pic.twitter.com/2NQFMa3sWV
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) May 1, 2015
