South Australia

South Australia

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Adelaide smash arch rivals Melbourne to end run of losses


Adelaide United has defeated Melbourne Victory for the first time since late 2007, with an emphatic 4-1 victory over their arch rivals.

The Reds kept their perfect winning record at AAMI Park intact with the stunning victory, meaning it was the first time they have received a point in eleven consecutive outings against the Melbourne side.

The traveling Adelaide fans received their first moments of joy since the 2007 victory at Hindmarsh Stadium, following a first half strike from Marcos Flores, before a goal-of-the-season contending free kick from Dutch striker Sergio Van Dijk was hit from a distance.

Any hopes of a Melbourne comeback were all but diminished in the 64th minute, as Kevin Muscat was given his marching orders for his second bookable offence after a stray arm on United midfielder Adam Hughes.

Adelaide then added two more goals, courtesy of Fabian Barbiero's first touch after coming on as a substitute, before Van Dijk's second was luckily popped into the net.

The Victory were never in the game, as Adelaide were on the attack from the very beginning with an early strike from debutant Uruguayan Francisco Usucar heaping the pressure early.

Melbourne were lucky not to be reduced to ten men early in the game, after what looked to be a deliberate handball by Grant Brebner.

Defensive pressure and the clinical strike from Flores proved the difference heading into the main break, as the Reds were high on confidence walking into the sheds.

Following the break, as Muscat received his first caution, the resulting free kick from Van Dijk thundered into the top corner of the net, as it smashed through the wall and past 'keeper Michael Petkovic.

As captain Travis Dodd came off the park, Barbiero himself would've been shocked to realise his first touch of the game was into the back of the net, effectively ending their run of losses against Melbourne.

Van Dijk then secured his status at the top of the A-League scoring charts, with his second goal. It was not all pretty however, as Petkovic nearly caused Van Dijk serious damage in the groin, following an attempt to save the ball with his studs up.

Even with the three points secured and Muscat off the field, the clash still exhaled plenty of fire, with Evan Berger kneeing Usucar in the head, leading to a sideline melee.

Melbourne were lucky not to have Berger sent off following the unnecessary incident.

The Victory also scored a late goal, with the last kick of the game, with a laid back Adelaide defense succumbing to a strike from substitute Mate Dugandzic.

The win keeps Adelaide in a strong position to claim second spot on the A-League ladder, whilst the Victory are now in danger of missing the finals following two losses in five days.

Adelaide's next game is on Friday week at Hindmarsh Stadium against the North Queensland Fury, who will be looking to keep their own finals hopes alive.

Adelaide Starting Lineup: 2. Robert Cornthwaite, 4. Iain Fyfe, 6. Cassio, 8. Adam Hughes, 9. Sergio Van Dijk, 10. Marcos Flores, 13. Travis Dodd (c), 14. Cameron Watson, 19. Iain Ramsay, 20. Mark Birrighitti (gk), 21. Francisco Usucar.
Substitutes: 18. Fabian Barbiero (73'), 12. Paul Reid (78'), 7. Lucas Pantelis (81'), 1. Eugene Galekovic (Not used)
Yellow Cards: Usucar 46', Barbiero 76', Flores 79'
Goals: Flores 12', Van Dijk 56', Barbiero 73', Van Dijk 78'

Melbourne Starting Lineup: 1. Michael Petkovic (gk), 2. Kevin Muscat (c), 8. Grant Brebner, 9. Ricardinho, 12. Rodrigo Vargas, 13. Diego Ferreria, 14. Billy Celeski, 16. Carlos Hernandez, 18. Danny Allsopp, 19. Evan Berger, 23. Adrian Leijer.
Substitues: 11. Marvin Angulo (46'), 3. Mate Dugandzic (73'), 6. Leigh Broxam (87'), 20. Sebastian Mattei (Not used)
Yellow Cards: Ricardinho 26', Muscat 56', Muscat 64', Berger 76', Allsopp 81', Angulo 86'
Red Card: Muscat 64'
Goal: Dugandzic 90+4'

Crowd: 18558 at AAMI Park
Referee: Peter Green

Monday, March 22, 2010

Sunday, March 14, 2010

SANFL/AFL Trial Match Results March 12th-13th

The following are results from SANFL League and AFL games over the weekend:

West Adelaide 12.13 (85) def Sturt 11.12 (78)

Port Adelaide 17.15 (117) def South Adelaide 13.7 (85)

North Adelaide 17.6 (108) def Glenelg 15. 10 (100)

Norwood 20. 16 (136) def Central Districts 10.13 (73)

Adelaide Crows 12.11 (83) def Carlton Blues 11.16 (82) at VISY Park

Port Adelaide Power 15.7 (97) def by Collingwood Magpies 27.16 (176) at Mt. Gambier

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Adelaide United Brave the Cold to Beat Shandong

Getty Images: Feng Li


Adelaide United have surged to the top of Group H in the Asian Champions League, after shocking Chinese Super League outfit Shandong Luneng in front of a healthy crowd at the Shandong Sports Complex.

The win comes after Adelaide opened their campaign with a 1-0 win against Pohang Steelers a fortnight ago.

The Reds and Shandong both squalled many chances in the opening half, with Sergio Van Dijk heading home a ball in the 27th minute, thanks to Robert Cornthwaite and Lucas Pantelis combining brilliantly to set up the goal.

Adelaide had to brave a 7 degree kickoff temperature and 25,000 vocal Shandong fans to hit the front.

Throughout the game, there were many fierce challenges from Adelaide with the referee pulling out a number of yellow cards, especially on tackles from United onto the 'fragile' Shandong side.

Adelaide had twenty-five fouls compared to Luneng's seven.

Shandong also had it's own opportunities to score, especially through Dutch-Ghanaian substitute Fred Benson.

United's second goal came through that of Matthew Leckie, who scored for the 3rd time in as many games, in all competitions, to seal the points for Adelaide. The goal rebounded off the cross-bar and only just made it over the line.

The win now puts Adelaide in a terrific position to advance to the last-sixteen of a tournament they weren't expected to go far in.

United's next game is in Adelaide at Hindmarsh Stadium on Wednesday, March 24 against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in front of an expected sellout crowd.

Tickets through Ticketek or at adelaideunited.com.au

Crowd: 25,000 (approx)

Goals: Van Dijk 27', Leckie 70'

Bookings: Cornthwaite 44', C Peng 51' (Shandong), Pantelis 65', Hughes 88'

Starting Lineup Adelaide: 1. Eugene Galekovic, 2. Robbie Cornthwaitwe, 4. Iain Fyfe, 5. Daniel Mullen, 7. Lucas Pantelis, 9. Sergio Van Dijk, 13. Travis Dodd (c), 14. Scott Jamieson, 17. Michael Marrone, 19. Matthew Leckie, 24. Marcos Flores

Used Substitutes Adelaide: 6. Cassio 78', 10. Hughes 82', 27. Griffiths 90+1'


Jack Molloy.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

SANFL Trial Match Results March 5th-6th



The following are results from SANFL League games over the weekend:

Central District 15.14 (104) def Eagles 9.11 (65)

West Adelaide 12.9 (81) def Glenelg 10.8 (68)

Sturt 12.6 (78) def Port Adelaide 10.7 (67)

North 10.12 (72) def Norwood 9.6 (60)

The following are results from the AFL NAB Cup/Challenge Games over the weekend:

Western Bulldogs 92 def Port Adelaide Power 89 at Etihad Stadium

Adelaide Crows 69 def Melbourne Demons 67 at Hamra Homes Oval

Shandong Luneng vs Adelaide United PREVIEW


Asian Champions League match day 2 kicks off on Wednesday and a South Australian team is competing:

Who: Shandong Luneng (China) vs Adelaide United (Australia)
Where: Shandong Stadium, China
Weather: Sunny, 0 degrees Celsius

Adelaide United possible starting lineup:

1. Eugene Galekovic - GK
2. Robert Cornthwaite - CB
4. Iain Fyfe - CB
5. Daniel Mullen - RB
6. Cassio - LB
7. Lucas Pantelis - LM
9. Sergio Van Dijk - ST
13. Travis Dodd (c) - RM
19. Matthew Leckie - CAM
24. Marcos Flores - CM
27. Adam Griffiths - CM

Substitutes: 14. Scott Jamieson, 18. Fabian Barbiero, 12. Paul Reid, 3. Nigel Boogard, 20. Mark Birrighitti, 1o. Adam Hughes


BREAKING NEWS: Liam Jurrah out for 16 weeks




Melbourne Demons excitement machine Liam Jurrah has suffered a setback with a shoulder reconstruction keeping him on the sidelines for sixteen weeks following a narrow 2 point loss to the Adelaide Crows in Elizabeth on Saturday.

Jurrah learnt the news earlier today after visiting a Melbourne surgeon.

It is the first injury Jurrah has ever incurred in his life.

Liam Jurrah was the 2008 #1 preseason draft pick after playing for Collingwood in the VFL and the Yuendumu Magpies in Central Australia.