Adelaide United crush Melbourne City in warning to rivals
Adelaide United issued an ominous warning to every A-League club after scoring a crushing win over Melbourne City despite missing a host of stars.
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Adelaide United issued an ominous warning to every A-League club – except runaway leader Sydney FC – on Saturday night.
Beating second-placed Melbourne City 3-1 at Hindmarsh Stadium was comforting and satisfying.
However, the Reds and City clash deserved more than the 7068 fans that turned up in perfect soccer conditions.
Considering its paper-thin squad was missing Socceroo James Troisi (quad) and Australian Under-23s sensation Al Hassan Toure (foot), Adelaide hijacked the A-League’s richest club from corners – a cardinal sin for the defending team in any coaching manual.
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Craig Noone equalised for City four minutes later after another defensive error – this time from the Reds – before Halloran scored a second goal with his head.
George Blackwood made it 3-1 just before the break with a neat header to give Adelaide three wins on the bounce.
Adelaide’s job was made much easier when VAR intervened after Harrison Delbridge floored Nikola Mileusnic with a high boot.
Referee Alex King took a look at the video monitor, first pulled out a yellow card and then issued a red card for Delbridge, which confused punters in the stadium, in the 76th minute.
It was Delbridge’s only yellow card of the night.
COUNTER ATTACK
Melbourne City’s lovely work with the ball in midfield via Josh Brillante, Florin Berenguer, Craig Noone and Markel Susaeta and hold-up work from striker Jamie Maclaren did Adelaide a favour.
Adelaide had to resort to winning the ball and playing it over the top to its flying wingers Halloran or Mileusnic, or attacking midfielder Riley McGree in a bid to escape the pressure.
And it worked, as the Reds forced five first-half corners in transition.
City fell asleep three times from those set pieces, much to the delight of Adelaide which scored three times.
RE-SIGN HALLORAN
There are six A-League clubs wanting to sign Halloran, including Adelaide, according to those very close to the polished attacker, who is now scoring regularly.
He has five to his name this season.
Halloran’s contract price must have soared during a brilliant first half at Hindmarsh.
Not only was he a menace on the wing, he scored two vital goals.
His first was a rasping left- footed half-volley and his second a header.
What is Adelaide waiting for? Halloran is sure to be snapped up by a rival if the Reds can’t conclude a deal soon.
UNBELIEVABLE LUIGI
It is a rarity among Australian players but this skill is a must among the best players in Europe and South America.
Adelaide’s incredible talent Louis (or Luigi as coach Gertjan Verbeek likes to call him) D’Arrigo, 18, can pass a ball with his eyes focused – not at his feet – but where he wants the ball to go.
D’Arrigo also knows how to use his body and can outmuscle heavier opponents.
His superior positioning helps him win most contests.
D’Arrigo is one of the most exciting midfielders to emerge from SA since the legendary John Perin made his mark for Adelaide City and the Socceroos from the 1960s.
ADELAIDE UNITED 3 (Ben Halloran 12m, 41m, George Blackwood 47m) MELBOURNE CITY 1 (Craig Noone 16m) at Coopers Stadium
Adelaide (4-3-3): Izzo; Strain, Elsey, Jakobsen, Maria; D’Arrigo, McGree, Konstandopoulos; Halloran, Blackwood (Opseth 64m), Mileusnic (Kitto 91m)
City (3-5-1-1): Bouzanis, Hendry, Delbridge, Good; Galloway, Noone (Atkinson 78m); Berenguer (Wales 82m), Brillante; Susaeta (Metcalfe 73m); Luna, Najjarine, MacLaren.
REFEREE: Adam King
CROWD: 7068
YELLOW CARDS – Adelaide – McGree, Konstandopoulos: City – Good
RED CARDS – City: Harrison Delbridge