George Blackwood saves Adelaide from defeat to Central Coast

It took a stoppage-time equaliser from George Blackwood to stop Central Coast from claiming just their second win of the season on a lethargic afternoon at Hindmarsh Stadium.

George Blackwood and Scott Galloway celebrate a point saved. (AAP Image/David Mariuz)

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THE A-League’s 33 days of game madness since Boxing Day saw Adelaide United run out of gas on Sunday — but just at the right time.

George Blackwood’s late show stoppage-time winner soothed all the aches and pains of a period which seriously tested the resources of the Reds after a very flat first half performance.

Perhaps the same can be said of the video assistant referee as United’s eight matches since Christmas with a squad lacking serious depth appeared to be suffering from fatigue.

A blatant handball was reviewed by VAR but incredibly referee Jarred Gillett wasn’t summoned to watch a replay.

It took time for the game to get going. (Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Mariners defender Aiden O’Neill’s arm moved after the ball from a Ryan Strain cross inside the six-yard box in first half stoppage time didn’t reach its destination Reds target.

One of the cheekiest goals seen at Hindmarsh got rid of the Reds slumber when the game had 23 minutes to find a winner.

Isaias was the quickest to react to a corner when the ball dropped just inside the six-yard box.

Despite a plethora of Mariners within the vicinity of the ball Isaias was the first to put his boot on the leather facing away from goal, he turned and toe-poked it home.

It was his first goal of the season before Blackwood nailed his maiden of the season with his head from a Scott Galloway assist in Adelaide’s 2-1 win over Central Coast at Coopers Stadium.

However it wasn’t easy against the bottom club.

Andrew Hoole’s cracker opened the scoring. (Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Mariners’ Andrew Hoole scored one of the best goals seen at Hindmarsh this season.

A swivel of the hips, managed to keep Nathan Konstandopoulos at bay before Hoole had enough room to smack a brilliant 25m right-footed curler past the outstretched diving arms of Adelaide gloveman Paul Izzo eight minutes before the break.

After a lethargic start where both teams were closing down space, Galloway saved a header from Mariners skipper Matt Simon with his own head on the goal line when the game was 11 minutes old.

Adelaide played the ball out from the back as it waited for Mariners to press and the same tactical outlet worked a treat without rewards.

There was plenty for Jarred Gillett to think about. (AAP Image/David Mariuz)

Releasing Nikola Mileusnic past a very high defensive line after super passes from Strain, Isaias and Vinni Lia were wasted as the winger easily beat Kye Rowles.

Craig Goodwin watched his turn and right footed shot clatter into grateful Ryles on the goal line in the 26th minute before Ben Halloran missed the target with a misdirected header from three metres two minutes before the break.

Coach Marco Kurz responded to the goal deficit at half time when he introduced Ken Ilso for Lia.

The German rejigged his formation from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 to accommodate the Dane.

The ploy worked as he was involved in Adelaide’s second good chance of the first half but Goodwin’s effort was brilliantly blocked by Mariners keeper Ben Kennedy in the 52nd minute.

Mileusnic was again the outlet in the 61st minute from an Ilso ball wide but the winger after doing everything right to unbalance defenders blasted the ball high over the bar from 10m.

That action was the last for Halloron as Blackwood was unleashed off the bench in a bid to find an equaliser.

Blackwood got his first chance from a Galloway pass but after a good turn to lose his defender his final shot was meek in the 64th minute.

Galloway then watched in disbelief as Kennedy made another reflex from his effort and seconds the shot stopper was at it again from the resultant corner just before stoppage time.

Adelaide United 2 (Isaias 66m, George Blackwood 92m) Central Coast 1 (Andrew Hoole 37m) at Coopers Stadium. Referee: Jarred Gillett. Crowd: 7965

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