Nathan Konstandopoulos strikes late to secure Adelaide United a dramatic 4-3 win over A-League new boy Western United
They left it late. But Adelaide United’s creativity and fighting spirit have dug it out of a hole, as Nathan Konstandopoulos’ stunning winner edged a seven-goal thriller with A-League new boy Western United.
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ADELAIDE United’s creativity and fighting spirit have come to the fore again, as it struck late to edge a seven-goal thriller and reinvigorate its A-League finals hopes.
Reds substitute Nathan Konstandopoulos fired in a stunning winner 11 minutes from time to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory over Western United at Whitten Oval on Sunday.
The success, which leapfrogged the visitors over their opponent into fifth on the table, came after a breathless contest which also highlighted Adelaide’s defensive frailties.
Nikola Mileusnic’s brace, either side of a Besart Berisha strike, along with Riley McGree’s eighth goal of the campaign had put the away side 3-1 up inside 18 minutes.
But Berisha pulled one back just shy of half-time and fellow veteran Alessandro Diamanti equalised after it, before Konstandopoulos’ late heroics.
The match, the Reds’ first meeting with the competition’s newest club, started at a frenetic pace, as Berisha twice went close in the opening five minutes.
But it was Adelaide which broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, after Mileusnic started and finished the move for the opener.
The winger picked up the ball in the Reds’ attacking half and fed George Blackwood, restored to the No. 9 role in pace of the injured Kristian Opseth, wide on the left.
Blackwood got to the byline and cut back a low delivery which Filip Kurto could only parry towards Mileusnic, who steered in a first-time finish from 10m through a crowded box.
It was the first time the notoriously slow-starting Reds had scored in the opening quarter-hour of a match this season.
But the home side was level just two minutes later through a familiar source of torment for Adelaide.
Berisha, so often the scourge of the Reds during his Melbourne Victory days, was given two much time to control on the edge of the area having been cleverly found by Max Burgess.
The 34-year-old hitman steadied, then curled a delightful equaliser inside the post.
Adelaide maintained its composure and was back in front on the quarter-hour.
James Troisi, reinstated after missing two games with a hamstring problem, played a superb ball in behind the host’s back three for the lively Blackwood to run on to.
The Australian under-23 international, surprisingly left out of the Olyroos’ squad for their successful Olympic qualification campaign, unselfishly squared for Mileusnic to smash home.
It got even better for Gertjan Verbeek’s men three minutes later, as the breathless start to the contest continued.
Ben Halloran, who along with Mileusnic was wreaking havoc with his pace in wide positions, pounced on a loose ball in the right channel and found McGree inside.
The SA-born star controlled, then lashed in a low drive from 12m which flicked off Oskar Dillon to deceive Kurto on its way in.
Adelaide had produced its best half of attacking football since its 3-1 defeat of Melbourne Victory in November, as its lightning transitions and use of early balls caused problems.
But Western dragged itself back into the contest in the shadows of half-time.
Paul Izzo did well to tip over Alessandro Diamanti’s back post dink and Jerry Skotadis dragged an angled effort wide when well placed.
The pressure told two minutes before the break.
Connor Pain exchanged a one-two with Burgess on the left, before crossing for Berisha to muscle his way in front of Michael Jakobsen and expertly volley in.
The Reds had 15-6 shots in the opening period and started the second brightly, as Kurto denied Maria, following a barnstorming run, and then Troisi.
A remarkable match was all square again in the 54th minute.
Jordan Elsey attempted to find Louis D’Arrigo with a ball out from the back, but it was intercepted by Skotadis who teed up Diamanti.
The Italian maestro was afforded ample space to fire off a pinpoint strike from just inside the box which left Izzo motionless.
But Konstandopoulos secured maximum points for Adelaide, just seven minutes after entering the action in place of Troisi.
Dylan Pierias prevented another quick Reds break, only for the ball to find its way to the Adelaide midfielder to control and curl in a brilliant winner from outside the area.