A-League: Marcelo Carrusca goal helps Adelaide United to 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets

ADELAIDE United’s fans — the ones that perhaps stayed away in the tough times — came back to Coopers Stadium yesterday.

SOCCER - A-LEAGUE - Adelaide United v Newcastle Jets. Coopers Stadium. Craig Goodwin dives on top of his team mates after Marcelo Carrusca scored the goal in the first half. Photo Sarah Reed.

ADELAIDE United’s fans — the ones that perhaps stayed away in the tough times — came back to Coopers Stadium yesterday.

Whether they turned up to endorse the ‘kids go free’ initiative or if they decided to come back because Adelaide was on an eight game undefeated run are inconclusive.

But one thing is for sure, the final day of the summer holidays before most children go back to school proved to be a hit as 12,434 turned up to get the party started at Hindmarsh.

It was the Reds’ biggest crowd at Coopers Stadium since 16,077 fans last March saw a 2-2 draw with Melbourne Victory.

And Adelaide did not disappoint, upstaging the hapless Newcastle Jets 1-0 in a tight contest.

Adelaide is now just a win away from second spot, sitting in sixth position.

But it took Adelaide 222 minutes to find its first goal against a side this season which for all of that it’s dressed up to be has been dishing up little better than last season when the Jets finished bottom.

Marcelo Carrusca finally broke the deadlock which lasted two previous A-League matches when he pounced on a rebound, when Bruce Djite did all the lead-up work and smacking the ball across goal before the Argentine scored his fifth goal of the season.

However, Adelaide was made to work hard for its rewards as the Jets, with former United players Ryan Kitto, Mark Birighitti, Daniel Mullen and Cameron Watson, having lots to prove.

Craig Goodwin dives on top of his team-mates after Marcelo Carrusca’s goal. Photo: Sarah Reed.

Kitto consistently won his battle against right back Jordan Elsey and almost delivered a crucial assist eight minutes before the break.

Only a brilliant double lunging block from Isaias inside the box, when Kitto cut the ball back to a swath of Jets attackers lining up to shoot, prevented the opening goal.

That arrived less than 60 seconds after Pablo Sanchez couldn’t crane his neck muscles enough to get any real power on a header from a Craig Goodwin cross.

Djite, who has seemingly rediscovered his spark after ending a 23-game goal drought 10 days ago created a great chance four minutes before halftime.

But nobody was on the end of the tantalising cross or the rebound which at first glance appeared to hit a Jets’ arm inside the box — but replays showed referee Ben Wiilliams made the right call.

Four minutes after the break Adelaide’s defending was comical as the Reds continually lost the ball and miscommunicated inside its own box until skipper Eugene Galekovic had to dive at full stretch to rescue the bizarre situation.

Milos Trifunovic then sounded a warning in the 52nd minute when he was free from a Leonardo set piece.

But despite having time, space and freedom with no Reds within three metres, the Serbian striker missed the target from seven metres.

Djite again became the provider in the 59th minute from a perfect George Mells through ball but again there was no takers before the 18-year-old had the crowd on its toes when he fired an 18m shot just past the upright.

Jason Hoffman caused the Reds much concern eight minutes before time when his super cross forced Galekovic to dive low before fisting the ball away but there weren’t enough Jets in the box to capitalise on the loose ball.

Originally published as A-League: Marcelo Carrusca goal helps Adelaide United to 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets