Pablo Sanchez’s matchwinning goal for Adelaide United all according to plan

ADELAIDE United’s matchwinning hero Pablo Sanchez has revealed that the stunning goal which sent Perth Glory crashing to the bottom of the A-League ladder was planned well before kick-off.

SOCCER - A-League - Adelaide United v Perth Glory at Coopers Stadium. Pablo Sanchez scores the first goal. Photo Sarah Reed.

ADELAIDE United’s matchwinning hero Pablo Sanchez has revealed that the stunning goal which sent Perth Glory crashing to the bottom of the A-League ladder was strategically planned well before kick-off.

Sanchez received a perfectly weighted lofted ball from right back Michael Marrone, which fell in between Glory defenders Marc Warren and Antony Golec.

The Spaniard chased the ball down, then bamboozled both defenders with a swivel of the hips before calmly chipping the ball over Glory gloveman Ante Covic in a 1-0 win over Perth at Coopers Stadium on Sunday.

“It was a very good pass from Marrone,’’ Sanchez, 32, said.

“Throughout the week (at training) we talked about this kind of pass when the rivals don’t give us space and we put the ball high and in between defenders.

“Finally we got this chance and normally in my career it’s easier to do the chip, and finally I got the goal and it was good, no?

“We started winning 1-0 and for the confidence it was good.”

Sanchez produced in his second start of the season, scoring his third goal during this campaign to lead the Reds.

He couldn’t explain why coach Guillermo Amor hadn’t used him more often in the starting XI where he partnered Marcelo Carrusca — another player who had been benched for three consecutive matches before Sunday.

“I don’t know, I don’t know (why Amor hasn’t started me) that question is not for me,’’ Sanchez said.

“When I play in the first XI, I do my best, the important thing is the victory and it doesn’t matter who plays it’s important to win.

“I felt very good on the ball and in the game all the time with Chelo (Carrusca) ... every player that plays with Chelo feels good. Because he knows football and he has a very good feeling and when you pass to him he knows what to do with the ball.

“We needed this win and we needed that at this point of the season.”

Adelaide is now aiming for consecutive wins for the first time this season when it hosts high flying Sydney FC at Coopers Stadium on Friday.

Sydney is sitting third, 10 points clear of Adelaide.

Sanchez believes Adelaide has enough time to recover from Sunday’s 33C inferno-like conditions before fronting Friday’s clash, which is expected to be about 10C cooler.

“In two days we will be ready for physically for Sydney,’’ Sanchez said.

Adelaide’s super quick winger Bruce Kamau may be in doubt for the clash after he went down clutching his left hamstring at United’s recovery session at Elizabeth on Monday.

Kamau was seen to by the club’s medicos after he damaged his hamstring kicking a ball during a drill.

Originally published as Pablo Sanchez’s matchwinning goal for Adelaide United all according to plan