Adelaide United take on the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League grand final

BRUCE Djite sent a special message to the Adelaide United owners after their drought-breaking grand final win.

It’s party time.

WITH a Pablo Sanchez goal in the 90th minute, Adelaide United secured a 3-1 lead over the Western Sydney Wanderers, and with it, an inaugural A-League championship.

The Spaniard pounced after a defensive error from the Wanderers before taking the ball into the box and shooting across the face to bury the ball at the back post, and nearly all of the 50,119 fans at the Adelaide Oval roared as one.

That the Reds will hold the premiership trophy aloft at the end of the 2015/16 season is incredible considering where they came from.

They were winless after eight rounds, putting them dead last on the table. Then in their next 21 games (including the grand final) they suffered only one defeat. It’s a terrific story, a fact not lost on Fox Sports commentator and former Socceroo Andy Harper.

“It’s the most incredible comeback in professional sport,” Harper said after Sanchez scored the match-winner.

While that comment is no doubt up for debate, the story of Adelaide United this season will be remembered in the annals of history.

They started strongly when Bruce Kamau netted after a Carrusca cross from the left, then Isaias doubled the home side’s advantage with an exquisite free kick from just outside the box.

The Wanderers responded in the second half, dominating possession and territory for a sustained period. They were rewarded for their efforts when Scott Neville scored a screamer to bring the score back to 2-1, but that was the last time the men from Sydney’s west would be smiling.

As players tired more space opened up across the pitch, leading to increased attacking opportunities for both sides. The Wanderers looked to have the running, but Adelaide’s defence held firm, and Sanchez’s late goal sealed the win.

Bruce Djite is an Adelaide veteran, having spent almost a decade at the club across two stints, and was thankful he finally had the chance to celebrate.

“Finally, it’s been a long time,” said Djite.

“The Wanderers played well, they made it difficult especially in the second half, but what a team.

“It’s a fantastic family ... there’s something special about this group.”

The prolific goalscorer also added his two cents worth with a cheeky request of the Adelaide owners.

“A message to the owners — re-sign Pablo Sanchez because he is a gem, an absolute gem.”

Click here for a full match report.

‘THE AFL WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO DO THAT’

Adelaide fans will be hoping they can cheer like that at the end of the game too.

WITHOUT a rugby league or rugby union franchise to barrack for, Adelaide has typically been AFL heartland.

The “Showdown” between Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows is easily one of the fiercest rivalries in the league, and those who live in the city of churches often boast a diehard allegiance to one of the two clubs.

But the fact the grand final is being played at the iconic Adelaide Oval — a reward for Adelaide’s dominance — is a sign soccer is growing in popularity and prestige not just in Adelaide but in the entire country, according to former Reds and Sydney FC coach John Kosmina.

Speaking before the game, the ex-Socceroo took a pot-shot at the oval-ball code, saying if an Adelaide side ever made an AFL grand final, there’s no way the game would be taken away from the MCG and played in the South Australian capital.

“You talk about what a great city this is, but I think this is fantastic,” said Kosmina.

“This is AFL heartland, and for Adelaide to be able to have the opportunity to pick up the grand final trophy today is something the AFL will never be able to do — the two teams that play here.

“I think it’s fantastic. There’s a little bit of rivalry between the codes so I think it’s great from that perspective as well.”

The AFL grand final is always played in Melbourne — even when visiting teams like Sydney and West Coast go head to head (2005, 2006) and the NRL final is always played in Sydney even when Brisbane and the Cowboys (2015) come up against each other.

But the positive of the A-League is that the final can be taken anywhere to give the highest finishing team taking part in the decider the benefit of a home ground advantage. The sport definitely doesn’t have the same following as the AFL or NRL yet, but Kosmina is hopeful that will one day change.

THE BACKGROUND

Bruce Djite has been playing a starring role of late.

Adelaide lost to Melbourne Victory in the 2007 grand final 6-0 as evergreen striker Archie Thompson ran riot, putting five past the keeper off his own boot, while the Reds suffered the same fate in 2009 as Melbourne again came out on top 1-0.

The Wanderers also know too well the pain of watching another team hold the “toilet seat” trophy aloft. They lost to the Central Coast Mariners in 2013 and Brisbane Roar in 2014.

But they earnt their spot in the showpiece event this year courtesy of a thrilling 5-4 win over Brisbane last weekend. Trailing 0-3, they pulled off a miraculous comeback, then showed nerves of steel in extra time to clinch victory.

Adelaide supporters would not have believed their team would be one of the last two standing after a horror run at the start of the season.

After eight rounds they sat last on the ladder, but a stunning form revival saw them claim the minor premiership and surge towards the finals. Their class was evident last week when they easily accounted for Melbourne City 4-1 to book their spot in the decider.

THE FORM

Mitch Nichols is a potent attacking weapon.

ADELAIDE Oval has proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Reds. While usually playing at Hindmarsh Stadium, they’ve won four of the seven games they’ve played at the historic cricket ground, drawn two and lost only one.

In the past 12 encounters between them and the Wanderers, the results stand at four wins for each side and four draws.

Bruce Djite has been the main man up front for Adelaide, scoring six goals in his last four appearances, including a brace in last week’s grand final qualifier.

Mitch Nichols has been one of the Wanderers’ best when it comes to creating scoring opportunities in recent times, and he’ll need to fire if the men from western Sydney want to break their premiership duck.