Boxing Day A-League action brought the Mariners to Adelaide to face a fired up Reds and 10,000 pumped up Reds fans craving a win from the home team. Holiday season matches are always a great marketing ploy and with impeccable Adelaide summer weather on display a decent and vocal crowd arrived to see some exciting football. The reds had been doing it tough off late, with late goal loses, red cards and a VAR system working against them. However tonight Adelaide came to play and prove a point. Apart from the odd counter from the Mariners they weren’t really in the match. Adelaide played the majority of the match with its youngsters, Kitto, Garuccio, Blackwood, Elsey, Strain and Melusnic, all playing their triumphant parts these young dudes stood up like warriors tonight. Finally the Reds played as a team, no on field squabbling, attacking play, one touch passing and with Isaías and Adlung leading from the midfield, the Reds could have easily finished with more goals.
The major downside is that the Reds attackers still didn’t pull the trigger, they hesitate around the penalty box like it’s a cold shower, scarred to pull the trigger. Now entering the mid-part of the season it’s time to be brave…when opportunities arise attackers must shoot…the worst case scenario is a keeper makes a save and a corner is won…and playing percentages the chance of scoring from a corner are always good. In the 13th minute when Kitto scored and the crowd went wild the Reds signaled that they want to cement a top 6 spot this season, they are playing well, but have had a few tough decisions cost them games.
Marco’s on a mission and with the way they defended that 1 goal lead tonight, it would appear that the boys in red are starting to listen to his words!
Player of the Match: Team (Adelaide United 11 players came together as 1 team finally)
Match Report by Cosi Dichera
No Comments