ASA: Adelaide United has taken control of the Australian NSL Elimination Final tie against Brisbane Strikers after recording its biggest win of the season at Hindmarsh Stadium.
In front of a capacity crowd of 16,258 on Sunday, Adelaide lead 1-0 at the break before scoring twice in the second half to win 3-0 and virtually ensure its passage through to the Minor Semi Final in two weeks time.
It was a bad night for Brisbane, who suffered a triple whammy before and through the game. When defender Adam Webber was ruled out with illness before the match, then in the 29th minute, central defender Josh McCloughan was forced off with a knee injury and then if it couldn’t get any worse, Young Socceroo defender Wayne Heath was sent off with just 20 minutes of play remaining.
Goals came from Carl Veart, his 11th goal of the season, in the first half, Fred Agius (67th) and substitute Michael Brooks scored the killer goal two minutes into injury time.
It was a nervous start by both sides with neither side able to exert any real dominance.
The first chance didn’t come until the 25th minute, when Ross Aloisi sent David Terminello clear down the right and his cross was headed by Nick Budin to around the penalty spot, where Richard Alagich fired wide.
Four minutes later, Brisbane had its best chance of the first half when Warren Moon put Joshua Rose into a half opening, but good defending from Michael Valkanis forced Rose to put his shot wide.
Two minutes later came the opening goal when a corner from the left by Terminello, found its way to Veart on the 6-yard line and he headed low and wide of Brisbane keeper Scott Higgins.
The score remained that way till the break with the Adelaide crowd in a boisterous mood.
Brisbane came out firing at the start of the second half, putting consistent pressure on the Adelaide defence, whom were able to hold its shape and keep the Brisbane forwards from getting shots at goal.
The match really came to life in the 55th minute when Adelaide’s first meaningful attack of the half somehow saw them come away no reward despite three successive shots at goal. First Aloisi had his shot blocked, then from the rebound Veart weaved his way past two defenders before cracking a shot at goal. Higgins made a great block to save but the ball came out to Aurelio Vidmar, who despite being in the open fluffed his shot wide.
That sparked the game into the life with play racing from end-to-end.
The turning point of the game came in the 62nd minute, when Brisbane looked set to score through David Pilic, but David Scarsella brilliantly saved his blast from 15 metres.
Five minutes young sensation Agius scored one of the goals of the season, when he received the ball some 30 metres out and audaciously curled a shot past a helpless Higgins.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Brisbane then had Heath sent off after he ruled the last man in defence when he brought down Veart just outside the penalty box.
However Adelaide decided to stick one further dagger into Brisbane when Michael Brooks brilliantly headed home Alagich’s cross to make it 3-0 and leave the Strikers with a monumental task next week at home to somehow retrieve the tie.
All going well, Adelaide’s fans should get the chance to see their heroes one more time, if as expected, they get through unscathed next week. They will host the winner of the South Melbourne and Marconi Stallions tie that is level at 0-0 after its first leg match played earlier this afternoon.
Stalemate at Marconi
By Ben Coonan
The Marconi Stallions and South Melbourne will head to Bob Jane Stadium for next Sunday’s second leg with all to play for after grinding out a scoreless draw at Marconi Stadium today.
Despite enjoying a healthy amount of chances, the Stallions were unable to penetrate a solid South back line that will take great heart from a performance that has re-affirmed their title ambitions.
For the home side, the result was less than desirable and they now face a tough task in taking a result away from one of the NSL’s perennial fortresses.
The first half was a fittingly tight affair, with Stuart Munro’s South enjoying the best of the opening minutes.
However it was not until Alex Brosque’s header from a Brendan Renaud cross in the ninth minute that either side enjoyed any real chance.
Brosque’s header did however breathe life into Marconi’s performance and the remainder of the half was highlighted by several chances for the Stallions.
Joe Spiteri came closest in the 36th minute following a neat run from Simon Bell.
Bell’s pass found the former Socceroo who was well closed down by former Melbourne Knights’ teammate Ante Kovacevic moments before releasing a goal bound strike.
The visitor’s best chance came from stalwart Marcus Stergiopoulos in the 18th minute, when the inform midfielder launched a fierce drive from twenty metres.
Ultimately though, the match remained scoreless at the break.
Unfortunately, for both teams, the two most influential players of the opening stanza were forced off the pitch with moments remaining before half time.
Stergiopoulos succumbed to a knee injury sustained after a solid challenge from Renaud, whilst Bell limped off after falling mid-stride unchallenged, after twisting his ankle.
Marconi continued to assert their authority in the second forty five and under the mounting influence of Nick Carle, will consider themselves unlucky not to have hit the back of the net.
Carle was a constant menace to Eugene Galekovic’s goal and struck a handful of heavy loaded shots from distance but all to no avail.
Working in tandem with Carle was fellow Under 23 Brosque (pictured left) who was equally unlucky not to opening the scoring on several occasions.
The best of which was in the 65th minute when the Youth International ran onto a neat through ball from Spiteri.
But under the pressure of Levent Osman, Brosque’s effort ballooned over Galekovic’s open goal and coach Munro breathed a sigh of relief once more.
Aside from Carle’s late flurry, South were seldom really stretched and given a slight breeze, the visitor’s may well have snatched all three points at the death.
Con Boutsianis’ looping ball from deep fell agonizingly in front of an outstretched Vaughan Coveny, in what was South’s most prudent chance of the whole ninety minutes.
The Victorians will now head into next Sunday’s decider full of confidence after producing an unlikely result here today.
The goal scoring dearth that has hampered South’s title claims in recent weeks is still a major problem, but twelve home matches this season, the boys in blue have lost just three times, making them hot favourites to clinch a berth in the Major Semi Final against either Adelaide or Brisbane.
For Marconi, the chance is still very much there to force their way into the final four, but today’s result will only harm their chances.
Since the implementation of the top six playoff series in 1992/1993, sides that have drawn the first leg at home 0-0 have only progressed to the next stage on one occasion.
The Stallions face an uphill task, but if there is one team that has performed when the cards are down this season, its Marconi.
Next Sunday at Bob Jane Stadium promises to be a fitting finale for one of these two proud clubs in 2003/2004.
Elimination Final 1st leg
MARCONI STALLIONS 0
SOUTH MELBOURNE 0
Cautions: nil
Venue: Marconi Stadium
Referee: Eddie Lennie
Crowd: 2,127
Elimination Final 1st leg
ADELAIDE UNITED 3 (C Veart 31′, F Agius
67′, M Brooks 92′)
BRISBANE STRIKERS 0
Cautions: N Budin (AU) 9′
Red Card: W Heath (BS) 69′
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium
Referee: Ben Williams
Crowd: 16,258
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
Date Club v Club Kick-Off Venue
Sat 13-3-04 Brisbane Strikers v Adelaide Utd 7pm Perry Park
(Elimination Final – 2nd leg)
Sun 14-3-04 Parramatta Power v Perth Glory 3.45pm Parramatta Stadium
(Major Semi Final – 1st leg)
Sun 14-3-04 South Melbourne v Marconi Stallions 7pm Bob Jane Stadium
(Elimination Final – 2nd leg)