With no time left in the season for mistakes, Adelaide United took care of business and snatched a vital three points against Perth Glory on Sunday.
On a warm autumn day in Adelaide, it was the home side that brought the heat early, as Glory’s defence had no answers for Bernardo Oliveira and Lachlan Brook’s pace.
Oliveira’s youthful exuberance was on full display as he continuously found himself in behind Glory’s defence.
Brook was also causing headaches as he looked to score with every opportunity he had.
Eventually the pressure became too much, and Perth’s defence finally cracked as the man of the moment Oliveira finished off Ryan Kitto’s sublime low cross to put the Reds 1-0 ahead.
Meanwhile, Perth mightily struggled for the entirety of the first half, as they were unable to register a single shot on target.
The second half started slow as referee Jack Morgan was the only one giving the fans something to yell about, as an angered Red Army disapproved of numerous fouls.
Ibusuki yet again was the go-to man for Adelaide as they looked for him at every opportunity, but he was unable to impact the scoreboard.
The home crowd were briefly silenced as Joshua Anasmo found the back of the net with Perth’s only threatening attack for the night – but the silence did not last long as it was overturned for offside and Glory’s poor attacking night continued.
A game that promised so much in the first half, resulted in an extremely lacklustre second half – until the stoppage time heroes did it again.
An absolute thunderbolt from Nestory Irankunda into the top-left corner was one of the last kicks of the night, as the home side ran out 2-0 victors, making it three wins on the trot and all but sewing up a finals spot.
Adelaide United 2 (Oliveira 24’, Irankunda 90′)
Perth Glory 0
Stadium: Coopers Stadium
Referee: Jack Morgan
Assistant Referees: Matthew Cream, Henry Day
Fourth Official: Daniel Elder
Adelaide United: Joe GAUCI(GK), Ryan KITTO, ISAÍAS, Craig GOODWIN (C), Hiroshi IBUSUKI (George BLACKWOOD 76’), Javi LOPEZ, Lachlan BARR, Joshua CAVALLO (Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS 76’), Bernardo OLIVEIRA (Nestory IRANKUNDA 67’), Alexandar POPOVIC, Lachlan BROOK (JUANDE 45’)
Unused Subs: Joe CALETTI, Jacob TRATT, Steven HALL (gk)
Perth Glory: Liam REDDY, Nicholas FITZGERALD (Pacifique NIYONGABIRE 65’), Callum TIMMINS, Antonee BURKE-GILROY, Joshua RAWLINS, Mitchell OXBORROW (Chris DONNELL 84’), Giordano COLLI, Darryl LACHMANN, Joseph FORDE (Joshua ANASMO), Jacob MUIR, Tyler VECCHIO
Unused Subs: Jacob YOUNG, Aidan COYNE, Aidan EDWARDS, Cameron COOK (gk)
Featured image credit: Jordan Trombetta
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