Last Friday, two best sides of the Hyundai A-League faced each other, Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United. Roar were the clear winners after a great performance that saw the Brisbane side score 4 goals past Adelaide United with no response.
The win was more impressive owing to the fact that Brisbane had to play the final 36 minutes of the game with only 10 men after Reinaldo was sent off after a second yellow card. Kiwi striker Kosta Barbarouses scored two goals and Matt Smith scored one as
well.
Brisbane manager Ange Postecoglou was even more delighted with the fact that three goals came after the sending off, giving an insight to the team’s resolve.
Ange said that it was a fantastic response from his side after playing most of the second half with 10 men and applauded the character and determination of his side.
The manner of the defeat was very disappointing for Adelaide United especially when they were missing some of their regular and key players.
Adelaide boss Rini Coolen admitted that Brisbane was the better team and his team was against the best team of the league. He praised Brisbane roars for improving day by day and appreciated their style of play.
The win gives Brisbane Roar a 4 point lead over Adelaide United at the top of the table but both sides have been fairly impressive after 13 rounds. It’s still pretty hard to make out which of the two sides are going to lift the title, more so, after seeing
initial favourites, Sydney FC struggling so far this season. The third spot is currently occupied by Central Coast Mariners who are chasing Adelaide United by 4 points with 2 games still in hand.
The season has been a revelation and a great turn around for Adelaide United despite suffering such a hefty defeat after they finished last season at the bottom of the table. Signing Sergio Van Dijk from Brisbane, Incidentally and then the arrival of midfielder
Marcos Flores has strengthened the side considerably while the emergence of a potential star of the future in Matthew Leckie is another plus for Adelaide to look at. Unluckily though, the youngster sustained a knee ligament damage and will be out for 10 weeks.
Some more good news came for Adelaide United this week when it was announced that the Adelaide outfit had just been bought by a local consortium that comprised of a rich businessman in Robert Gerard, Dr Richard Noble, Bruno Marveggio and famous lawyer, Greg
Griffin. The latter is expected to become the club’s chairman in a few days.
The takeover will definitely see Adelaide United go from strength to strength in years to come and eventually, the club will be transformed into a real community club as it is jointly owned by local Adelaide businessmen.
Putting the club’s future in the hands of wealthy and most importantly, local owners is a great sign of good days ahead as they will have a better idea of the true United spirit and will surely strive to take the club to the next level.
Adelaide United was founded in 2003 when Adelaide City vacated the place in the former National Soccer League which is now Australian A-League.
In the inaugural season of A-League in 2005, the Reds won the championship and then became grand finalists in 2006 and 2008.
Apart from being a domestic success, Adelaide United is also considered as the most successful Australian club in Asia. In 2008, Adelaide United became the first Australian team to reach the final of the AFC Champions League.
The signs are good for Adelaide United and after the takeover is finalized, Adelaide United will definitely become stronger at both domestic and continental level.
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