26 Dec Adelaide Survive Mariners Scare with a Win

Adelaide United are in the top 4 tonight after a hard fought 1-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners tonight at Coopers Stadium.

It was a slow start from both sides with neither team finding the right opportunities to break deadlock, Connor Pain had a good chance at one end.

While for the Reds, Mileusnic’s run on the wing crossing it to George Blackwood, who unfortunately couldn’t get boot to ball.

United drew first blood as Ryan Strain’s cross from outside the box found Ryan Kitto, who had no issues with launching it into the back of the net.

Ryan Kitto almost made it a brace a few minutes later, but was denied by the Mariners defence, as Marco Kurz’s men edged to a second goal.

Paul Izzo stated his claim as keeper of the week with three incredible saves within two minutes, reprieving the Reds of conceding a late goal.

Mariners pressed in the second half, and had a few chances throughout the second half, but the resilience of Adelaide’s defence kept them in front.

Mark Ochieng almost gifted the home side a second late in the game from a Ben Garuccio cross, but the ball went wide.

Adelaide held on for a 1-0 win, and goes fourth on the A-League table one point in front of Victory and going to 17 points. The Reds now have another home game in four days against the Roar.

Meanwhile the Mariners go seventh, but Paul Okon’s men go home on New Years Eve to take on a struggling Wellington Phoenix outfit in Gosford.