Adelaide United have suffered a first defeat since November, succumbing to Melbourne City amid a sluggish performance.
This match started slowly, with both sides unable to find a rhythm in a first half that was marked by no less than five yellow cards, with George Mells in particular fortunate not to have been given his marching orders.
That trend continued in the second half, with neither side able to yet find the upper hand approaching its midway point; the lone highlight to that stage, or lowlight depending on your preference of football team, was a comical foul throw by United defender Jordan Elsey.
Interestingly at half time, Marcelo Carrusca was replaced instead of Bruce Kamau, with no injury reported.
In the 71st minute, the contest was finally broken open as Nick Fitzgerald curled a sumptuous left-footed strike into the top corner, putting an otherwise dominant City 1-0 up.
That is where it ended, as the Victorian side snapped the Reds’ 14-game unbeaten run. The win puts a comfy five points between City and cross-town rivals Victory, now on 38, just one behind still-top Adelaide.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the game.
This match could be summerised by this picture #ADLvMCYpic.twitter.com/AhsukOHkFc
— Guido Tresoldi (@GuidoTresoldi) March 11, 2016
“The nice blue eyes of Aaron Mooy” – David Basheer 2016 #ADLvMCY #BeautifulGame
— Heath Parkes (@parksey_10) March 11, 2016
How good is that turn by the Australian Bale #ADLvMCY
— Russell (@russellwsw) March 11, 2016
You gotta do what you gotta do! Well in lads!! @Bengaruccio @StefanMauk #ADLvMCY
— Domenic Tripodi (@DomenicTripodi) March 11, 2016
When a professional footballer can’t even complete a throw in #ADLvMCY pic.twitter.com/q1uJwvuEHh
— Ryan Gibb (@RyanHGibb) March 11, 2016
Make that 53 of @MelbourneCity‘s 55 goals scored or assisted by @AaronMooy, @BFornaroli or @novillo_harry! #BigThree #ADLvMCY
— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) March 11, 2016
It’s not about you, Chris Beath. #ADLvMCY
— Blake (@blake_1986) March 11, 2016
Adelaide are absolutely nothing without Carrusca #ADLvMCY
— Nick Grech (@nickgrch) March 11, 2016
Melbourne City one of the only teams to strengthen in the January window and it shows #ADLvMCY
— David Lewis (@DavidLewis31) March 11, 2016
Back to back clean sheets, is this real life?? #ADLvMCY
— Luke Canadillas (@LCanadillas96) March 11, 2016
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