Adelaide United put on a positive performance despite losing to Spanish giant Villarreal 3-2 at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
The anticipation and excitement surrounding Adelaide United’s La Liga World friendly match against Spanish outfit Villarreal hit a crescendo as the referee’s whistle started the action.
The long wait was over for the people of Adelaide to witness first-hand, one of Spanish football’s greatest exponents of the beautiful game. Commonly referred to as ‘The Yellow Submarine’ due to its all-yellow home jersey and the fact that the team is capable of achieving major scalps against the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, it was the visitors looking to demonstrate its surplus of talent in front of a reasonable crowd.
Although the game was just a friendly, it was the perfect test for coach Josep Gombau to see how far his very own implementation of possession-based football had come – two seasons since arriving from Hong Kong – against a side akin to tiki-taka football.
However, it was the counter-attack where Adelaide was most effective and it came to fruition on 34 minutes. James Jeggo dispossessed Mexian sensation Giovani Dos Santos in midfield, releasing Sergio Cirio who played in Craig Goodwin to emphatically finish low in off the post and give the Reds a surprise lead.
Five minutes after the interval, an unmarked Michael Marrone grabbed a rare goal from Craig Goodwin’s corner, as the right-back’s forceful header thumped into the back of the net.
Manu Trigueros got one back for the Spaniards as he was quicker to react to Eugene Galekovic’s reflex save, smacking his shot from close range.
Villarreal finally showcased its class five minutes before time when star striker Luciano Vietto latched onto a pin-point cross to head home past the outstretched hands of Galekovic. In injury time the Yellow Submarine sunk the gallant Reds with a wonderfully worked goal from Gerard Moreno, following Vietto’s immaculate back-heel.
Despite the Reds illustrating they could match it with the best, when Marcelino Garcia’s men put their foot on the throttle, the difference in quality was manifest. None more so in the final 15 minutes as the visitors’ execution and link-up play in and around Adelaide’s 18-yard-box was of the highest order. Villarreal appeared lethargic at times, especially during the first half, however jetlag was a probable factor with the side touching down in the City of Churches just a day before the friendly clash.
Josep Gombau was proud of his team’s effort, but lamented his side’s fatigue and was disappointed to have conceded in the last minute of the game.
“I think that we had a good game until we were tired. I think that the team played well in some moments of the game and I think that we had even more possession and control of the game,” Gombau said in the post-match press conference.
“But in the end the last 15 minutes, the team physically was going to be down because it’s normal for three weeks we didn’t have competition.
“And I’m disappointed because I think we should have won or at least draw but not lose… Villarreal is a team that is very good and if you make mistakes they take profit from these mistakes.”
The Adelaide boss then went on to praise goalscorer Craig Goodwin after the winger was influential in both of the Reds’ goals.
“I think that Craig is a very good player, we are so happy he’s a player that has an amazing left foot and he’s very good,” Gombau continued.
“I’m so happy not just today, but all season what he has been doing, it’s fantastic we need to think that he’s also young and he’s from Adelaide and he’s bringing a lot to us and I’m satisfied for him.”
Adelaide United forward Bruce Kamau said the difference in skill became more noticeable when Villarreal decided to play with more intent.
“Yeah definitely they [Villarreal] don’t lose the ball, they pass it and move it around very well and it shows in the last 15 to 20 minutes when they got us when we were a bit tired,” Kamau said.
Kamua also believes playing against such high quality opposition personally helps give a clear indication of where he and the Reds need to improve.
“Well it’s a very good test it shows you where you stand compared to players overseas. Villarreal is one of the top clubs they play in the Europa League.”
All in all it was a win for both sides and football in South Australia, particularly the spectators who saw a fascinating match containing five goals in an entertaining friendly. However, bigger things await the Reds onwards and upwards with Gombau’s men hosting English Premier League heavyweights Liverpool at a full capacity Adelaide Oval in July.
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