Adelaide United produced a Championship winning performance just when it counted the most.
The A League Grand Final is always a nervy affair in the opening exchanges and this match was no different. It started off very scrappy with neither team really able to get on the ball and control possession.
The best chance in the opening 20 minutes came on a Western Sydney counter attack but Nichols played the ball behind the on running Castelen who had to check his run and then made the wrong decision and fired his shot well over the crossbar.
Adelaide were building into the game and on the 22nd minute mark they opened the scoring. Carrusca made a fantastic run and was in acres of space to be able to pick out the perfect cross and Kamau who has been superb in the back end of the season ghosted in ahead of Jamieson to smash the ball into the back of the net.
This was the catalyst for Adelaide to settle and begin to control the game. The Wanderers continued to try and create opportunities for themselves and Santalab had a wonderful chance to level the scores after he lost his man from a corner but failed to hit the target from 7 yards out with his diving header.
Adelaide then went up the other end and doubled their lead. Kamau again was at the centre of things in the build up for the second goal. He was fouled on the edge of the area by Topor-Stanley and Isaias bended the free kick over the wall and left Redmayne completely helpless.
Adelaide started the second half in similar fashion to the first. Cirio probably should have scored his team’s third goal of the night only four minutes in but couldn’t get enough purchase on the volley. Only minutes later Djite then had a snap shot on the turn but it was instantly blocked.
The Wanderers however weathered the early Adelaide pressure and were able to get themselves right back into the game through a superb strike from Scott Neville off the outside of his foot into the top corner to bring them back to within a goal of the Reds.
It was Adelaide’s turn to feel the pressure as the Wanderers continued to hold the ball and dominate possession. With 20 minutes left on the clock the Reds had a glorious chance to put the game to bed, but Redmayne came up with a huge save before the follow up shot found its way into the goal but was ruled out for offside.
The Wanderers continued to throw men forward on towards the end of the match but it was the super sub Sanchez who would eventually seal the grand final for the Reds in the 90th minute.
Adelaide United the deserved Champions
After such a terrible start to the season the Reds were practically written off but what a turn around it has been. Adelaide produced a near perfect performance on the biggest night of the year. They pressed the Wanderers in the first half of the game and never let them settle on the ball. In such a big game is when you need your big players to step up and the entire Adelaide side did that.
They dominated possession for large parts especially in the first half and when they needed to be resolute in defence they did just that. It was nervy times after the Wanderers pulled a goal back but they composed themselves quickly and realistically did not give their opponents a chance to equalise.
A fantastic performance and a fantastic season from the Reds and they deserve to be crowned as the Champions.
Isaias the Engine
On a nervy night and on the big occasion the game is so often won and lost in midfield. Isaias was tremendous throughout the game and controlled the middle of the park. He not only worked his socks off breaking up the Wanderers attacks but he was at the centre of the action for Adelaide.
He continued to drop into pockets and spray delightful passes out to the wingers and kept possession of the ball at crucial times throughout the match. To cap of his stellar individual performance he managed to get his name on the score sheet with an inch perfect free kick from the edge of the area.
Wanderers just slightly off Key
In the end it just wasn’t meant to be for the Western Sydney Wanderers. After such a big performance last week in the Semi Final many questioned how quickly they could mentally and physically prepare for this match. The first 45 minutes was very sloppy from the visitors and they failed to really create many opportunities as their killer instinct in the final third just wasn’t there.
The second half they came out of their shells and managed to get on the ball more. It was a clear tactic to get Castelen on the ball and attack Goodwin who wasn’t at his best last week but he made up for it with a great performance today and limited Castelen’s attacking threat.
It has been a tough season for the Wanderers who arguably threw away the minor premiers but they can have no complaints on the night as Adelaide deserved the win.
Outside90 Player of the Year
3 – Isaias
2 – Bruce Kamau
1 – Marcelo Carrusca
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