Adelaide United have handed the Melbourne Victory their first loss of the Foxtel National Youth League season with a gutsy come-from-behind 2-1 win at Thebarton Oval on Sunday.
Adelaide United have handed the Melbourne Victory their first loss of the Foxtel National Youth League season with a gutsy come-from-behind 2-1 win at Thebarton Oval on Sunday.
The Baby Reds fell behind when Francesco Stella goaled in the 36th minute before Ryan Kitto equalised on the cusp of half-time and Anthony Costa blasted a wonderful header in the 57th minute to give the home side the decisive edge.
United controlled possession early and created numerous chances with some slick passing, ensuring the Victory were regularly pinned on their heels.
Jacob Melling stripped Jordan Brown in the ninth minute and rifled one from long range, which sailed too high before Matthew Bouzalas forced busy Melbourne keeper Lawrence Thomas into a splendid save.
Kitto was left with his hands on his head when he somehow pushed an open shot straight into Thomas' midriff in the 33rd minute.
A minute later, Melling was similarly exasperated when he found an opening but slewed his low shot wide of the target.
Against the flow, Victory winger Stella made the Reds pay when he ran down the corridor and one-out with Adelaide custodian John Hall, pushed it past the outstretched right hand of the United gloveman to give the visitors, dictated to in general play, a surprise lead.
Melbourne's joy was short-lived as the Reds drew level in the 45th minute through a workmanlike Kitto goal.
With a few bites at the cherry, the right winger pivoted, swung around on his left and slapped it past Thomas to give the hosts plenty of momentum entering the break.
Adelaide continued to rule the tempo through the likes of skipper Dion Kirk, Jordan Elsey and Melling and were rewarded for the supremacy in the 57th minute.
Just outside the box, dead-ball specialist Cam Watson skilfully swung a free kick from the right into the danger zone which was brilliantly headed home by Anthony Costa to give United the advantage.
Outplayed for large stretches but desperate to keep their undefeated record intact, Melbourne charged towards the finish line and made Adelaide work hard to protect their lead.
Dangerous Andrew Nabbout always looked threatening in attack on his left flank, forcing Hall into a hot save in the 65th minute and then almost capitalising on a Hall fumble in the 74th minute when in the perfect position to score.
Jimmy Jeggo forced Hall into a desperate save in the dying stages, while substitute Anthony Duzel, who provided tremendous buzz when injected in the 59th minute, made Hall earn his keep, forcing the Reds number one to conjure another athletic stop.
Nabbout had two more prime chances as the clock wound down, but Adelaide survived the late flurry and deserved their hard-earned triumph.
Adelaide United 2 (Ryan Kitto 45, Anthony Costa 57) Melbourne Victory 1 (Francesco Stella 36)
Adelaide United: 1. John Hall (GK), 2. Dion Kirk (C), 6. Jack Bladen (8. Nathan Konstandopoulos 60-), 9. Anthony Costa, 10. Ryan Kitto (17. Jordan O-Doherty 58-), 11. Nikola Milesunic (7. Bruce Kamau 58-), 13. Jordan Elsey, 15. Matthew Bouzalas, 16. Jacob Melling, 19. Cameron Watson, 21. Antony Golec Yellow cards: Antony Golec 89-
Melbourne Victory: 2. Christian Cavallo, 3. Milos Ridesic, 5. Dylan Murnane (C), 6. Jordan Brown (8. Kaan Korkmaz 55-), 7. Christopher Cristaldo (9. Anthony Proia 59-), 10. John Buceto (12. Anthony Duzel 59-), 13. Andrew Nabbout, 16. Scott Galloway, 17. Jimmy Jeggo, 18. Francesco Stella, 20. Lawrence Thomas (GK) Yellow cards: Christopher Cristaldo 32-, Anthony Proia 89-