Goals from trialist Roland Alberg, George Blackwood and Kusini Yengi have seen Adelaide United hand new coach Gertjan Verbeek a win in his first game in charge on Tuesday night.
The Reds prevailed 3-1 against local NPL outfit MetroStars at Taperoo Reserve.
The Dutchman used the clash to take a look at his entire squad as well as a few triallists, making 11 changes at the break.
New recruit Riley McGree started in a central playmaking role and was very impressive.
Dutch trialists Alberg opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, poking the ball home from Nikola Mileusnić’s pass, although the latter limped off with an injury soon after.
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Having most wholesale changes at the break, the Reds lost their fluency and MetroStars took advantage, equalising through a header from Lachlan Barr.
But Blackwood won – and converted – a penalty 15 minutes from time before Yengi iced the result three minutes from time.
The Reds begin their FFA Cup title defence on Wednesday, August 7 when they take on Victorian NPL heavyweights Melbourne Knights.
Singh rubbing shoulders with Bayern’s elite
Sarpreet Singh’s whirlwind rise since joining Bayern Munich has continued with the ex-Wellington Phoenix playmaker included in the German club’s first-team squad for their pre-season tour of the USA.
Singh swapped the Hyundai A-League for the Bundesliga club on a three-year deal earlier this month to play with the club’s second team.
But a couple of impressive pre-season performances so far has seen the 20-year-old travel with Niko Kovac’s first-team to America.
Singh has travelled with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer, with Bayern to take on Real Madrid, Arsenal and AC Milan in the International Champions Cup pre-season tournament.
Special delivery for Birighitti
Congratulations are in order for Melbourne City goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.
The 28-year-old gloveman has announced that he and his partner have a ‘Baby Birighitti’ on the way in January.
