ADELAIDE United’s emphatic 3-0 win over Perth Glory said much more about hard work and resilience demanded by coach Marco Kurz.
Despite being heavily depleted with the loss of three regular starters Paul Izzo, Ben Garuccio and George Blackwood to Olyroos duty, Adelaide did not look out of place with a plethora of fresh faces in Perth on Friday night.
The win all started when German Daniel Adlung was at the pointy end of a fine team goal in the 10th minute before Nathan Konstandopoulos scored a brilliant second 61 minutes later at nib Stadium.
Substitute Johan Absalonsen made it 3-0 when he picked off a Liam Reddy error in the 85th minute to jag his third goal of the season.
It was Adelaide’s biggest win of the season which was on its way when Adlung smacked the ball in the net from 12m after a move was started deep in defence when Jordan Elsey, Baba Diawara, Michael Marrone and Nikola Mileusnic all got involved before the German ran from the halfway line to score a second goal of the season.
Glory did have its first half chances with Daniel Margush — in goal for his first start of the season for Izzo — made a brilliant save from a Andreu effort in the 15th minute before he was again called into action from a Joe Mills 30m shot .
A minute later Mileusnic received a fine ball from Baba who was celebrating his 30th birthday but with the off-side flag incorrectly brandished the winger failed shot off target.
Adlung;’s match then came to a premature end, forced off with a back injury before the break as Baba who saw his header graze the crossbar from an Isaias ball in the 30th minute was replaced at half time.
ADELAIDE UNITED 3 (Daniel Adlung 10m, Nathan Konstandopoulos 71m, Johan Absalonsen 85m) PERTH GLORY 0 at nib Stadium. Crowd: 9,069. Referee: Kurt Ams
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