The Brisbane Roar Youth have gone down 2-1 to Adelaide United in a fast paced game at Spencer Park.
The eighth-placed Adelaide looked worlds apart from the side that had conceded 11 goals in the past two weeks, outplaying Brisbane at their own passing and moving game.
Both sides went on the attack from the outset; however it wasn-t until the ninth minute the game-s first outright opportunity presented itself.
Adelaide right back Jordan Elsey took advantage of a pressing Brisbane backline, running onto a slick through ball and blasting his shot from inside the box wide of the post.
Unfortunately for the Roar it didn-t take long for Adelaide to make amends for the missed opportunity, only seconds later a miss-kick from Brisbane keeper matt Acton fell to the feet of Adelaide-s Francesco Monterosso, who capitalised to strike the ball into the back of the net.
Brisbane went within inches of scoring in the 34th minute when Luke Brattan took advantage of some space outside the box, unleashing a ferocious shot which agonisingly crashed off the cross bar and to the feet of an Adelaide defender
A piece of Inseob Shin brilliance doubled the visitors lead in the 35th minute, silencing a vocal home crowd.
Shin received the ball on the edge of the 18 yard box, and with his back to goal, turned his defender and deftly chipped a shot over the head of a leaping Acton.
As the half progressed Brisbane pushed forward to cut into Adelaide-s two-goal lead, however the home side struggled to create any real chances against a stout Adelaide defence that went into the break with their lead intact.
Brisbane pressed forward from outset of the second half, the home side going close on a number of occasions yet lacking the final execution that was required in front of goal.
Rocky Visconte looked to be the difference for Brisbane in the second half, terrorising the Adelaide defence with his mazy runs and supply of dangerous crosses into the box.
One of those Visconte runs set up a free kick in a dangerous position for Brisbane when the speedy winger was taken down just outside the box, however Ken Dougall hit his curling free kick which sailed just over the bar.
Brisbane had another great opportunity two minutes later, when Adelaide goalkeeper Birighitti could only knock Chris Bush-s powerful shot into the path of Visconte, but his diving header was cleared off the line.
Brisbane continued to dominate play in the second half and had another free kick opportunity from just outside the box in the 75th minute, however Visconte-s effort sailed high of the target.
Adelaide nearly ended any chance of a Brisbane comeback in the 82nd minute when Evan Kostopoulos broke away from the Brisbane defence and raced 35 meters towards goal, however his shot was fired straight at the keeper.
Brisbane maintained the forward pressure in the final stages of the match and was rewarded with a goal by substitute Liam McCormick in the 91st minute, who dispatched his low and hard shot past the keeper to give the Roar a chance to steal the game at the death.
The Roar went within inches of a miraculous comeback in the final minute of stoppage time when a Dane Milovanovic header beat a diving Adelaide shot stopper Birighitti, however the ball sailed wide of the post as referee Matthew Skinner blew the final whistle.
Brisbane Roar Head coach John Sime was disappointed with the loss, however admitted that Adelaide was the better side on the day
“Adelaide played very well today, there overall play was of a very high standard and it caught us off guard a little,” said Sime.
“Although my boys played better in the second half I said to them you can-t play well for only 45 minutes in a 90 minute game and expect a good result, and unfortunately for us today-s score line proves that.”
While the loss gives Gold Coast United a chance to leapfrog the Roar in to first place on the ladder, Sime believes today-s result will challenge his players to step up over the final two rounds before the Christmas break.
“Maybe the loss provides the boys an opportunity to have a look at what we are doing wrong and challenge them to put in their best performances over the next two rounds, “Sime said.
“The Youth league is a very tough competition and you need to be putting in 100% every week if you want good results, we have two hard games on the road ahead of us and I expect nothing less from my players.”
Brisbane Roar 1 (MCCORMICK 90+1-)
Adelaide United FC: 2 (MONTEROSSO 10-, SHIN 35-)
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Spencer Park, Brisbane
Referee: Matthew Skinner
Brisbane Roar Line-up: 1. Matthew ACTON (GK), 3. Alastair QUINN (11. Joshua MCVEY 60-), 4. Matthew BYRNE, 5. Daniel BOWLES, 6. Rocco VISCONTE, 7. Christopher BUSH (C), 8. James DONACHIE (14. Ross ARCHIBALD 60-), 12. Kenneth DOUGALL (2. Liam MCCORMICK 60-), 13. Dane MILOVANOVIC, 15. Luke BRATTAN, 18. James MEYER, 20. James ECCLES (GK).
Substitutes Not Used: 20. James ECCLES (GK)
Yellow Cards: Daniel BOWLES 45-
Red Cards: Nil
Adelaide United FC Line-up: 1. Mark BIRIGHITTI (GK), 2. Jordan ELSEY, 3. Bradley NORTON, 4. Matthew HALLIDAY, 5. Matthew MULLEN (C), 6. Mitchell NICHOLSON (8. Inseob SHIN 90-), 8. Inseob SHIN (11. Perry MITRIS 53-), 9. Francesco MONTEROSSO (7. Brett RAYNER 58-), 10. Evan KOSTOPOULOS, 11. Perry MITRIS, 12. Jackson GROVES, 15. Alan WELSH, 20. Luke OSTBYE (GK), 21. Jordan SPADAVECCHIA (12. Jackson GROVES 60-)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Luke OSTBYE (GK)
Yellow Cards: Jordan ELSEY 12-
Red Cards: Nil
