Adelaide United are on the verge of a third straight FFA Cup Final but Gertjan Verbeek was left frustrated by aspects of his side’s 1-0 win over 10-man Newcastle Jets on Tuesday.
The Reds played the majority of the encounter against their Hyundai A-League rivals with a man advantage following the 11th minute dismissal of Jets goalkeeper Lewis Italiano.
Adelaide asserted full control of the contest and broke the deadlock just before half time when teenage striker Al Hassan Toure pounced on Glen Moss’ error for his fourth goal in three FFA Cup matches.
However, despite booking their spot in the last four again, Verbeek was concerned with the way the 2018 winners took their foot off the pedal in the second half.
WRAP: Toure sends Adelaide through, Mariners sink Hume in stoppage time
WATCH: Don’t miss a kick of Quarter Finals Match Day 2
CONFIRMED: Squads for Quarter Finals Match Day 2
“First-half was good, second-half not so good,” Verbeek said.
“And we had a lot of chances in the first-half. We had to make more goals in the first-half and the beginning of the second-half the same, two big chances I think.
“And then the last half hour I don’t know what my team was thinking.
“They changed a little in the midfield it was a little difficult for us to get pressure on it all the time.
“But also I think they wanted to defend the 1-0 lead – that’s not good.”
NEWS: Australia’s ‘Juventus’ aim for historic FFA Cup first
NEWS: Strikers 20-year rebirth in pursuit of FFA Cup history
NEWS: More than FFA Cup 2019 glory on the line for City and Wanderers
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514574001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6086990986001
