Adelaide scored a goal in each half against the Central Coast Mariners to win 2-0 and keep its title hopes alive in the National Youth League at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford on Sunday night.
The third-placed visitors had to fight hard for the win but coach Joe Mullen will be delighted with how the team rallied in the second term.
Michael Debono opened the scoring with a well taken goal in the 44th minute but Adelaide turned on the style in an impressive second half.
The visitors created a string of top chances in the second half and went two goals clear when Francesco Monterosso put a low shot under goalkeeper Matthew Nemes in the 72nd minute.
That strike was followed by several other good chances from Adelaide. Nemes was called on several times, while at the other end the Mariners struggled to create space.
In what was a disappointing performance from the home side, Central Coast’s best chance came in second-half injury time when Daniel Taylor fired a powerful shot on to the crossbar with Mark Birighitti well beaten.
The last time the teams met Adelaide walloped the Mariners but since that defeat the team has turned in several eye-catching performances.
Central Coast tried hard but rarely tested an Adelaide defence featuring experienced central defender Angelo Costanzo.
There was some good news for the Mariners with captain Nathan Sherlock making a strong return from long term injury.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners 0
Adelaide United 2 (Michael De Bono 43-, Francesco Monterosso 72-)
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Sunday 25 January 2009
Referee: Tim McGilchrist
Assistant Referees: Nathan Magill, Gareth Askham
Fourth Official: Scott Edeling
Central Coast Mariners line-up: 30.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk) (1.Matthew NEMES (gk) 59-), 2.Steven TIBBETTS, 5.Nathan SHERLOCK, 8.Ashley BALCOMB (6.Ty OWENS 59-), 9.Brady SMITH, 10.Glen TRIFIRO, 11.Darko VIDOVIC (7.Matthew LEWIS 45-), 12.Scott WRIGHT (14.Tim McGOWAN 58-), 13.Laurence BRAUDE (8.Ashley BALCOMB 82-), 17.Sean MITCHELL, 21.Daniel TAYLOR
Substitutes not used: Nil
Yellow cards: Ashley Balcomb 48-, Steven Tibbetts 49-
Red Cards: Nil
Adelaide United line-up: 30.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Michael DOYLE, 5.Shane TOBIAS, 6.Alexander SUNASKY (3.Scott WEIDENBACH 54-), 7.Joel ALLWRIGHT, 8.Matthew MULLEN (21.Angelo ARAMBATSIS 61-), 9.Andrew CIARLA, 10.Osama MALIK, 14.Angelo COSTANZO (OA), 15.Francesco MONTEROSSO, 16.Michael DE BONO (11.Joseph COSTA 58-)
Substitutes not used: 40.Lucas ANDREUCCI (gk)
Yellow cards: Joseph Costa 86-, Michael Doyle 90-+2
Red Cards: Nil
