A second-half strike from Korean import Inseob Shin helped Adelaide United to a 1-0 victory over Sydney FC in a hard-fought National Youth League encounter at Seymour Shaw Park on Monday.
The visitors burst out of the blocks creating three early scoring opportunities but were unable to find the back of the net as the sides remained locked at 0-0 at the break.
But the Reds didn’t have to wait long for their first goal with Shin, a member of the Reds’ Hyundai A-League squad, completing a sweeping movement with a delicate chip over the keeper’s head to put the Reds in front early in the second half.
The goal appeared to stun the Sky Blues into action, but despite holding the ascendancy for long periods of the second stanza, Steve Corica’s men were unable to find the equaliser to remain winless after three matches this season.
To their credit, the Sky Blues, who were reduced to 10 men when Tommy Cirjack was given his second yellow card of the match late in the contest, created some nervous moments for Adelaide coach Joe Mullen right up until the final whistle.
But the Reds held on for their first win of the season to move into fifth position on the ladder after two matches.
“What it does is give the nucleus of players that haven’t played together a bit of confidence with each other,” coach Mullen said of the win.
“Getting a result is always important as we start settle as a team as one unit. It always takes some weeks to gel but wins accelerate that and I think that’s the good thing about Sunday.”
