Adelaide United eased the pressure on coach Josep Gombau with a gutsy 1-1 draw against Perth Glory in hot conditions at nib Stadium on Saturday.
Adelaide United eased the pressure on coach Josep Gombau with a gutsy 1-1 draw against Perth Glory in hot conditions at nib Stadium on Saturday.
It was Adelaide’s first point in three matches, but Gombau’s men will rue missing the chance to walk away with their second win of season.
United’s Osama Malik and Glory substitute Chris Harold both scored second-half goals from corner kicks in front of 8754 fans, many of whom had come to see French star William Gallas make his A-League debut.
Gallas was introduced in the 62nd minute to loud cheers from the Perth crowd after Malik had put the visitors ahead only eight minutes earlier when he headed home a brilliant cross from team-mate Fabio Ferreira.
An unmarked Harold restored the deficit in the 70th minute when he also headed an easy goal past a hapless Eugene Galekovic.
The draw meant Adelaide’s winless streak extended to five matches, stretching back to the team’s season-opening victory of Perth.
Both teams slugged it out in sweltering conditions, especially during the first half when the mercury topped 32C.
The temperature in Perth had risen to 37C earlier in the day.
Glory officials had inquired during the week about pushing back the 2.30pm kickoff, but the request was knocked back.
Ferreira, Marcelo Carrusca and Tarek Elrich provided plenty of run for Adelaide in the absence of the suspended Nigel Boogaard and Socceroos defender Michael Zullo.
Ryo Nagai played one of his best games in purple, with his pace and skill often catching out Brazilian defender Cassio.
Young striker Jamie Maclaren had a golden chance to put the Glory ahead after 10 minutes, but failed to get a boot on the end of a brilliant pass from Nagai.
Ryan Edwards also missed an opportunity moments later to head home a wobbly cross from an off-balance Maclaren.
Adelaide’s best chance of the first half came from Jeronimo, who volleyed a wide ball past the reach of Perth goalkeeper Danny Vukovic, but across the face of goal.
The frustration continued for United when Carrusca missed a long-range yet realistic attempt on the cusp of half-time.
Glory captain Jacob Burns was surprisingly substituted in the second half for Cameron Edwards, the son of coach Alistair Edwards, but was seen icing a leg injury on the bench soon after.
Perth’s Brazilian recruit Sidnei continued his impressive form with several runs down the left wing, especially late in the second half as both teams desperately searched for a winner.
Adelaide substitute Jake Barker-Daish threatened to slam home a winner for the visitors in the 90th minute, but Vukovic was able to get his leg out just at the right moment to block the shot.
Perth Glory 1 (Harold 70)
Adelaide United 1 (Malik 54)
Crowd: 8574 at nib Stadium
