Nikola Milesunic’s brace has powered Adelaide United to a comfortable 4-1 away win over Melbourne Heart in the Foxtel National Youth League at Epping Stadium.
Nikola Milesunic’s brace has powered Adelaide United to a comfortable 4-1 away win over Melbourne Heart in the Foxtel National Youth League at Epping Stadium.
Jacob Melling secured an early goal for Adelaide before Milesunic expertly finished twice putting the game out of Heart’s reach.
Reds substitute Jordan O’Doherty scored a delightful chip in the dying stages of the match before Andrew Cartanos snatched a consolation goal for Heart
Emulating the same possession based style that their senior team plays, Adelaide pressed hard early and were rewarded after four minutes when Melling’s shot from outside the area deflected off a defender and wrong-footed goalkeeper Marko Stevanja.
Adelaide continued to rip apart the Heart defence and they were again rewarded in the 22nd minute when Ryan Kitto’s pull back was slammed into the net by Milesunic at the top of the six yard box.
The home side had their fair share of possession but lacked cutting edge up forward as Marcus Schroen and Phillip Petreski both fired straight at Adelaide custodian John Hall.
Both sides had a golden chance on the cusp of half-time, with Adelaide’s Melling curling a shot just wide of the upright and Heart’s Petreski having a goal-bound effort brilliantly blocked by Antony Golec.
The game was effectively ended eight minutes after the break when Milesunic showed excellent composure to place a finish past Stevanja after being released into the penalty area.
Milesunic could have had a hat-trick but shot straight at the keeper after substitute Bryce Kamau’s precise through ball.
The Reds kept their foot on the throat of their opponent and were rewarded with a fourth goal as O’Doherty deftly chipped Stevanja after the Heart goalkeeper rushed out to block an Adelaide breakaway.
Heart did get a goal in stoppage time with Cartanos and Garuccio executing a perfect one-two that saw the former have an easy finish from close range.
Victory for Adelaide sees them complete the double over both Melbourne youth teams in consecutive weeks and move up to provisional second in the standings.
Melbourne Heart are now four games without a win and have dropped to seventh position.
Melbourne Heart 1 (Cartanos 90)
Adelaide United 4 (Melling 4, Milesunic 22 53, O’Doherty 86)
Melbourne Heart: 1. Marco Stevenja (GK), 3. Phillip Petrevski, 4. David Vrankovic, 5. Ross Archibald (C), 6. Alex Dao (13. Tyler James 60), 7. Hernan Espindola (2. Andrew Cartanos 60), 8. Paulo Retre, 9. Ben Garuccio, 10. Marcus Schroen, 14. Ersin Kaya (11. Jon Bounas 60), 15. Sam Mitchinson
Adelaide United: 1. John Hall (GK), 2. Dion Kirk, 3. Shaun Harvey (C), 6. Jack Bladen, 9. Anthony Costa (17. Jordan O’Doherty 60), 10. Ryan Kitto (7. Bryce Kamau 60), 11. Nikola Milesunic, 15. Matthew Bouzalas, 16. Jacob Melling (8. Nathan Konstandopoulos 60), 19. Cam Watson, 21. Antony Golec
