Here are six things you might have missed from an epic Isuzu UTE A-League Semi Final between Adelaide United and Central Coast Mariners at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night.
If you can hear the sound of silence, it is the moment Jason Cummings scores past Joe Gauci in front of a jam packed Coopers Stadium.
It was a picture perfect evening at Adelaide United’s home ground, which got even more boisterous after their hero, Craig Goodwin, converted a fourth minute penalty.
But James McGarry’s scorching strike, and Jason Cummings’ clutch finish, had the away side up 2-1 by the 40th minute and the home crowd was beside itself.
It was a breathtaking showing of attacking football. Central Coast had the ascendancy in the first-half, before the final half hour became the Goodwin and Nestory Irankunda show.
You couldn’t take your eye off this mesmerising contest; the A-Leagues at its best.
“Hats off to both sets of players, this has really been a thrilling encounter,” Mariners legend Daniel McBreen concluded in co-commentary for Network 10.
It leaves the tie brilliantly poised heading to Gosford for the return leg next Saturday night.
Here are six things KEEPUP observed from Coopers Stadium.
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War of words builds into tactical warfare
Carl Veart and Nick Montgomery set the tone for a spicy evening in their pre-game interviews on 10 Bold.
When asked about Central Coast’s 4-1 triumph here a fortnight ago, which secured them a top two berth, Veart said: “They put a lot of energy into that last game here, and we only went at 50%.”
Montgomery retorted: “Saying you left a little bit out here; probably a bit disrespectful to the fans who paid the money.”
Both mentors, lauded for their faith in Australian youth, then put their mark on a brilliant end-to-end battle in the 54th minute.
As soon as Irankunda was summoned, Montgomery turned to Jacob Farrell, to reprise a battle they had two weeks ago.
A 17-year-old and a 20-year-old.
“Two young men, plying their trade, entertaining the masses,” McBreen enthused in co-commentary.
Commentator Robbie Thomson observed: “Look what Nick Montgomery has done! One of the flair points two weeks ago was Farrell on Irankunda.
“They’ve seen Irankunda coming on and immediately the young Mariners defender, Jacob Farrell, is going to replace McGarry so that hostilities may continue.”
In the 66th minute, Goodwin played a sensational ball from the left that had Irankunda in on goal – and the crowd on its feet; Farrell lunged superbly to end the raid.
“That tackle, I have seen him (do) ever since I have known him in NPL,” said Montgomery, who was “proud” of how Farrell coped with that battle, and also the disappointment of being yellow carded during a penalty appeal, after he had been bundled over by Isaias.
Four minutes later, the same pair combined, this time Irankunda rising to head at the far post, only to be denied by Danny Vukovic. Irankunda was winded, while Farrell was left worse for ware having copped the brunt of the teenager’s fall.
McGarry had been outstanding at left-back, capped by his sumptuous goal, but has just been recovering from a chest infection.
“They did it last time we played them as well,” Veart said.
“I thought Nestor was excellent when he came on, provided us a lot more drive, and he was unfortunate not to get a goal tonight, hopefully he will get us a couple next week.”
The intrigue of two legs, and a week off
If there was any thought that two legs would bring out a more cagey dynamic to these two sides, it was wiped away within two minutes as Adelaide immediately won their penalty, on the front foot.
The way Central Coast quickly flipped momentum was testament to their confidence. From the moment they arrived at Coopers, everyone in the club imbued a calm confidence. That translated to their response to conceding immediately.
Diminutive central midfielders Josh Nisbet and Max Balard started winning every 50-50, dictating terms as Montgomery’s men played with fluidity and breathless tempo. By the 15th minute, they had more possession than the hosts.
Interestingly, the night before at Allianz Stadium, Rado Vidosic said the week off left Melbourne City rusty. Central Coast could not have looked more razor sharp after their first week bye.
If there was any evidence of this ding-dong approach, it came just on the cusp of half-time, when the Mariners could have been forgiven for tightening things up. Instead, Goodwin enjoyed a rare foray in between and produced a critical one-on-one save from Danny Vukovic.
Width, speed, training ground moves and impulse
Montgomery’s side showed their first sign of life with a delicious training ground corner routine orchestrated by Balard and Nisbet, slicing the Reds open. That settled their nerves, and from their, they were, at times, unplayable.
Beni Nkololo and Sam Silvera – who smashed the cross bar with a curling 25th minute effort – were titillating out wide, and Marco Tulio, off the back of winning the Isuzu UTE A-League Player of the Month and Goal of the Month awards, was in a league of his own at times in the first period – not just when in space, but when creating space with his diminutive skill.
When McGarry and Storm Roux spread the width of the field, allowing Tulio and Jason Cummings to run into channels, it made it extremely difficult for the Reds to handle.
Goodwin rev-up changes tone
Adelaide, simply were being outplayed and outrun by the visitors heading into the break.
Their skipper wanted to do something about it, so he cleaned up Storm Roux.
McBreen said during the broadcast: “He’s trying to get them fired up… he’s trying to fire up his teammates before half-time. 2-1 down, at home”
Thomson continued: “There’s very little left to chance with Craig Goodwin. When you see him do something like that, slightly out of character, you know there’s a message behind it. There’s a reason. As he looks to his teammates, and says: ‘We’re being overrun here’.”
By the hour mark the hosts had more possession again, and more entries into the opposition box. With 10 to go, they had four second-half shots to Central Coast’s one.
Ibusuki injury as Reds’ No.9 search continues
Hiroshi Ibusuki was back leading the line for Carl Veart’s side, as he searched for the final piece to the puzzle up front, having used George Blackwood last week, while young gun Luka Jovanovic was injured and didn’t make this week’s squad.
Ibusuki’s impact was immediate, winning the penalty as a duel with Brian Kaltak led to a handball from the Vanuatu defender, but once he limped off with a hamstring worry early in the second-half, it was Ben Halloran’s turn to lead the line.
Glover v Gauci: A battle for the next decade?
When Central Coast were at their pomp in the first period, Silvera teed up Cummings for a chance from point blank range.
On Friday night, Tom Glover defied belief with a double save to keep Sydney FC at bay, and spoke afterwards of his Socceroos ambition, having seen Adelaide United’s custodian go past him in the pecking order.
On Saturday night, it was Gauci’s turn to defy belief, denying Cummings with brilliant reflexes.
The caveat to that buzz, of course, is the Australian international might think he could have saved both of Central Coast’s goals on another occasion.
