Adelaide United’s fighting spirit under inspirational German coach Marco Kurz puts them in good stead when the Finals Series comes around in a couple of months.
Coopers Stadium was rocking on Saturday night as the Reds’ fighting spirit was on show over the final 30 minutes of a dramatic night in the 2-2 draw with the Mariners.
Kurz himself was in the thick of it on the sidelines as he urged his side on in what was brilliant entertainment.
This attitude will please Kurz as his side aim to cement their spot in the top four (United are three points ahead of Victory in fifth).
Third and fourth placed sides play home finals matches and there’s no doubt a boisterous home crowd in Adelaide will be a huge advantage should the Reds qualify for a home final.
What’s more, in their sensational comeback 2-2 draw, far from being lucky, they actually bossed Central Coast Mariners in some of the game’s main stats.
Adelaide finishing ahead on shots from inside the box (13-5), shots from outside the box (9-7), open play crosses (20-9), headed shots (4-1), duels won (70-63) and even corners (18-5).
OTHER MATCH FACTS
-
Tonight’s 2-2 draw is only the third time in 10 away games this season that the Mariners have netted multiple goals. Their other bags of multiples coming against Western Sydney (Round 2) and Wellington Phoenix (Round 8).
-
The final scoreline of 2-2 represents only the seventh draw between Adelaide and Central Coast in their 41 meetings. It’s also the first time that the clubs have finished deadlocked on two goals apiece in their history of this fixture.
- Gulum’s straight red card was Adelaide United’s 16th since the start of the A-League and saw them join Melbourne City in joint third on this number.
- It was also Adelaide’s first straight red card since Ben Garrucio was dismissed against Melbourne City on November 26th, 2017 and represented Adelaide’s very first straight red against the Mariners.
