Adelaide United skipper Eugene Galekovic says his side’s second half capitulation against Central Coast Mariners on Sunday was their worst performance of the season.
The champions looked on course for a maiden win in season 2016/17 after Sergi Guardiola’s 26th minute penalty had them in control at 1-0 up at the break.
Pain stunner inspires Mariners to upset win over Reds
But Gui Amor’s side took their foot off the throat in the second half, allowing the visitors to score twice and come away with their first win since January.
“I can’t put a finger on why we played like that [in the second half],” a frustrated Galekovic told Fox Sports.
“The first half was OK but OK is still not good enough.
“The second half we came out and there was only one team on the park and that was Central Coast.
“It’s disappointing…we didn’t deserve three points today.”
The Reds are now bottom of the Hyundai A-League ladder and the only team this season yet to register a win.
There was some good news with playmaker Marcelo Carrusca making his return from a long injury layoff, playing the last 30 minutes at Coopers Stadium.
As well as Guardiola’s spot-kick, Adelaide had other chances to score in the first half, with Jordan O’Doherty hitting the post, Ryan Kitto seeing a chance cleared off the line, while Tarek Elrich wasted a glorious opportunity right on the stroke of half-time.
“We didn’t take our chances in the first half. We had a few and in the end it bit us in the bum,” Galekovic lamented.
“But credit to [the Mariners], second half they were brilliant, they came at us and they wanted the game more than us.”
Adelaide have lost all three home matches this season 2-1 and are back at Coopers on Friday night for a clash with in-form Brisbane Roar.
