Adelaide United came from behind to conquer Western United 2-1 as the Reds maintained their unbeaten start to the Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Zach Clough’s 71st-minute strike completed the comeback at Coopers Stadium, where Adelaide cancelled out Kane Vidmar’s maiden A-Leagues goal through a Dylan Leonard own goal prior to half-time on Saturday night.
But the Round 4 showdown was not without controversy after substitute Abel Walatee and Western were denied a penalty in the 59th minute, much to the dismay of head coach John Aloisi and the visitors.
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“It’s a penalty, it’s got to be a penalty surely,” said Paramount+ co-commentator Andy Harper. “There’s not even any contact with the ball.”
“He hasn’t given him any chance of playing the ball there,” added commentator Robbie Thomson.
Adelaide have two wins and a draw from their opening three matches following a round-one bye going into the international break, while Western have two points so far.
There was a long-awaited Adelaide debut for former Sparta Rotterdam captain Bart Vriends, while Tomoki Imai was sidelined by Injury as Vidmar partnered Leonard in a young Western United defence.
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Hiroshi Ibusuki – reuniting with Adelaide for the first time since his off-season switch to Tarneit – was the only player in Western’s starting XI over the age of 24.
With his iconic father and Australian Under-23 head coach Tony in the stands, Kane Vidmar scored his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal on the same day he was called up by his dad for this month’s domestic training camp.
The 20-year-old wheeled away in celebration after the ball found the back of the net in the 10th minute following an impressive start by the visiting side.
In-form Adelaide number nine Luka Jovanovic had a great chance to equalise eight minutes later but the young gun saw his effort go wide of the post.
The Reds continued to threaten throughout the half before Adelaide were awarded a goal in the 32nd minute after Leonard turned the ball into his own net, with a VAR review confirming the ball had crossed the line.
It was a nervy ending to the first half for Western, who had to withstand an Adelaide onslaught.
Matt Sutton saved a tame shot from Zach Clough and then seconds later, Stefan Mauk weaved his way through Western’s defence but his strike went wide before an outstretched hand from the visiting goalkeeper denied Dylan Pierias at the back post in first-half stoppage time.
There was an incredible sequence that saw Adelaide emerge unscathed in the second half, somehow.
With a goal at mercy, Western substitute Abel Walatee was brought down just as he was about to convert Riku Danzaki’s cross but despite vocal appeals and a VAR review, no penalty was given.
Then from the resulting corner, Danzaki’s volley was brilliantly saved by Adelaide shot-stopper James Delianov.
Amid Western’s frustrations, Adelaide take the lead 19 minutes from the end as substitutes Ben Folami and Jonny Yull combine in the penalty area before Clough fires the ball underneath Sutton.
Sutton made another fine save to keep out Vriends’ header on debut in the 80th minute.
