Adelaide United have back to back wins for the first time in the 2025/26 Ninja A-League season after a 1-0 upset win against Central Coast at Coopers Stadium.
The Reds made a winning start to their home double header thanks to Emily Condon’s goal a minute after the restart.
The goal was set up by a 25 yard shot from Erin Healy that Annalee Grove could only parry into the path of Chelsie Dawber, who in turn teed up Condon to tap in what proved to be the only goal of the game.
Adelaide’s 17-year-old goalkeeper Ilona Melegh was the player of the match, making seven saves on the way to her first ever clean sheet for the Reds.
Central Coast had the arguably the best chances of the first half, with the Mariner’s pace and movement causing headaches for the Reds’ defence early.
Annalise Rasmussen was always threatening, and she and Isabel Gomez both made United’s 17-year-old goalkeeper Ilona Melegh work inside the first 10 minutes.
Peta Trimis had the chance of the first half when she was denied by Melegh just after the half hour, but neither team could break the deadlock before the break.
Adelaide broke the game open inside the first minute of the second half, however, and grew in confidence from there.
Healy, Matilda McNamara and Paige Zois all piled the pressure on the Mariners, while Gomez toiled hard but couldn’t break the Reds down who were led ably by Ella Tonkin.
By the time Fiona Worts came on and nearly made it two with a late effort, the Mariners looked just about out of ideas.
The Reds will hoping to frank their form when they make the trip to Leichhardt Oval to take on a spluttering Sydney FC next Friday, while CCM have an away F3 Derby to look forward to on Saturday evening.
