Adelaide United and the AIS fought out a one-all draw in their round four National Youth League match at the AIS Athletics Track on Sunday afternoon.
It was an even contest; a dour first half with few scoring opportunities was followed by an entertaining second half with both teams attacking hard in search of a match-winner.
But inaccuracy in front of goal and scrambling defence meant they walked away with a deserved draw.
The AIS started the game brightly, having a couple of good chances through Jake Barker-Daish but it wasn’t long before Adelaide worked their way into the match with some promising counter-attacking runs.
United midfielder Joe Costa had the best chance in the opening exchanges, his shot from close range forced a good save low down from AIS goalkeeper Aaron Lennox.
The ball spent most of the first half locked in a tense midfield battle, and both teams had to work hard for their opportunities.
Hernan Espindola was at his creative best for the AIS on the right hand side, and experienced A League campaigner Fabian Barbiero was in fine touch for United.
It was United who hit the lead in the 38th minute on another counter attack.
Evan Kostopoulos won the race to a long ball ahead of two defenders and Lennox, who was left stranded a long way from home, before putting the ball into an open goal.
The AIS started the second half with purpose and had two near misses in the first two minutes.
First Jesse Makarouas had a curling shot miss wide and then an excellent cross from Espindola found striker Melvin Becket who was just off target with his volley.
The AIS got the goal they deserved in 49th minute, Espindola taking the ball out on the right and cutting it in to an unmanned Aaron Peterson who made no mistake from well inside the 18 yard box.
The goal opened up the game significantly when both teams pushed players forward in search of the match-winner.
United let a certain goal go begging in the 60th minute, with two consecutive shots on goal saved in a goalmouth scramble before the ball was headed across the face of an open goal.
AIS also missed a golden opportunity in the 74th minute after Barker-Daish ran onto a header, put a touch past goalkeeper Nicholas Munro but his shot was headed off the goal line.
In a tense finish the AIS had a series of corners but failed to produce any genuine goal chances before United pushed forward in the dying stages without luck.
Adelaide 1
(Kostopoulos 38)
AIS 1
(Peterson 49)
