North Queensland Fury’s new-look line-up produced a 2-1 win over Adelaide United at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday night.
North Queensland Fury’s new-look line-up produced a 2-1 win over Adelaide United at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday night.
Daniel McBreen had a barrel of shots before finally turning a defender and shooting into the right corner of the goal in the 39th minute.
And Robbie Fowler showed why he should never be unmarked with a casual but deadly shot from outside the 18-yard box into the left corner of the goal in the 66th minute.
Cristiano produced a last-ditch attempt in the 91st minute to ensure a nail-biting ending but it was too little too late.
The victory marked a stunning reversal of form for the Fury who were steamrolled 5-1 at home by the Central Coast Mariners last week forcing up to six changes in personnel and meant United had failed to win in its last five starts.
The home side had the run of the first half with 64 percent of possession providing nine attempts on goal to the visitor-s one before the game levelled out.
Fury coach Ian Ferguson praised his inclusions for the turnaround from the Mariners encounter.
“It was a nice win after last week’s disaster, the boys dug deep tonight,” he said.
“It showed a lot of heart and a lot of character, the last 15 minutes to go we were cramping up and players falling over.”
“We have been working hard with the new boys coming in, Terry Cooke I thought did a great job, Pasfield I thought did a good job.”
United assistant coach Phil Stubbins lamented a poor first half which ultimately cost Adelaide the game.
“I think the first half was not as good as we would have hoped, I take my hat off to the Fury who certainly dictated the first half and deserved a 1-0 lead,” he said.
“It is disappointing all around but I think we can take the positives from the second-half performance.”
North Queensland-s newly-promoted Justin Pasfield had an early baptism of fire between the posts having to punch away a cross amid heavy traffic in the fourth minute.
The goalkeeper was then forced to dive at the feet of an attacker a minute later and was left crawling on all fours to secure the ball.
McBreen should have scored in the 11th minute after a back pass from David Williams into the box but pulled his shot wide of the right post.
The striker was at the end of a long ball minutes later and spectacularly bicycle-kicked it into the net but received a yellow card for his efforts as he had handballed in the process.
Adelaide’s Eugene Galekovic was a presence between the sticks combating nine shots on goal including a long-range Williams strike.
The stopper then dived low to his right in the 25th minute to stop another shot from McBreen who was looking like he wasn’t meant to score.
McBreen finally found the net with his long-overdue goal.
The Fury should have doubled their lead a minute after the break with Williams finding Terry Cooke unmarked in the box but the former English Premier League player produced a howler in his first game in the green and white.
Fowler then showed his brilliant skills and left foot taking a pass outside the 18-yard box and casually shooting into the left corner.
Pasfield combated a thunderous long-range attempt from the midfield in the 75th minute to all but ensure regular goalkeeper Paul Henderson would remain on the bench after he was dropped after last week’s showing with the gloves.
United didn’t give up and pushed forward with Cristiano finding the net in extra time to see the game out.
North Queensland Fury 2 (McBreen 39, Fowler 66)
Adelaide United (Cristiano 90)
Crowd: 5356 @ Dairy Farmers Stadium
