It won’t go down as one of their most memorable displays of the season but there might not be a more important win for Adelaide United so far in the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season.
After going five games without a win – failing to score in their last three games – there were plenty of people ready to put a line through the Reds for the rest of the campaign.
Throw in the drama surrounding coach Marco Kurz – who has been told his contract won’t be renewed at the end of the season – and there was an air of uncertainty around the club.
But in desperate times it’s often one result or one moment that can turn things around.
And for the Reds, that may have come in Gosford on Sunday with a rare goal from skipper Isaias enough to hand them a vital 1-0 win over Central Coast Mariners.
Isaias goal came 10 minutes before the break and not long after Aiden O’Neill skimmed the crossbar with a powerful shot for the home side.
But when his side needed him, the Spanish playmaker delivered the goods with a perfectly executed volley from the edge of the box which snuck through a sea of players and into the bottom corner.
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“We haven’t played our best football tonight but we got the three points and that’s the most important thing,” a relived Isaias told Fox Sports post-match.
“I’m very happy to help the team scoring goals. I’m not used to scoring goals but I’m happy to help the team.
“As I said, it’s three very important points.”
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Isaias isn’t understating it either.
The victory has seen Adelaide leapfrog Melbourne City into fifth spot but perhaps, more importantly, gives them an eight-point buffer to seventh-placed Newcastle Jets.
With four games to go, they now appear odds-on to be involved in the Finals Series and could still secure a top-four spot.
The Reds are just three points off fourth-placed Wellington Phoenix, who head to Coopers Stadium next Sunday in what should be a cracking contest.
