Record-breaker Craig Goodwin has delivered Adelaide United a 3-2 A League Men’s win over Sydney FC, dealing a massive blow to the Sky Blues’ finals hopes.
REACTION: GOODWIN’S RECORD NIGHT: ‘I WANT TO WIN SILVERWARE WITH THIS CLUB’
Adelaide trailed 2-1 In the 89th minute but Goodwin set up an equaliser for substitute and former Sydney striker George Blackwood.
And in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Socceroo Goodwin drilled a left-foot volley into the net after Sydney defenders Rhyan Grant and Alex Wilkinson failed to deal with a cross-field ball.
The win, Adelaide’s first away to Sydney in six years, put them three points clear of Sydney who have played one more game.
It was a devastating blow for Sydney, who could find themselves out of the top six when they return from their Asian Champions League pool matches in Vietnam.
All three of Adelaide’s remaining games are at home.
Sydney created far more clear-cut chances but wasteful finishing from Trent Buhagiar and Adam Le Fondre cost them dearly while Adelaide were far more clinical.
A club record-breaking goal from Goodwin had earlier drawn Adelaide level after Grant opened the scoring in the sixth minute.
Buhagiar, who was foiled from close range twice in the first half by Adelaide goalkeeper Joe Gauci, produced an unstoppable 62nd minute finish from a tough angle to give Sydney a 2-1 lead.
It was speedy Buhagiar’s fourth goal from his past five games.
Sydney took an early lead when a precise Anthony Caceres cross to the far post was volleyed home sweetly by full-back Grant on his left foot.
Gauci’s two saves from Buhagiar and another from a looping Wilkinson header kept Adelaide in the game.
Adelaide worked their way into the game and Goodwin ghosted into space on the far post and headed an accurate cross from Javier Rodriguez into the net.
The score made him Adelaide’s all-time leading goalscorer, taking him one clear of Bruce Djite.
After Buhagiar’s goal, Le Fondre had great opportunities to put Sydney two up after being put through by Grant but his finish lacked power and was comfortably saved by Gauci.
The English veteran, who was coming off a last-start hat-trick, missed another good chance near the end.
RE-LIVE: SYDNEY FC 2-3 ADELAIDE UNITED, AS IT HAPPENED
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
90+5′: GOAL! Goodwin with the heartbreaker (2-3)
Goodwin has popped up at the back post to score his second of the night and snatch all three points for the Reds in Kogarah.
Twice behind on the night, Goodwin capped off his record-breaking night in style as the Reds move above the Sky Blues on the table once again.
90′: GOAL! Blackwood heads home to level the scores once more (2-2)
That’s impact off the bench from George Blackwood, who heads home Goodwin’s free-kick delivery off the right flank to make it 2-2 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
62′: GOAL! Buhagiar restores Sydney’s lead (2-1)
“How did he score from there?” Asked Paramount+ commentator Simon Hill as Trent Buhagiar got in behind Adelaide’s defence to find the back of the net from an acute angle, falling to the deck under pressure to somehow pierce the guard of Joe Gauci in goal for Adelaide.
HALF-TIME: SKY BLUES 1-1 ADELAIDE
Grant and Goodwin exchanged blows in the first half as the two teams go into the sheds locked at 1-1.
36′: GOAL! Goodwin the record breaker as Reds draw level (1-1)
Craig Goodwin has scored his 36th Isuzu UTE A-League goal as a Red – breaking clear from Bruce Djite as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer as Adelaide draw level at 1-1 with the Sky Blues.
23′: CHANCE! Ibusuki over the bar (1-0)
That’s the type of ball Hiroshi Ibusuki feeds off. Curled toward the back post off the left wing by Craig Goodwin, the towering Japanese striker rose above his marker to head the ball toward goal, brushing the roof of the net as his attempt fizzed over the bar.
6′: GOAL! Grant opens the scoring (1-0)
Rhyan Grant has put the home side on top early, scoring his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal since March, 2021 by getting in behind Reds marker Josh Cavallo to meet a cross from Anthony Caceres at the back post to finish on the volley.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
The Sky Blues get the ball rolling in Kogarah.
