Jordan Elsey may not have been on the Coopers Stadium pitch in person but he certainly was in spirit thanks to Nikola Mileusnic.
Elsey joined the FFA Cup winning celebrations after Adelaide’s 4-0 demolition of Melbourne City after a knee injury ruled him out of the showpiece game.
But the 25-year-old defender was in the Reds’ thoughts when Mileusnic tapped in Ben Halloran’s cross to become the first player to score in two FFA Cup Finals.
Immediately after scoring, local boy Mileusnic paid tribute to his fellow South Australian by throwing up the same goal celebration previously used by Elsey.
The tribute from @nmileu for @JordanElsey1! #FFACupFinal #MagicOfTheCup pic.twitter.com/X8COLAvgI5
— Australia Cup (@AustraliaCup) October 23, 2019
Catch up with the rest of the moments you may have missed from around Coopers Stadium and on social media following a historic day in the City of Churches.
REPORT: Adelaide United rout Melbourne City 4-0 for third FFA Cup win
‘DESTINED FOR REALLY BIG THINGS’: Incredible story behind Toure’s remarkable rise
Always finish on a song
It was almost like we had been here before. Because we had!
Craig Goodwin, Isaias and Marco Kurz may not have been present this time around, but Gertjan Verbeek, Riley McGree, Al Hassan Toure and company will have won over plenty of Reds fans with a destructive display against City.
Elsey led the chanting with the Adelaide faithful and there’s every chance that party carried on long into the night!
Getting some déjà vu. #FFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/YPmmulr4Cl
— Australia Cup (@AustraliaCup) October 23, 2019
Dancing on the ceiling
Mileusnic’s tribute to Elsey wasn’t the only homage of the evening.
Being between the posts is very much goalkeeper Paul Izzo’s domain. Being on top of them is another story altogether.
But just as Bruce Djite did when the Reds lifted the inaugural FFA Cup five years ago, Izzo was up on top of the crossbar to keep the party flowing!
.@P_izzo taking inspiration from @BDjite!#FFACupFinal #MagicOfTheCup pic.twitter.com/ynzfH89QoX
— Australia Cup (@AustraliaCup) October 23, 2019
The good news for Izzo is he was not going to get in trouble with the club’s Director of Football.
Especially when the man in charge of football operations was the originator of that move at Coopers Stadium!
My man @P_izzo … I know the feeling bro ❤️ https://t.co/Tgj6iysNRH
— Bruce Djité (@BDjite) October 23, 2019
Slip ‘n slide time
There’s every chance Verbeek was watching through closed fingers, with baited, breath as the carnival continued in the Coopers Stadium sheds.
The last thing he Dutch coach needs is a player missing Hyundai A-League time with a tweaked ankle due to a beer slipway.
But there was no holding the Reds back after winning an unprecedented third FFA Cup and becoming the first ever back-to-back champions!
Scenes in the sheds post game… That beer slip 'n' slide sure looks fun 😂 #FFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/reXoYcgvx1
— Fox Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) October 23, 2019
On the rise
They may not yet have recorded a victory in the Hyundai A-League but the feel-good factor is back in Hindmarsh.
@AdelaideUnited ❤️❤️❤️#FFACup CHAMPIONS!!!
🏆🏆🏆— Bruce Djité (@BDjite) October 23, 2019
Having been a player & now as Director of Football, I can honestly say, it's the players who deserve all the congratulations. They fight, run, tackle, make the onfield decisions, score and save the goals.
So thanks for the messages, but I just watched the game 😂
— Bruce Djité (@BDjite) October 23, 2019
McGree showing why he was worth a transfer fee. Local boy, can play anywhere in midfield, great eye for goal.
Young South Australians getting it done for @AdelaideUnited. Third @FFACup in six years. Amazing. #FFACupFinal
— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) October 23, 2019
The coaching of Dutchman Gertjan Verbeek deserves so much praise!! He’s doing it with a team dominated by young Aussie talent. 3rd goal fantastic! Deliberate pass to back stick for tap-in. Reds already much prettier to watch than the Kurz era. #FFACupFinal
— Brenton Speed (@BrentonSpeed) October 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/MValkanis/status/1187042707333668864?s=20
Special to witness another big @FFACup win tonight. I’ve had some great nights at @CoopersStadium on the pitch but really enjoyed covering the game.
Huge win for @AdelaideUnited 👏👏
Great to see so many South Australians on the park and filling the stands @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/48Y3vwuhQ3— Rob Cornthwaite (@robcornthwaite) October 23, 2019
This is actually ridiculous 😱
Pure domination of the @FFACup https://t.co/r0M42mtZOA
— Rob Cornthwaite (@robcornthwaite) October 23, 2019
This is beautiful 😍 https://t.co/pv8PHOC4OD
— Georgia Campagnale (@campagnale_G) October 23, 2019
FULL TIME | @AdelaideUnited are #FFACup Winners for a third time! 🏆🏆🏆#FFACupFinal #MagicOfTheCup pic.twitter.com/SBK8QUbVvK
— Australia Cup (@AustraliaCup) October 23, 2019
Okay so now the talking on the pitch has been done… we’re getting around this. https://t.co/5B4jew4FE1
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) October 23, 2019
WATCH: Adelaide United v Melbourne City | Mini-Match Highlights | FFA Cup Final
PRESENTATION: Adelaide United are the FFA Cup WINNERS 2019
