Adelaide United teenager Nestory Irankunda has scored an added-time stunner to steal all three points in a dramatic 2-1 A-League Men victory over Central Coast at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night.
REACTION: ‘It was a dream to score here at Hindmarsh’ – Irankunda
With the scores locked at 1-1, and Mariners having the majority of late chances, substitute Irankunda picked out the top corner from a tight angle in the 92nd minute with a powerful drive.
The Mariners had the first real chance on the quarter hour when Marcos Urena outmuscled his opponent and worked his way into the box, teeing up Nicolai Muller, but the close-range shot was well saved by Joe Gauci.
Adelaide were awarded a penalty on 23rd minutes when Lachlan Brook was brought down by Jacob Farrell.
Craig Goodwin took on the spot kick but missed a second consecutive penalty with Central Coast keeper Mark Birighitti guessing the right way and parrying the shot clear.
On the half hour the Mariners should have opened the scoring when Muller whipped in a corner to the near post where Urena flicked on, only for Jason Cummings to head over the bar with an open goal beckoning.
The visitors did break the deadlock five minutes later through Beni Nkololo after Adelaide had failed to clear an attack.
Brook skied the ball which was superbly controlled on the edge of the area by Cummings, before he laid off to Nkololo who slotted his shot under Gauci.
The Reds equalised six minutes into the second half through Hiroshi Ibusuki after a goalmouth scramble from a Goodwin corner.
The ball floated over and amidst the chaos, Lachie Barr and Brook both had shots blocked before the ball bounced across the edge of the six yard box where the Japanese striker was on hand to smash into the back of the net.
Nkololo had a great chance to get his and the Mariners’ second when he found himself free inside the area on 70 minutes but he blasted his effort over.
Lewis Miller also went close but shot just wide while Adelaide substitute Mohamed Toure headed just over the bar.
But, it was fellow substitute Irankunda who stole the show with an added-time stunner, collecting all three points for United.
After recycling a corner, the ball fell to Barr who supplied Irankunda, with the 16-year-old unleashing a venomous strike into the top corner.
Re-live: Reds v Mariners, as it happened
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
FULL-TIME: ADELAIDE 2-1 MARINERS
Watch the highlights below from a dramatic night at Coopers Stadium.
GOAL! Irankunda wins it for the Reds (9.38pm AEDT)
“Remember the name: Nestory Irankunda!” Exclaimed Paramount+ commentator Simon Hill, as the Mariners collapse again.
It’s total drama at Coopers Stadium as the 16-year-old blasts the Reds into the lead, coming from a goal down to go on the cusp of yet another stunning comeback win.
GOAL! Ibusuki restores partiy (9.00pm AEDT)
Right place, right time for Hiroshi Ibusuki who brushes the ball home from close range after a scrappy passage of play inside Adelaide’s attacking penalty area.
There was potential for Ibusuki’s opportunistic finish to be scrapped from the ledger after a potential foul on Mariners defender Dan Hall in the build-up, but referee Alex King was not beckoned to the sideline monitor as VAR approved the on-field decision for the goal to stand.
GOAL! N’Kololo makes Adelaide pay (8.25pm AEDT)
The home side should have gone 1-0 up through Craig Goodwin from the spot – but instead it was the Mariners taking the lead, as Béni N’Kololo provided the finish from a masterful Jason Cummings assist.
SAVE! Birighitti denies Goodwin from the spot (8.14pm AEDT)
A stutter-step on the run-up to Craig Goodwin’s spot kick earned after a Jacob Farrell foul in the Mariners’ defensive penalty area did not fool Mark Birighitti, who stood tall as Goodwin feinted to shoot before getting down to his right to make a crucial save.
Goodwin squandered the chance to draw level with Reds legend Bruce Djite as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
KICK-OFF (7.45PM AEDT)
The second instalment of Adelaide United’s Pride Game kicks off at Coopers Stadium, with the the Reds’ ALM side looking to follow in the footsteps of their ALW outfit by notching a win on Saturday.
PRE-GAME
It’s a special occasion in the A-Leagues on Saturday, with Adelaide’s ‘Pride Game’ the first of its kind in the league, aiming to celebrate inclusivity in both the men’s and women’s competitions.
The Reds welcome Central Coast to Coopers Stadium in the second game of a double-header on Saturday after the conclusion of Adelaide v Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women’s. Adelaide winger Craig Goodwin could create history with a goal to equalling the club’s all-time men’s scoring record held by Reds legend Bruce Djite, whilst Stefan Mauk prepares to farewell his home crowd before his departure to Japanese side Fagiano Okayama.
The Mariners return to action four days after the VAR controversy which saw Melbourne City clinch a 3-2 over Nick Montgomery’s side in contentious circumstances.
