A 10-man Adelaide United held on for a hard-fought 1-0 win over Macarthur FC in the Isuzu UTE A-League at Coopers Stadium, where Joe Gauci emerged the hero.
Adelaide burst out of the blocks and took a sixth-minute lead through Zach Clough before they were reduced to 10 men just 10 minutes later – Ben Warland shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Friday night.
Macarthur also ended the clash with 10 men when Jake Hollman was expelled on 56 minutes for a second yellow card.
The result sent Adelaide up to fourth in the standings, two points clear of sixth-placed Macarthur.
“I’m a little bit relieved at the moment to get away with the three points,” said Adelaide head coach Carl Veart.
“It was a tough night; the boys dug in and go their reward.”
READ MORE: SHOULD GAUCI BE CAPPED BY THE SOCCEROOS?
Adelaide were missing their central defensive pairing of Lachie Barr (injury) and Alex Popovic (suspension), while Isaias and Juande were also both suspended for the clash.
Nick Ansell was given his first start for the season while Warland was thrown straight into the starting line-up after a lengthy layoff through injury.
The Reds made the perfect start, breaking the deadlock on six minutes through Clough.Â
Craig Goodwin sent in a corner and Warland rose highest and headed it goalward. Clough controlled it with his thigh before poking it over the line from inside the six-yard box.
But the Reds’ perfect start soon turned into a disaster with Warland given his marching orders by referee Kurt Ams.
A long ball out from the back by Macarthur caught the Reds central defenders napping and Craig Noone snuck in behind.
Warland gave chase and took out Noone, given a straight red card for leading with his studs and collecting the Bulls’ winger on his thigh.
Macarthur skipper Ulises Davila rattled the post from the resulting free-kick from just outside the area.
Just before half-time, Adelaide had a glorious opportunity to double their lead when Clough picked up possession on the right wing and whipped in a cross which Hiroshi Ibusuki met but his header went agonisingly wide.
Ten minutes after the restart and Macarthur’s numerical advantage was wiped out when Hollman was issued his second yellow card after leading with his studs in a sliding challenge on Ethan Alagich.
With space opening up for both sides, Bulls’ substitute Daniel Arzani wasted the perfect chance to equalise, volleying over the bar after a deep cross from Noone on 69 minutes.
Shortly after Davila stung the palms of Gauci with a powerful drive before another chance went begging for the visitors.
Bulls’ boss Dwight Yorke couldn’t quite believe how his team didn’t manage at least a point out of the match.
“I’m sure when the dust settles you will reflect and think how we could possibly not get something from the game,” he said.
“You probably look back and think the chances we created, how we haven’t been able to convert at least one, possibly two or three.”
