Adelaide United opened their Foxtel National Youth League campaign with a convincing 3-1 win over Melbourne City at the Adelaide Shores Football Centre on Saturday afternoon.
Early in the match Melbourne City pressured Adelaide United high up the pitch, but looked to rue their missed chances.
City’s Jacob Melling came closest after he had time to place the ball from just inside the 18 yard box, but miss timed the strike, putting it just wide.
As the half drew on Adelaide looked to compose themselves as nerves looked to have gotten the better of them.
Adelaide looked to play in midfielder Bruce Kamau on the right wing, who on multiple occasions looked threatening as he conjured United’s best chance late in the half.
In the second half United looked the stronger force as they pushed from the kick-off.
As the half progressed Adelaide looked more likely to score, with City’s keeper Marko Stevanja in the way denying Adelaide the lead with a double save to stop both Anthony Costa and Nathan Konstandopoulos.
It was substitute Dylan Smith who proved to be the right choice scoring two goals for United.
The first scored with his first touch of the game after a cross found him just inside the box, placing it past the keeper.
His second was being in the right place at the right time after he followed Anthony Costa on the break, slotting it around the keeper at the near post.
City still pressed for a result late in the half after Matthew Miller pushed the ball under the hands of John Hall on the near post.
But a high pressing Melbourne City left them vulnerable at the back, and a driven cross along the ground, found the feet of Costa to secure the win.
“It’s the first time in front of a lot of people here today so they were very nervous… we tried to tell them to just settle the nerves and just play your game,” said Coach Michael Valkanis.
“The actions we had on goal were perfect, and a lot of them were off the training park, but we needed to control the game a little bit more.
“I think (we will) work on the problems we have and improving some of our mistakes and later on we’ll concentrate on Brisbane.”
Match Details
Saturday, 18 October 2014
Foxtel National Youth League 2014/15 Season – Round 1
Adelaide United 3 (D.Smith 65’, 81’, A.Costa 89’)
Melbourne City 1 (Kecojevic 88’)
Venue: Adelaide Shores Football Centre
Attendance: approximately 220
Photo by 80kms.com
