A-League: Adelaide Utd 2 Gold Coast Utd 3

Shane Smeltz’s double spurred Gold Coast United on to a dramatic 3-2 elimination final win over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Sunday’s win ensures the Gold Coast have now set up a meeting with Central Coast Mariners for a chance to play Brisbane Roar in the A-League grand final.

The visitors took the lead at in the first half before coming from behind in the second after the Reds had gone in front with goals from Sergio van Dijk and Matthew Leckie.

Smeltz almost opened the scoring midway through the first half when Reds defender Dario Bodrusic failed to clear a long ball out of defence.

The Croatian was unable to get his foot to the clearance and Smeltz ran onto the pass before strolling past Bodrusic and firing low from inside the box in search of the bottom corner.

While Reds goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic was equal to the task then, he could do little about the New Zealand international’s next effort.

On 38 minutes, the Gold Coast striker received the ball with his back to goal, turned, took a touch and lost his defender before blasting a 30m shot past the out-stretched Galekovic.

Slory was replaced five minutes before the break after picking up an injury in a challenge and Matthew Leckie came on and made an immediate impact with his explosive pace.

The Young Socceroo – destined for Germany having signed a deal at Borussia Moenchengladbach – helped set up van Dijk in the dying stages of the half but his shot flashed past the post.

GCU could have doubled their advantage just after half time when Dino Djulbic got his head to the ball from a set piece, but the defender’s header bounced off the post and Galekovic was forced to slap the ball away from danger.

The Reds grabbed an equaliser from the penalty spot in the 54th minute when van Dijk was fouled in the box by Bas van den Brink after a Cassio corner.

Van Dijk stepped up and converted the spot kick, with Adelaide taking the lead 10 minutes later when Leckie pounced on the rebound after Moss had saved Cassio’s shot.

A minute later, the visitors scored a dramatic equaliser when former Adelaide striker Bruce Djite headed into an empty net.

Smeltz got on the end of the cross and his close-range header was saved by Galekovic but only into the path of Djite, who did not miss with the goal at his mercy.

And with 10 minutes remaining, GCU stole a dramatic third goal when substitute Joel Porter was brought down in the area by Nigel Boogaard.

Smeltz had to take his spot kick twice after an infringement on the edge of the area, but it mattered little as he secured the victory for Gold Coast.

Sun 27 February, 2011

A-League: Adelaide Utd 2 Gold Coast Utd 3

Shane Smeltz’s double spurred Gold Coast United on to a dramatic 3-2 elimination final win over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Sunday’s win ensures the Gold Coast have now set up a meeting with Central Coast Mariners for a chance to play Brisbane Roar in the A-League grand final.

The visitors took the lead at in the first half before coming from behind in the second after the Reds had gone in front with goals from Sergio van Dijk and Matthew Leckie.

Smeltz almost opened the scoring midway through the first half when Reds defender Dario Bodrusic failed to clear a long ball out of defence.

The Croatian was unable to get his foot to the clearance and Smeltz ran onto the pass before strolling past Bodrusic and firing low from inside the box in search of the bottom corner.

While Reds goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic was equal to the task then, he could do little about the New Zealand international’s next effort.

On 38 minutes, the Gold Coast striker received the ball with his back to goal, turned, took a touch and lost his defender before blasting a 30m shot past the out-stretched Galekovic.

Slory was replaced five minutes before the break after picking up an injury in a challenge and Matthew Leckie came on and made an immediate impact with his explosive pace.

The Young Socceroo – destined for Germany having signed a deal at Borussia Moenchengladbach – helped set up van Dijk in the dying stages of the half but his shot flashed past the post.

GCU could have doubled their advantage just after half time when Dino Djulbic got his head to the ball from a set piece, but the defender’s header bounced off the post and Galekovic was forced to slap the ball away from danger.

The Reds grabbed an equaliser from the penalty spot in the 54th minute when van Dijk was fouled in the box by Bas van den Brink after a Cassio corner.

Van Dijk stepped up and converted the spot kick, with Adelaide taking the lead 10 minutes later when Leckie pounced on the rebound after Moss had saved Cassio’s shot.

A minute later, the visitors scored a dramatic equaliser when former Adelaide striker Bruce Djite headed into an empty net.

Smeltz got on the end of the cross and his close-range header was saved by Galekovic but only into the path of Djite, who did not miss with the goal at his mercy.

And with 10 minutes remaining, GCU stole a dramatic third goal when substitute Joel Porter was brought down in the area by Nigel Boogaard.

Smeltz had to take his spot kick twice after an infringement on the edge of the area, but it mattered little as he secured the victory for Gold Coast.

Sun 27 February, 2011

A-League: Adelaide United 2 Melbourne Victory 1

Adelaide United secured third place on the A-League ladder after defeating Melbourne Victory 2-1 at Adelaide Oval on Friday.

The win over their long-time rivals broke a minor form slump for the Reds that saw them collect just one point from their previous three matches following a record-breaking 8-1 belting of North Queensland Fury three weeks ago.

Paul Reid gave the home fans something to cheer about early when he scored in the fifth minute to open proceedings before substitute Archie Thompson leveled on 65 minutes when he curled the ball into the back of the net from close range.

But Adelaide captain Travis Dodd proved the hero when his header with 12 minutes to go flew over Michael Petkovic’s left shoulder.

Carlos Hernandez and Thompson both had chances to score late for Victory but Adelaide held on for maximum points.

Fri 11 February, 2011

A-League: Adelaide United 2 Melbourne Victory 1

Adelaide United secured third place on the A-League ladder after defeating Melbourne Victory 2-1 at Adelaide Oval on Friday.

The win over their long-time rivals broke a minor form slump for the Reds that saw them collect just one point from their previous three matches following a record-breaking 8-1 belting of North Queensland Fury three weeks ago.

Paul Reid gave the home fans something to cheer about early when he scored in the fifth minute to open proceedings before substitute Archie Thompson leveled on 65 minutes when he curled the ball into the back of the net from close range.

But Adelaide captain Travis Dodd proved the hero when his header with 12 minutes to go flew over Michael Petkovic’s left shoulder.

Carlos Hernandez and Thompson both had chances to score late for Victory but Adelaide held on for maximum points.

Fri 11 February, 2011

Adelaide United 8-1 North Queensland Fury Highlights Goals

Jan 22, 2011

Adelaide United 8-1 NQ Fury

Hyundai-A-League- January 21, 2011- Hindmarsh Stadium

Adelaide 8-1 North Queensland Fury ( Marcos Flores

A-League wrap: Adelaide thrash Victory

Adelaide United ended their 10-match losing streak against Melbourne Victory and re-ignited their season with a 4-1 away win on Sunday.

The history books will record it as the Reds’ first success over Victory since October 2007 and their first win over their bitter rivals in Melbourne in four and a half years.

Sergio van Dijk’s 57th minute goal, scored from 30m out with a wickedly curling free kick, was the highlight, but Marcos Flores set-up the result by getting on the end of some robust work from skipper Travis Dodd on 12 minutes.

The Argentine smashed home from Dodd’s header across the goal, while van Dijk’s scorcher came as a result of a foul by Kevin Muscat on Cassio.

Substitutes Fabien Barbiero’s first touch on 74 minutes sealed the deal, as he got onto to a rebounded shot from Iain Fyfe while the Victory’s humiliation was completed when a horrible defensive mix-up allowed van Dijk to net his 13th goal of the season on 77 minutes.

Fyfe played a major role in that goal as well, looping in a long free kick which Rody Vargas and Michael Petkovic managed to make a complete mess of it, with the Dutchman capitalising. Mate Dugandzic scored a consolation for the home side with the last kick of the game.

Victory’s afternoon was soured further by a red card shown to skipper Kevin Muscat on 65 minutes.

Melbourne play away in Sydney next week, needing to find some form, while Adelaide have a week off before facing North Queensland on Friday week at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Michael McGlinchey scored his first goal of the season four minutes before half-time to give the Central Coast Mariners the points against Wellington at Gosford.

But it was former Argentina under-20 international Patricio Perez who kept the Mariners’ hopes of a top-two finish alive with an outstanding performance, especially in the first half.

Perez created McGlinchey’s winner in midfield, before delivering a perfect pass to Joshua Rose who cut the ball back for the Kiwi international to fire home only his second goal for the Mariners.

Sun 9 January, 2011

A-League wrap: Adelaide thrash Victory

Adelaide United ended their 10-match losing streak against Melbourne Victory and re-ignited their season with a 4-1 away win on Sunday.

The history books will record it as the Reds’ first success over Victory since October 2007 and their first win over their bitter rivals in Melbourne in four and a half years.

Sergio van Dijk’s 57th minute goal, scored from 30m out with a wickedly curling free kick, was the highlight, but Marcos Flores set-up the result by getting on the end of some robust work from skipper Travis Dodd on 12 minutes.

The Argentine smashed home from Dodd’s header across the goal, while van Dijk’s scorcher came as a result of a foul by Kevin Muscat on Cassio.

Substitutes Fabien Barbiero’s first touch on 74 minutes sealed the deal, as he got onto to a rebounded shot from Iain Fyfe while the Victory’s humiliation was completed when a horrible defensive mix-up allowed van Dijk to net his 13th goal of the season on 77 minutes.

Fyfe played a major role in that goal as well, looping in a long free kick which Rody Vargas and Michael Petkovic managed to make a complete mess of it, with the Dutchman capitalising. Mate Dugandzic scored a consolation for the home side with the last kick of the game.

Victory’s afternoon was soured further by a red card shown to skipper Kevin Muscat on 65 minutes.

Melbourne play away in Sydney next week, needing to find some form, while Adelaide have a week off before facing North Queensland on Friday week at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Michael McGlinchey scored his first goal of the season four minutes before half-time to give the Central Coast Mariners the points against Wellington at Gosford.

But it was former Argentina under-20 international Patricio Perez who kept the Mariners’ hopes of a top-two finish alive with an outstanding performance, especially in the first half.

Perez created McGlinchey’s winner in midfield, before delivering a perfect pass to Joshua Rose who cut the ball back for the Kiwi international to fire home only his second goal for the Mariners.

Sun 9 January, 2011