Adelaide United have managed to grab all three points after producing a 2-0 result over Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park tonight. The Reds went within two points of league leaders Brisbane Roar thanks to an early header from Robert Cornthwaite and a late tap-in from Marcos Flores, giving the South Australian club their first win in Melbourne since they beat the Victory back in the 2006/07season.
The Heart were arguably the better of the sides on the night but came up short, mainly due to a stellar performance from Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic.
A-League Week 15Melbourne Heart: 0 Adelaide United: 2 (Robert Cornthwaite 5', Marcos Flores 73')
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne Crowd: 6,538 Referee: Chris Beath Yellow cards:MH - Rutger Worm 36' AU - nil
GOAL Things started perfectly for the visitors when Cassio whipped a free-kick in from the right flank in just the 5th minute. Adelaide defender Robert Cornthwaite managed to shake of attention from the Heart defence and nod home past an uncertain Clint Bolton to kick off proceedings.
The Heart were looking very susceptible at set pieces which prompted the Reds to start playing wide and get crosses into the area which were testing the home side.
Down the other end, Gerald Sibon forced a top save out of Eugene Galekovic in the 18th minute when compatriot Rutger Worm found him from the left flank but his whipped header wasn't quite good enough to get past the Reds gloveman.
The Heart began to get themselves back into the contest as the opening half went on but they couldn't really provide too much in the way of goalscoring chances as the Reds controlled the corridor and did not allow the home side to really worry Galekovic again and had to go into the dressing room one down.
The very first play of the second term saw Sibon miss an ideal chance to get his side back on level terms when his header from a pinpoint Worm cross failed to hit the target which was a huge let off for Adelaide.
The Reds seemed happy to sit back and maintain their lead as the Heart worked desperately to force an equalizer with Worm and Sibon the continuing trend as they strived to combine as often as possible.
Time and time again Melbourne advanced forward getting shots on goal but none were good enough to get past Galekovic who was always in the right place at the right time.
GOAL Against the run of play, Adelaide went two ahead when Iain Ramsay sent a deft chip goalward which was headed up onto the crossbar by Aziz Behich but Marcos Flores was on hand to toe poke home in the 73rd minute to make it 2-0.
Less than a minute later, Sibon produced a dazzling free-kick down the Heart end which Galekovic somehow managed to keep out. The two-time A-League Goalkeeper of the Year was the difference between his side enjoying a two-goal lead and the Heart being much closer on the scoreboard.
For all their efforts, the Heart were incapable of finding the back of the net as Adelaide came, did their job, and took three points back to Hindmarsh Stadium from Melbourne for the first time in four years.
Starting Line-Ups
MH Clint Bolton (gk), Michael Marrone, Michael Beauchamp (Kalmar 77'), Matt Thompson, Rutger Worm, Gerald Sibon, Wayne Srhoj, John Aloisi (Babalj 67'), Aziz Behich, Josip Skoko, Adrian Zahra (Terra 60')
Subs - Peter Zois (gk), Alex Terra (60'), Eli Babalj (67'), Nick Kalmar (77')
AUEugene Galekovic (gk), Robert Cornthwaite, Iain Fyfe, Cassio, Lucas Pantelis (Ramsay 46'), Adam Hughes, Sergio van Dijk, Marcos Flores (Norton 90+1'), Travis Dodd (Watson 72'), Fabian Barbiero, Joe Keenan
Subs - Mark Birighitti (gk), Iain Ramsay (46'), Cameron Watson (72'), Bradley Norton (90+1')
