Reds break record at Hindmarsh

Adelaide United treated their fans to a goal-scoring treat as they heaped further misery on the North Queensland Fury with an 8-1 victory at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday night. It was a Hyundai A-League record as no team has ever scored eight goals in a match during the competitions six year history.

Adelaide were also delighted to welcome back youngster Matthew Leckie who played his first game in four months after overcoming serious injury.

It was the usual suspects for the Reds with league top-scorer Sergio van Dijk and Argentine import Marco Flores both netting hat-tricks.

Ian Ramsay and Travis Dodd where the other two goal scorers for the Reds, whilst Panagiotis Nikas came up with a consolation goal for the Fury.

It was Flores who got the goal scoring festival underway in the fourth minute when he headed home from an Ian Ramsay cross.

Although the score line would suggest otherwise, after conceding North Queensland enjoyed a period of dominance and should have drawn level when striker David Williams blasted over the bar.

Flores then turned from scorer to provider when Reds skipper Travis Dodd finished off a delightful move to double their lead.

It was then time for Dodd to return the favour to the Argentine playmaker as he embarked on a charging run into the penalty area. Dodd breezed past Togo international Erik Akoto before delivering a cut back to Flores to slam home.

Adelaide then made it four before half-time when Fury goalkeeper Julian Pasfield parried straight into Ramsay’s path following a fierce shot from Dodd.

After half-time it didn’t get any better for the North Queensland as van Dijk got himself on the scoresheet only minutes after halftime.

Dodd was again involved in the build up as his dangerous cross found Ramsay who comfortably headed back to van Dijk who then guided his header over Pasfield.

Van Dijk then scored his second of the night after another brilliant pass from Flores. Upon collecting the ball van Dijk held off defenders using his strength before guiding his shot into the bottom corner of the net.

It was then the Fury’s turn to hit the back of the net, but it was only ever going to be a consolation. Nikas gathered the ball twenty metres out before curling a shot with his right foot past Eugene Galekovic in the 72nd minute.

Van Dijk then completed his hat-trick and scored his sixteenth goal of the season in the 83rd minute when he blasted a cutback from Cameron Watson into the roof of the goals.

Flores then put the icing on the cake for the Reds when he netted his hat-trick shortly before full time.

Adelaide will be hoping the Central Coast Mariners lose to Sydney FC on Sunday, allowing the Reds to retain joint second place, at least until next week. The humiliated Fury leave South Australia in a worrying position, an 8-1 defeat not doing their A-League license any favours. The embattled club have few options on and off the field, and time is running out.