Adelaide United and Heart share spoils

Adelaide United and Melbourne Heart have played out an entertaining 1-1 draw which keeps both teams languishing at the foot of the Hyundai A-League table.

Both goals came in the second half with a driven strike to Brendan Hamill, while Spase Dilevski scored a rebound for United to earn a point for the Reds.

Coolen made three changes to the team which was mauled 7-1 by Brisbane Roar, bringing in Watson, Ramsey and Djite into the starting line-up for Slory, Dilevski and Mullen.

Despite a flurry of late chances, in the end neither team could do enough to pierce the opposition defence and take out all three points.

The first fifteen minutes of the game were cagey with neither team creating any clear-cut chances.

Sergio van Dijk impressed early and was involved in many of Adelaide’s attacks. The 29-year-old was at ease on the field, creating space and turning his defenders at will.

Heart almost snatched the lead in the 21st minute after Dugandzic won the ball from Cassio and slid the ball past McKain to the feet of Terra who played in Behich however his resultant shot went wide.

Adelaide’s best chance of the half came in the 25th minute when Ramsey’s corner found McKain at the back post.

United’s captain powered the ball towards goal but unfortunately for the Reds, Aziz Behich was on hand to make a goal-line clearance.

The first half was fiery at times with four yellow cards handed out by referee Jarred Gillett, but ended 0-0 despite both teams having chances to take the lead.

It took just four minutes for the scoring to open when Hamill silenced the crowd in the 49th minute.

Winning the ball off Djite at halfway, the 19-year-old continued his run, splitting the Adelaide defence and slotted his shot into the bottom-left corner of the goal.

United showed little movement early in the 2nd half and were often forced to play back to the keeper, or hoof the ball up-field in hope.

United could have earned an equaliser in the 60th minute when Vidosic was played through down the wing. The Socceroo’s low cross fizzed past Heart keeper Bolton, but also moved past van Dijk’s outstretched foot.

Maligned import Andy Slory faced an unwelcome entry to the game in the 66th minute with sections of the crowd booing the Dutchman’s inclusion.

United wasted a gilt-edged chance in the 71st minute when Bolton attempted to clear an Adelaide cross. The Heart 'keeper came off his line to clear but his punch fell to Vidosic who curled his shot wide of an open net.

The second half saw both teams throw caution to the wind with Adelaide searching desperately for an equaliser while the Heart continued to attack.

However the game changed in the 76th minute when Simon Colosimo received his second booking for pulling down Slory just outside the box.

Adelaide equalised from the resulting free kick, Cassio’s shot parried by Bolton to Dilevski who converted from at a tight angle, bouncing his shot over the top of a flailing Bolton.

The final 15 minutes were tense as both teams began to push for a late winner.

A glut of chances fell to both teams but both United and the Heart lacked the polish to put the ball in the net.

Ultimately, neither team could find the winner they were searching for and had to leave with a solitary point from the match.

Attendance: 10,294
Referee: Jarred Gillett

The Football Sack 'Player of the Year' points
3: Van Dijk
2: Marrone
1: Ramsey