United come out tops in cross-border 'rivalry'

 United's fans prepare for their Melbourne grudge match

Adelaide United’s 1-0 win over Melbourne Heart has reinforced the notion the fixture is one of the friendliest cross-border rivalries in the world.

The United-Heart edition of the Melbourne Derby is hardly ever a spiteful match and it proved so again with only two cautions produced throughout 90 minutes of play.

The game appeared less of a cross-town battle and more like a pre-season friendly between the two sides, with Jeronimo Neumann’s 58th minute strike enough to separate the sides at the end of play.

Marcelo Carrusca was the beneficiary initially as he recovered the ball from a a dawdling Melbourne defence. The playmaker fed Jeronimo who split the two centre-halves and struck a left-foot drive at Bolton’s goals. Unfortunately for the gloveman, centre-back Simon Colosimo got the last touch as it sailed off his outstretched foot and into the opposite corner of the net.

Goal(s): Neumann 58’ (1-0)

Adelaide Starting XI: Galekovic (gk) (c), Malik, Boogaard, Fyfe, Cassio, Carrusca, Vidosic, Watson, Neumann, Ferreira, Kostopolous.

Subs: Djite, Ramsay, Barbiero, Hall (gk).


Heart Starting XI: Bolton (gk), Marrone, Colosimo, Gerhardt, Thompson (c), Tadic, Garcia, Behich, Hoffman, Kalmar, Dugandzic.

Subs: Macallister, Williams, Redmayne (gk), Mitchinson.