Horror homecoming for Flores

Teams are announced prior to the Reds v Victory grudge match

Melbourne Victory playmaker Marcos Flores has had a horror return to Hindmarsh Stadium as the Reds inflicted a 4-2 defeat on the visiting side.

Flores called Hindmarsh home for two years before an eastern sojourn in China was ended when Ange Postecoglu came calling at the start of this year’s Hyundai A-League season.

The Argentine endured a frosty reception as he was booed for every opportunity, the die-hard Adelaide crowd chanting ‘what a waste of money’ as the former fan-favourite was subbed off in the 71st minute.

Both teams got on the scoreboard early as Even Kostopolous and Andrew Nabbout both struck inside the opening five minutes. Reds winger Fabio Ferreira’s curled shot in the 22nd minute allowed Adelaide to regain the lead, before a sumptuous finish from Carrusca just three minutes later put the home side 3-1 up.

Kostopolous secured his brace in the 32nd minute as the depleted Melbourne backline faltered under a Carrusca set-piece. The midfielder’s floated delivery fell perfectly for 22-year-old Kostopolous who headed home from close-range.

Two minutes after the break Marco Rojas planted a seed of doubt in the mind of the home crowd as he turned his defender inside the box and side-footed his finish around stand-in ‘keeper Paul Izzo.

The Reds held on for an emphatic victory to secure their place at the top end of the table and end their rivals’ streak of five unbeaten matches.

Crowd: 14,115
Referee: Chris Beath