Gombau 'nix all three points from Wellington

Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau has put the rest of the A-League on notice, claiming his side "can get better" despite inflicting a 5-1 defeat on Wellington at Coopers Stadium.

The Spaniard’s side crushed the in-form Phoenix but said he’d be keeping his team’s feet firmly planted as they hit their straps heading into the upcoming Finals Series.

“The team is doing well and the confidence of the players is high,” Gombau said.

“Our last six games need to be played like finals and we must work hard in every single game to make the top six.

“Last week we made simple mistakes. If you lose concentration and focus you can lose,” he said.

A brace to Jeronimo Neumann, including a stunning 23rd-minute volley, as well as goals to Cirio and Ferreira put United in control before Cunningham pulled one back for the Phoenix.

Gombau was without starters Jon McKain (suspended) and playmaker Marcelo Carrusca (adductor), however that couldn’t slow down United who jumped to third spot on the Hyundai A-League ladder while leapfrogging the Roar to lead the team scoring charts with 38 goals.

The Phoenix had been in town since Saturday however the Reds were quick out of the blocks and got the jump on their opponents with chances falling to Bruce Djite and Fabio Ferreira.

“We went onto the pitch ready to fight,” Ferreira said.

“We wanted to win and we knew in our mind that we had to win.

“The team is playing very well and we showed that today. Now we just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” the winger said.

A wonder strike from Jeronimo Neumann in the 23rd minute set the tone for the rest of the match as United took a stranglehold on proceedings. United were making the most of the wide areas with Zullo, Ferreira and Neumann prominent throughout.

Zullo was the architect of Neumann’s goal as he drove into an acre of space inside his attacking half, drawing Michael Boxall out of position. The wing-back then played it to Neumann who needed just three touches to bring the crowd to its feet.

The Argentinean's first touch pushed the ball out in front.

His second looped the ball up and out of Boxall's reach.

Jeronimo's final touch was a sumptuous volley which had the ball dipping over Glen Moss, the ‘keeper clutching at thin air attempting to keep it out. 

The Reds doubled their lead in the 29th minute through the in-form Cirio after he found himself unmarked in the Wellington box. Elrich’s through ball released Ferreira who cut it back to the Spaniard. Cirio had time to control the ball in the box and slot it under the keeper.

Elrich and Ferreira combined again on the hour mark, this time giving the Portuguese winger the perfect opportunity to add a ‘golazo’ of his own to the highlights reel. Ferreira’s burst of pace allowed him to position himself around the ball, hitting it first time from a difficult angle.

The former Chelsea youth product hit true, powering it home to the delight of the 8000-strong crowd.

Just two minutes later Ferreira had bagged his second assist of the night as his composed cross found Jeronimo unmarked in the area. The striker took it first-time, hooking a low shot with the instep of his right foot into the back of the net to secure his brace.

Wellington found a consolation goal in the 67th minute through Kenny Cunningham. The Costa Rican international was played the ball with his back to goal but managed to turn and find enough space to rifle a strike which bounced once before flying into the side netting of Galekovic's goals.

Any slim hope of a comeback was dashed just moments later when Manny Muscat got his marching orders for his second bookable offence.

Things went from bad to worse when they went two players down heading into the final minutes of the game. A strong challenge from Tarek Elrich drew the ire of Cunningham and he couldn’t continue, forced to the sideline for treatment on a suspected fractured foot.

Having used all their allotted substitutes, Wellington could do nothing and would fall a further goal behind when Awer Mabil put the icing on the cake, fumbling the ball in after Jeronimo’s shot was deflected off the far post.

The Reds temporarily jump up to third on the ladder and will have the chance to be taken even more seriously when they table to Brisbane in over a week's time, while the Phoenix will hope to jump back up into the top six by taking advantage of Perth Glory's ordinary form at in Wellington



Adelaide United: Galekovic (c), Elrich, Boogaard, Malik, Zullo, Isaias, Watson, Cirio, Ferreira, Djite, Jeronimo

Subs: Marrone, Mabil, Elsey, Barker-Daish, Izzo


Wellington Phoenix: Moss, Boxall, Sigmund, Durante (c), Caira, Lia, Muscat, Hernandez, Boyd, Stein, Cunningham

Subs: Italiano, Brindell-South, Brockie, Ridenton, Krishna