FFA Cup: Brisbane undone by rampant Adelaide

Adelaide United has defeated Brisbane Roar at Coopers Stadium in their FFA Cup tie, the 2-0 scoreline justice for a game in which they dominated.

Goals for striker Bruce Djite and Sergio Cirio either side of half-time were enough for the Reds, whose victory was driven by their speed and long balls, the likes of which the Roar could not handle.

Things started positively for Adelaide as they enjoyed a number of chances at the reigning league champion’s goal, including a corner which resulted in a goalmouth scramble.

Adelaide had three cracks at the Brisbane net after the ball was crossed in, but each of them blocked by a resilient defence.

Adelaide continued to pile on the pressure though, and they nearly had their first when Brisbane’s Corey Brown missed his clearance, giving Awer Mabil a clear shot at goal, which was pushed away for a corner.

It didn’t take long for Mabil to cause more problems for Brisbane, however, as the pacey winger latched on to Ryan McGowan’s through ball to begin a run down the right flank.

His low cross met the boot of Djite only a few feet from Brisbane’s goal, and Adelaide on 35 minutes Adelaide had a lead they thoroughly deserved.

After the half time break, things resumed in much the same fashion that they had ended, as Adelaide continued to press an increasingly lacklustre Roar midfield and defence.

It took only three minutes for the home side to double their lead, when Pablo Sanchez cleared his marker and hit a lofted cross to Cirio at the far post; his countryman easily nodding the ball past Jamie Young.

After doubling their lead, Adelaide for happier to sit back, but even so the Roar were unable to genuinely put pressure on, with their only chance coming after Henrique De Silva broke down the Red’s defence and was charging towards Eugene Galekovic.

The striker’s effort was parried away, though, and with it went Brisbane’s last chance for the match.

After the match, Brisbane boss Mike Mulvey lamented his team’s performance, but said that it was too early to start worrying about their A-League credentials.

“We came here, we prepared as well as we possibly could, but we never got into a rhythm,” Mulvey said.

“It was an opportunity for the players tonight to show who’s going to be in the first 11 for the start of the season.

“This is our fourth [game against an A-League team], and they’ve been tough… so it’s readying us for the start of the season.”

Similarly, Adelaide Boss Josep Gombau said his charges were enjoying the challenges of cup football ahead of the A-League season, and was particularly impressed with the amount of times his team tested the opposition goalkeeper.

“It’s important in football to create chances, and if you create many chances, sooner or later you will score,” Gombau said.

“Brisbane is a good team, and it’s not easy to beat them, so I think we did well,” he said.

Gombau did concede, however, that with the prospect of playing cub football between league games, he may need to manage his squad’s playing time.

“I am a little bit worried that our next [cup] game is in October, during the league,” he said.

“We have a lot of injuries, plus three or four players will go with the Young Socceroos.”

“If we don’t recover players, we won’t have a lot of players to play Saturday or Sunday, mid-week, and then [the following] Saturday or Sunday.”



Adelaide United: Eugene Galekovic (GK), Nigel Boogaard, Dylan McGowan, Tarek Elrich, Isaias Sanchez, Awer Mabil (Mark Ochieng 88’), Jimmy Jeggo, Marcello Carrusca (Bruce Kamau ’74), Sergio Cirio, Bruce Djite, Pablo Sanchex (Nathan Konstandopoulos 84’)

Unused Substitutes:  Ben Warland, Paul Izzo (GK)


Brisbane Roar: Jamie Young, James Donachie, Jack Hingert, Corey Brown (Daniel Bowles 72’), Jade North, Steven Lustica (Mensure Kurtishi 72’), Liam Miller, Luke Brattan, Thomas Broich, Henrique De Silva (Jean Carlos Solorzano 81’), Dimitri Petratos

Unused Subsitutes: George Lambadaridis, Jason Kearton (GK)