Cirio's last-minute heroics delight Reds fans

A last-minute goal to Sergio Cirio has given Adelaide United a thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Wellington Phoenix at Coopers Stadium on Saturday evening, in a game of two very distinct halves.

Goals to Rolieny Bonevacia and Nigel Boogaard had things level at half-time and the open nature of the game hinted at a thrilling second verse. What was promised wasn’t delivered, though, as both teams played some of their most erroneous football this season before Cirio’s magical flick into the back of the net.

Goodwin hit his 95th-minute free kick towards the penalty spot and amongst a flurry of heads, Dylan McGowan was able to knock the ball down. The bounce was kind to Cirio, who got enough of his boot on the ball to divert it past Wellington keeper Glen Moss.

The last-minute effort delighted the fans and coach Josep Gombau alike, and the eccentric Adelaide boss was seen making a sprint down the right flank of the pitch to celebrate with his elated players.

Prior to the match, both teams were facing scheduling issues, as Adelaide played its third game in eight days, and Wellington Phoenix were forced to make do without a number of its first team, who were on duty with the All Whites.

There was no evidence of this at Coopers though as both teams ran from end to end, attacking one minute and defending the next. Some clumsy challenges and a number of bookings made the first 45 minutes football for any doubters of the game.

The Phoenix opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark, as Bonevacia was able to get hold of a Roy Krishna cross, who had sprinted down the left flank on a counter attack that the Reds had no answer to. Krishna then knocked the ball to the unmarked Bonevacia, who thundered the shot into the top corner of the net.

Wellington continued to pressure their hosts after scoring, with a number of runs from Krishna and former Adelaide striker Nathan Burns on either side of the pitch causing panic amongst the Adelaide players. But it was the unlikely hero Nigel Boorgaard who was able to buck the run of play and equalise for the Reds, as he latched onto an inswinging Craig Goodwin corner and powerfully nodded the ball passed Glen Moss.

The goal was Boogaard’s first at Adelaide United and only his third in his professional career, and the centre back was clearly delighted with his effort. His colleagues were too, and all of a sudden Adelaide United was in the game, taking a couple of good runs and close shots into half time.

But on the resumption the game took a turn for the repugnant as both teams made countless errors. Under a cloudy sky and bouts of heavy rain passes constantly missed their targets, challenges were late and rough, and the few shots the 9,726 spectators were witness to flew well wide of their target.

After the game, Adelaide boss Josep Gombau told reporters that his players were ecstatic about their last minute win, but also about finishing a busy week on a winning note, having led the club to its third game in eight days.

“They worked hard, and they went down in trust or belief they could win the game,” Gombau said.

“Now we have a long week [off] and this for us will be good, we have until Sunday, so we can rest and recover some players,” he said.

In the other dugout, Wellington manager Ernie Merrick was disappointed with cruel nature of the loss, but noted that his team held on until the dying seconds, in spite of a number of the first team players on international duty.

“It was cruel for the players, the boys worked really hard,” Merrick said.

“I don’t think we played well enough to win the game but I thought a draw would have been okay for us, but we didn’t grind it out.

"We left it 30 seconds too short,” he said.

Adelaide travels to Bluetongue stadium to take on Central Coast on Sunday next week, while Wellington faces a long flight to Perth to take on the Glory on Friday night.



Adelaide United starting XI: 1. Eugene Galekovic (C) (GK), 3. Nigel Boogaard, 5. Osama Malick, 7. Pablo Sanchez (off 79’), 8. Isaias, 9. Sergio Cirio, 10. Marcelo Carrusca (off 71’), 17. Awer Mabil (off 61’), 18. Jimmy Jeggo, 21. Tarek Elrich

Adelaide United substitutes: 2. Michael Marrone, 4. Dylan McGowan (on 79’), 20. Paul Izzo (GK), 22. Fabio Ferreira (on 61’), 24. Bruce Kamau (on 71’)

Wellington Phoenix starting XI: 1. Glen Moss (GK), 2. Emmanuel Muscat, 4. Rolieny Bonevacia (off 78’), 6. Joshua Brindell-South, 8. Alex Rodriguez (off 60’), 9. Nathan Burns (off 71’), 13. Albert Riera, 17. Vince Lia, 18. Ben Sigmund, 21. Roy Krishna, 22. Andrew Durante (C)

Wellington Phoenix substitutes: 7. Kenny Cunningham (on 60’), 14. Alex Rufer (on 78’), 20. Lewis Italiano (GK), 23. Matthew Ridenton (on 71’), 31. Andrew Blake