Australia NewsSkipper Travis Puts United Top |
ADELAIDE United skipper Travis Dodd scored the only goal of the game as the Reds defeated Perth Glory to top the embryonic A-League table.
Dodd, playing his 100th game for the club, crashed a tremendous right-footed drive past Glory keeper Frank Juric in the 41st minute after a great attacking run.
Taking possession in the midfield, Dodd flicked the ball up to Cristiano who then returned the favour by heading the ball back into the skipper's path.
He charged forward, managed to keep a step ahead of Hayden Doyle before cracking a ball past the left hand of goalkeeper Juric.
The home side tried to extend their lead immediately after the break but were then forced to defend in the final half hour against a determined but relatively ineffective Glory side.
It was a pleasing effort for the new-look United line-up who started four of their recruits on the pitch and got 70 minutes out of injury-prone marquee player Paul Agostino.
Earlier it had been Adelaide on the front foot and they made three attempts on goal before Perth had got their game going.
But Perth worked their way into the contest with Scott Bulloch proving the most dangerous player in attack.
On 17 minutes he slipped away from the Reds' defence but his 20-metre kick went left of the target.
Four minutes later he found space again and had a clear path to goal. But a brave Eugene Galekovic came off his line and met him just outside the box to thwart the move forward.
He was also brought down in an Ang Costanzo tackle but the resulting free-kick cannoned into the United wall and was cleared from danger.
Generally it was a fast-moving and attacking 45 minutes of football with both teams earning a couple of corners and giving the opposition’s defence the run around.
Glory changed their line-up after the break with Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Nikita Rukavytsya replacing Doyle and Eugene Dadi.
The changes didn't change the momentum of the game however with Cristiano, Paul Reid and Lucas Pantelis blazing away in the space of eight minutes.
Pantelis had two attempts with his second shot generated the most excitement among the crowd. A well-timed pass opened up the goal for the little left footer who kept the ball low but went just right of the target.
Perth didn't give up however and in the blink of an eye it was the visitors showing the initiative. They earned a couple of corners and for 15 minutes they dominated possession.
United displayed signs of fatigue and were scrappy and edgy in defence.
But in that period the visitors managed just shot on goal, relieving some of the pressure on the Reds.
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