Melbourne Victory suffered a cruel defeat away to Adelaide United in the Isuzu UTE A-League on Saturday night.
Ryan Kitto, who earlier saw a finish chalked off, headed in a 97th-minute winner for the hosts at Coopers Stadium.
Substitute Matt Grimaldi had equalised earlier in the second half, cancelling out Craig Goodwin’s sixth-minute goal, and then appeared to have claimed Victory all three points, only for a VAR call, which divided opinion, to disallow his thumping strike.
The Original Rivalry and Pride Cup spoils stay in Adelaide at the end of a pulsating encounter.
Team News
The only change to the starting XI was an imposed one, with the suspended Jason Davidson replaced in the centre of defence by Lachlan Jackson. His absence meant Nishan Velupillay captained the side on the ground where he scored his first goal for the Club. Among the substitutes was Xavier Stella, named in the match day squad for the first time since November’s trip to Sydney FC.
Match Action
Adelaide went ahead early in South Australia. A midfield turnover allowed Jonny Yull to release Goodwin, and the Reds captain, with work to do, raced into the box before evading the covering Sebastian Esposito and lifting his finish over Jack Warshawsky.
Soon after, it took a flying effort from Joshua Smits to keep out a spectacular Jackson attempt, as the goalkeeper stretched to the limit to claw an acrobatic overhead kick away from danger.
The next ball into the box provided another chance for Victory, but Nikos Vergos was unable to keep his header down from Juan Mata’s free kick off the left. Presented with a chance on the deck moments later, the Greek striker dragged his low shot wide.
Looking to extend their lead, United had joy on the right, and Yull’s low centre deserved a better connection from debutant Ajak Riak. They went significantly closer when Goodwin eased inside, watching his shot deflect off Joshua Inserra and onto the post.
Diles’ team ended the half on the front foot, as they had been for great periods. Denis Genreau saw both a shot and an attempted pass to Vergos cut out, and Velupillay curled an opening off target.
Half-time: Adelaide United 1-0 Melbourne Victory
The second period would end as the first had, with Velupillay causing problems. First, he placed a shot marginally wide, ahead of being snuffed out by a clutch of red jerseys and goalkeeper Smits during a goalmouth scramble.
Next it was the turn of Adelaide-born Louis D’Arrigo to go desperately close, seeing his left-footer sneak the wrong side of the post.
Midway through the second half, it appeared Adelaide had doubled their advantage when Kitto swept in. However, a lengthy VAR review reached the verdict of ‘no goal’ for an offside in the build-up.
That decision proved a turning point because, after facing two-nil down, Victory drew level. Warshawsky claimed a corner, immediately launched an attack, and when Jing Reec’s powerful hit was not held by Smits, substitute Grimaldi tucked home the rebound.
Sensing more of an impact from the bench, Diles turned to Piscopo, but it was his earlier change, boyhood fan Grimaldi, who appeared to have won it for the visitors when he crashed the ball in off the upright. But controversially, his second of the match was, following the officials consulting the pitch-side monitor, ruled out, with fellow introduction Keegan Jelacic deemed to have impeded the goalkeeper’s line of sight.
Buoyed by the unlikely reprieve, Adelaide mustered a late charge and stole the points when Kitto’s looping header converted Juan Muniz’ cross.
Match Details
Adelaide United 2 (GOODWIN 6′, KITTO 90+7)
Melbourne Victory 1 (GRIMALDI 75′)
Adelaide United starting XI: 22. Joshua SMITS (GK), 3. Bart VRIENDS, 4. Panagiotis KIKIANIS, 7. Ryan KITTO, 11. Craig GOODWIN (C), 12. Jonny YULL, 14. Jay BARNETT (36. Panashe MADANHA 90+3), 23. Luke DUZEL (10. Juan MUNIZ 90+3), 44. Ryan WHITE, 87. Anselmo DE MORAES (65. Joey GARUCCIO 67′), 99. Ajak RIAK (35. Brody BURKITT 67′).
Substitutes not used: 40. Ethan COX (GK), 52. Sotirios PHILLIS, 62. Fabian TALLADIRA.
Booking: KIKIANIS 62′, WHITE 84′.
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 10. Denis GENREAU (7. Reno PISCOPO 77′), 27. Louis D’ARRIGO, 64. Juan MATA (34. Xavier STELLA 90+3), 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES (14. Matthew GRIMALDI 67′), 9. Nikolaos VERGOS (19. Jing REEC 67′), 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY (C) (23. Keegan JELACIC 67′).
Substitutes not used: 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI (GK), 28. Kayne RAZMOVSKI.
Booking: SANTOS 60′, JACKSON 85′ MATA 90+3, GRIMALDI 90+8.
Coming soon
From the Original Rivalry to the Big Blue, Victory are back on home soil in just over a week to take on Sydney FC.
