In a very even contest at Parramatta tonight Alex Tobin, former Adelaide skipper, and record holder of 465 NSL games spoiled his former Coach's party tonight with a 66th minute goal. That 'party animal', smiling Zoran Matic, now holds the coach's record for 430 NSL games (over Frank Arok), after his own distinguished playing career.
All that symbolism seemed to matter little as the two teams battled it out, end to end, on a mild night in front of what seemed less than the announced 3,485 fans.
Coach David Mitchell, coming off an away draw in Newcastle was again looking for his three pronged attack to open up the fast Adelaide defence whilst his defence would benefit from the determined work put in to plug any leaks.
Adelaide's coach of course was equally keen to come away with a win to bolster his tally of a meagre 2 points, and his side to take the chances they have been creating.
Adelaide came out of the blocks into attack, with Carl Veart running from midfield and playing early balls forward.
Alex Moreira characteristically wasted the first real opportunity when he took the ball away from Aurelio Vidmar and took a long shot when there were better options.
With City playing through the middle Parramatta were desperately trying to get their wide men, Ahmad Elrich and Matty Langdon, into workable positions. Adelaide's fast young defenders were nullifying that threat all through the first half.
Power had their first real chance in the 15th min when pushing up on the right through Elrich they got the ball across to Steve Eagleton whose shot was tipped over the crossbar.
Vidmar belied his years by being constantly on the move in the midfield, fetching, carrying, prompting, and creating, and in the 20th min taking a long shot that went well wide.
The mobility of Adelaide was providing a challenge for the Parramatta back four but they were keeping the chances to a minimum.
Scott Tunbridge went just wide with a 21st minute shot.
Somewhere around the 30th minute mark, Power came out of their shell and started to create more movement on and off the ball.
Elrich got up on the right and sent in a deceptively curling ball that Cagalj did well to pick and punch away, and few moments later John Buonavoglia was involved with a delightful interchange with Elrich.
The rest of the half was end-to-end stuff, not pretty but showing commitment to a win from both sides.
Parramatta ended the half on a positive note getting many balls into the box but lost Nick Orlic injured just before time.
Power came out firing, with three half chances in the first few minutes, and stirring Adelaide into their own action through Tunbridge and Matthew Kemp.
In the 52nd minute their was a great break up the right side for Elrich, whose screaming shot sent the side netting flapping.
Parramatta's wide men were getting free of their markers and Power was creating opportunities. One could sense that something would come of these soon.
When Lubo Lapsansky flashed into the box to meet a cross Vidmar's head got their first and cleared the danger, or so it seemed.
From the corner the ball bounced to Joe Vrkic in the right far corner of the City box and despite the attention of three defenders he got the ball back to Tobin who rifled it past Cagalj and into the net in the 66th minute.
Kemp and Moreira both made chances at the other end that weren't finished.
In Adelaide's last hurrah, Nick Sabljak took a good strike that deflected off a defender but Les Pogliacomi held it well.
In a series of raids over the final 15 mins, Buonavoglia, Lapsansky, and Roodenburg all had good chances but the game ended at 1-0.
Though the two teams were indeed evenly matched, the young legs of Adelaide didn't take them right through once the Power defence got their measure. Both teams will be contenders for the 6.
David Mitchell said afterwards that it was a great win and could have been more if they learned to be more clinical. He was pleased at the defence's display.
Zoran Matic felt his team of youngsters is still learning and although they put pressure on the Power defence their final passes were too soft and the play became too indirect. "We'll need to be more direct against Newcastle next week."
Parramatta was best served by Buonavoglia, Elrich, Vrkic, Tobin, and O'Sullivan. Adelaide can thank Vidmar, Tunbridge, Veart, and Fyfe for their contributions.
In a very even contest at Parramatta tonight Alex Tobin, former Adelaide skipper, and record holder of 465 NSL games spoiled his former Coach's party tonight with a 66th minute goal. That 'party animal', smiling Zoran Matic, now holds the coach's record for 430 NSL games (over Frank Arok), after his own distinguished playing career.
All that symbolism seemed to matter little as the two teams battled it out, end to end, on a mild night in front of what seemed less than the announced 3,485 fans.
Coach David Mitchell, coming off an away draw in Newcastle was again looking for his three pronged attack to open up the fast Adelaide defence whilst his defence would benefit from the determined work put in to plug any leaks.
Adelaide's coach of course was equally keen to come away with a win to bolster his tally of a meagre 2 points, and his side to take the chances they have been creating.
Adelaide came out of the blocks into attack, with Carl Veart running from midfield and playing early balls forward.
Alex Moreira characteristically wasted the first real opportunity when he took the ball away from Aurelio Vidmar and took a long shot when there were better options.
With City playing through the middle Parramatta were desperately trying to get their wide men, Ahmad Elrich and Matty Langdon, into workable positions. Adelaide's fast young defenders were nullifying that threat all through the first half.
Power had their first real chance in the 15th min when pushing up on the right through Elrich they got the ball across to Steve Eagleton whose shot was tipped over the crossbar.
Vidmar belied his years by being constantly on the move in the midfield, fetching, carrying, prompting, and creating, and in the 20th min taking a long shot that went well wide.
The mobility of Adelaide was providing a challenge for the Parramatta back four but they were keeping the chances to a minimum.
Scott Tunbridge went just wide with a 21st minute shot.
Somewhere around the 30th minute mark, Power came out of their shell and started to create more movement on and off the ball.
Elrich got up on the right and sent in a deceptively curling ball that Cagalj did well to pick and punch away, and few moments later John Buonavoglia was involved with a delightful interchange with Elrich.
The rest of the half was end-to-end stuff, not pretty but showing commitment to a win from both sides.
Parramatta ended the half on a positive note getting many balls into the box but lost Nick Orlic injured just before time.
Power came out firing, with three half chances in the first few minutes, and stirring Adelaide into their own action through Tunbridge and Matthew Kemp.
In the 52nd minute their was a great break up the right side for Elrich, whose screaming shot sent the side netting flapping.
Parramatta's wide men were getting free of their markers and Power was creating opportunities. One could sense that something would come of these soon.
When Lubo Lapsansky flashed into the box to meet a cross Vidmar's head got their first and cleared the danger, or so it seemed.
From the corner the ball bounced to Joe Vrkic in the right far corner of the City box and despite the attention of three defenders he got the ball back to Tobin who rifled it past Cagalj and into the net in the 66th minute.
Kemp and Moreira both made chances at the other end that weren't finished.
In Adelaide's last hurrah, Nick Sabljak took a good strike that deflected off a defender but Les Pogliacomi held it well.
In a series of raids over the final 15 mins, Buonavoglia, Lapsansky, and Roodenburg all had good chances but the game ended at 1-0.
Though the two teams were indeed evenly matched, the young legs of Adelaide didn't take them right through once the Power defence got their measure. Both teams will be contenders for the 6.
David Mitchell said afterwards that it was a great win and could have been more if they learned to be more clinical. He was pleased at the defence's display.
Zoran Matic felt his team of youngsters is still learning and although they put pressure on the Power defence their final passes were too soft and the play became too indirect. "We'll need to be more direct against Newcastle next week."
Parramatta was best served by Buonavoglia, Elrich, Vrkic, Tobin, and O'Sullivan. Adelaide can thank Vidmar, Tunbridge, Veart, and Fyfe for their contributions.