Adelaide United jumped to the top of the A-League table after a convincing 4-1 victory over Wellington Phoenix at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday.
The result was even more impressive given Adelaide has been forced to test the depth of its squad with a string of injuries to key players. Already weakened, Adelaide went into the game minus two more players with midfield ironman Jonas Salley and key defender Angelo Costanzo succumbing to injuries picked up last week. Into the side came youngster Nathan Burns and Milan Susak.
11,740 fans braved the cold gale force winds that lashed Hindmarsh Stadium - wintry conditions more suited to the ski fields of New Zealand.
The game opened at a brisk pace with former Adelaide United and now Wellington Phoenix striker Shane Smeltz opening the scoring in the 3rd minute. Smeltz cut inside and wrong footed defender Milan Susak before striking a low shot just inside the post. 1-0 to Wellington - a dream return to Adelaide for Smeltz and his fifth goal of the season.
Two minutes later Adelaide equalised from a set piece. Jason Spagnuolo whipped in a free kick from out wide and sriker Dez Giraldi got on the end of the ball and headed home from close range. Adelaide 1 - Wellington 1.
On the 10 minute mark Wellington earned a series of five corners but were unable to convert the corners into any opportunities.
Immediately Adelaide began to assert its authority on the game and almost went ahead in the 15th minute. Another free kick from out wide was met by Dez Giraldi who attempted to prod the ball home. Wellington goalkeeper Paston scrambled the ball off his line to deny Giraldi. The ball fell to Travis Dodd who smashed the ball goalwards from an acute angle only to be cleared by a Wellington defender. The clearance only went as far as Nathan Burns on the edge of the box. Burns smashed another shot goalwards and Paston pulled off a brilliant reflex save.
Adelaide continued to stroke the ball around Hindmarsh Stadium with Wellington forced to do a lot of defending.
In the 40th minute Spagnuolo should have scored Adelaide's second goal. Giraldi crossed the ball from out wide to the unmarked Spagnuolo who put his header well over the cross bar from only 2 metres.
Adelaide eventually grabbed its deserved second goal in the final seconds of the half. It came from another free kick. This time Brasilian Cassio opted to strike the free kick from 30m. Goalkeeper Paston was only able to parry the powerful free kick and Nathan Burns was on hand to tap home the rebound. 2-1 to Adelaide.
In the second half it took only 4 minutes for Adelaide to seal the result with its fourth goal. It all started from a Wellington free kick that swerved in the gale force winds and almost slipped past Adelaide goalkeeper Beltrame. But Beltrame untidily collected the ball before picking out Travis Dodd with a long throw. Dodd stuck a brilliant cross field pass to the marauding Lucas Pantelis who struck the ball past Paston for his third goal in as many matches. 3-1 to Adelaide.
Nathan Burns should have made it 4-1 five minutes later. Travis Dodd squared a ball to the unmarked Nathan Burns. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Burns scuffed his shot and could only shake his head in disbelief as the ball rolled out for a goalkick.
Wellington were down for the count and it was only a matter of time before Adelaide increased its score. Susak, Cassio & Giraldi threatened to score but its was Spagnuolo who finally put the ball in the back of the net in the 75th minute. Substitute Kristian Sarkies found Spagnuolo with a clever through ball. Spagnuolo rounded Paston before tapping the ball home. 4-1 to Adelaide.
Adelaide were dealt a blow when in-form goalkeeper Daniel Beltrame went down with an injury in the 80th minute. Beltrame was replaced by reserve goalkeeper Robbie Bajic.
With only five minutes remaining Cassio had an opportunity to score his first A-League goal when he ran on to a loose ball inside the box. Unfortunately for Adelaide the sharp shooting Cassio smashed his ball over the bar from close range.
Referee Simon Przydacz eventually put Wellington out of their misery with the final scoreline a flatting 1-4 for the New Zealanders.
It was an impressive and convincing performance by Adelaide. It is clear that Adelaide has amongst the best squad depth in the A-League. In contrast Wellington is suffering from a shortage of quality defenders and needs to do some recruiting to fix its leaky defence.
There were many strong performers for Adelaide. Pick of the players were midfielders Dodd, Pantelis & Diego along with defender Cassio.
It was a difficult return home for former Adelaide United captain and now Phoenix captain Ross Aloisi. He struggled to have any impact in the midfield and was eventually dragged in the 84th minute by coach Ricki Herbert.