FFA Cup – Sydney FC 1-3 Adelaide United: Reds progress in extra time thriller
A Bruce Djite double in extra time helped Adelaide United see off Sydney FC in controversial circumstances in their 3-1 FFA Cup victory at Allianz Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Goals in the in 99th and 111th minute from the 27-year-old talisman helps Josep Gombau’s men seal a crucial victory which sees them become the second side to progress into the semi-final of the FFA Cup.
Their win, though, isn’t without controversy after centre-back Nikola Petkovic was given the marching orders by referee Ben Williams three minutes from time, which saw the home side severely disadvantaged heading into extra time after a goal from Sergio Cirio in the 28th minute and an equaliser from Alex Brosque after half time saw the scores deadlocked.
Graham Arnold was forced to make wholesale changes to the side that defeated the Western Sydney Wanderers over the weekend; Vedran Janjetovic started on the bench. Meanwhile, Sebastian Ryall paired up with Petkovic as centre-half after Sasa Ognenoski received a one-match domestic ban for his altercation with Vitor Saba, while Marc Janko started upfront in a 4-3-3 formation.
Gombau, meanwhile, opted for a 3-4-3 formation with Bruce Djite upfront and Marcelo Carrusca playing in a central midfield role and starlet Awer Mabil started on the right-wing.
Sydney FC started the match struggling to hold back Adelaide United who had the majority of possession in the opening 10 minutes. Sydney FC’s defence worked hard to prevent the Adelaide strikers from getting into position – the pressure of Adelaide resulted in a desperate defending from Sydney FC defender Seb Ryall who made a crucial tackle on Cirio, who had received a pass and was in on goal.
Throughout the first half, Sydney goalkeeper Necevski played a crucial role in preventing Adelaide from scoring. Adelaide’s pressure was finally rewarded with a high ball which found Cirio in the box, who then did not hesitate to fire the ball into the back of the net.
The first half ended with Sydney fumbling a great opportunity at goal, only to almost give Mabil the chance to counter right at the end of the first half as Adelaide upped the ante in search of a second goal. Adelaide subsequently headed into the first half with a 1-0 lead.
If the first half was controlled by Adelaide, the second half was dominated by Sydney. Sydney making a key substitution swapping Marc Janko for Sydney FC legend Alex Brosque, and just five minutes later, the substitution paid dividends.
A remarkable pass from Nick Carle to the foot of Brosque saw the forward chip the ball past Galekovic and into the net. For the second consecutive game, Sydney have come from behind.
The equaliser changed the game, the momentum of Adelaide United has been lost to the attacking play from Sydney FC. However the momentum would not last for the entirety of the match.
The tide turned in the 87th minute when Petkovic and Ferreira both went for the ball with Petkovic seeming fouling Ferreira and was given a straight eed card.
Extra time moved momentum back to Adelaide, and Sydney had not respond to the extra man advantage. After nine minutes of extra time, Sydney could not hold on; a cross from Carrusca landed in the box at the foot on Bruce Djite who took the shot and fired the ball high into the net.
There was no fightback for Sydney, the odds were far too against them to get back into the game, but Djite again got behind Sydney’s defence, and put the game beyond Sydney reach to seal a spot in the semi final.
SYDNEY FC 1 (Brosque 50′)
ADELAIDE UNITED 3 (Circo 27′, Djite 99′ 111′)