Adelaide United 2-3 Melbourne Victory
By Kieran Yap 2/11/24
Above: Ava Briedis, Kayla Morrison and Rosie Curtis react to the late winner. Photo: Melbourne Victory.
An Ava Briedis wonder goal secured an opening-day win for Melbourne Victory against Adelaide United.
Victory arrived in Adelaide missing goalkeeper Lydia Williams, or fullbacks Beattie Goad and Ellie Wilson. They faced a Reds team without Chelsie Dawber, Nano Sasaki, Dylan Holmes, and Isabel Hodgson.
It was the new signings for each side that sparkled early. Nikki Flannery delivered a low cross from the right for Emily Gielnik to open the scoring. The lead would last only two minutes before Fiona Worts celebrated her return to the club with a sixth-minute equaliser.
Despite the significant absences from the team sheet. Adelaide’s midfield looked more in control of proceedings.
Erin Healy was a mobile and menacing presence between midfield and attack, while Lucía León was a threat on the right wing up against an inexperienced Laura Pickett.
Emily Condon and Emily Hodgson almost linked up to give the Reds the lead, and Alex Chidiac hit the crossbar as the two sides traded shots, but Victory’s main attacking outlet seemed to be long passes toward Gielnik. It did not appear to the game plan. But Adelaide appeared more energetic in the head and pressed Victory’s midfield deep and quickly.
Somewhat against the run of play, Victory went into halftime a goal ahead. Alana Jancevski sent in a perfect first-time cross from the left and Gielnik added her second with a rare but perfect-headed finish.
Victory started the second team brightly but could not find a way past Matilda McNamara and Ella Tonkin. In the 71st minute they equalised. Worts scored her second after an impressive build up resulted in a goalmouth scramble.
Victory responded by emptying the bench in search of a winner. Ella O’Grady, Sofia Sakalis, Rosie Curtis, and Ava Briedis all entered the game. The last substitute would be the most fateful and decisive one.
Deep into added time, Flannery cut inside and forced Claudia Jenkins into an athletic diving parry. The Reds’ defence could not clear the ball though and when the ball fell to Briedis she took her chance.
Briedis’s shot curled under the crossbar and sent the travelling supporters into raptures. It was the 18-year-old’s first senior A-League goal and could not have arrived at a better time.
Despite the result, Adelaide fans should be encouraged by the performance. They dominated for large patches of play and the match was largely played the way Adrian Stenta would’ve wanted it to be.
Victory’s win was a result of some calm, well timed substitutions. Jeff Hopkins did not react with changes despite Adelaide frustrating the visitor’s lauded midfield trio. The changes were made later, and caused maximum impact.
Both sides could expect better performances when injured or missing players return, but there was plenty to like for both sets of fans.
Next up. Victory take on Melbourne City, while Adelaide travel to play Western Sydney Wanderers.
Teams: ADELAIDE UNITED: Jenkins, E. Hodgson, Tonkin, McNamara, Tolland, Leon, Morgan, Dewey, Healy, Worts, Condon. Substitutes: Mullan, Grigg, Karambassis, Grove, Middleton.
Scorers: Worts 6’, 71’.
MELBOURNE VICTORY: Newbon, D’appolonia, Bunge, Morrison, Pickett, Murphy, Lowe, Chidiac, Flannery, Jancevski, Gielnik. Substitutes: Candy, Curtis, Briedis, O’Grady, Sakalis.
Scorers: Gielnik 4’, 71’. Briedis 90+2’.
Referee: Kelly Jones
Attendance: 1,022
Follow Impetus on social media –
Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball
Instagram: @impetusfootball : @impetusfootball
impetusfootball.org 