Goalfest for red-hot Adelaide United against Wellington Phoenix at Coopers Stadium
- From: The Advertiser
- February 27, 2014
Adelaide United v Wellington: Match Highlights 4:14
Watch all the highlights as Adelaide United take on Wellington Phoenix.
ADELAIDE United re-emerged as genuine A-League title contenders after belting Wellington Phoenix 5-1 at Coopers Stadium on Thursday night.
Adelaide’s foreign legion Jeronimo Neumman with two goals, Fabio Ferreira and Sergio Cirio’s clinical finishing ensured the Reds are now back in third place before this weekend’s round is complete before Sudanese-born Australian Awer Mabil about added a fifth in stoppage time.
It was the Reds’ biggest thumping over Phoenix since beating the New Zealand-based club 6-1 in 2008.
Fantastic Ferreria 0:35
Fbio Ferreira makes it 3-0 to Adelaide United with this bullet against Wellington Phoenix.
Phoenix’s Kenny Cunningham scored his side’s sole goal with a brilliant 25m shot six minutes before Manny Muscat was expelled for picking up his second caution of the night for a foul on Neumann in the 73rd minute.
But Neumann - making his first start since Adelaide lost 2-1 to Phoenix in Auckland in February - lit up the clash with a cracking goal in the 24th minute.
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Adelaide United’s Jeronimo celebrates his first-half goal against Wellington Phoenix.
After the disappointment of last weekend’s 4-3 loss to rival Melbourne Victory, skipper Eugene Galekovic started the move by finding Michael Zullo - playing at left back - with a pass before the fringe Socceroo found the Argentine on the left wing.
Neumann cut inside defender Michael Boxall with explosive pace, touched the ball up three times before unleashing a 20m half volley into the roof of the net to score his seventh goal of the season.
Jeronim-oh my god! Adelaide striker hits stunner 0:47
Adelaide United's Argentine striker hit an absolute stunner to put the Reds up 1-0 against the Phoenix.
Cirio added a second goal five minutes later when Ferreira found space behind left back Reece Caira before cutting the ball for the Spaniard before he too scored his seventh of the season.
That goal was a carbon copy of Adelaide’s opener at AAMI Park last weekend.
Ferreira also jagged his seventh goal of the campaign when he smacked a rocket into the back of the net on the turn from 14m after a Tarek Elrich pass.
Neumann then scored his brace when Ferreira broke Phoenix’s last line again - also from an Elrich pass - before guiding a 6m volley home.
Neumann was unlucky not to bag a hat-trick as he watched his 90th minute shot cannon off the upright before ricocheting into Mabil’s shins.
Wellington presser 3:56
Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick speaks to the press after his side's heavy loss to Adelaide United.
But as Adelaide’s passing range found Phoenix chasing shadows away gloveman Glenn Moss was forced to make a myriad of saves as Isaias resorted to shooting three times from long range in an effort to crack the visitors
But the contrast of styles was curiously evident as Phoenix also maintained a high defensive line during Moss’ route one goalkicks which resulted with less than 20m between central defenders near the halfway line.
Phoenix also had its chances - albeit limited in the first half - but only troubled Galekovic into one save from Stein Huysegems on a counter attack which failed to produce enough forward numbers to trouble the Reds defence.
But it got worse for Phoenix when Caira was forced off the park with a suspected broken cheekbone after clattering into Elrich’s elbow during a heading duel before he was taken to hospital for further observation.
Jeronimo Neumann of Adelaide celebrates yet another goal at Coopers Stadium. Source: Getty Images
And, in an ironic twist Football Federation Australia and Professional Footballers Australia last night joined forces to promote the Erase Racism Round.
The anti-racism fight coincided with Phoenix’s last visit to Adelaide where an unnamed man was banned for two years after racially abusing Wellington’s Paul Ifill in December 2012.
A-LEAGUE ROUND 21
Adelaide United 5 (Jeronimo Neumann 24m, 62m, Sergio Cirio 29m, Fabio Ferreira 60m, Awer Mabil 90m) Wellington Phoenix 1 at Coopers Stadium.
Referee: Lucien Laverdure. Crowd: 8596.
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