The Red Review: A Mixed End to Jan (January)

Part 2 of 2

Unite round in Sydney saw Adelaide officially hosting Sydney. As the game kicked off Adelaide started very much on the backfoot, with it quickly becoming a matter of when, not if, United would concede. That moment would come in the 7th minute when former Socceroo Rhyan Grant played a perfect through ball to Anthony Caceras. Caceras would take the touch and pass it through James Delanov’s legs. The ball crossed the line and hit the side netting, 1-0.

Then the visitors came to town, and Hiroshi Ibusuki began his greatest show. Ibusuki found his first goal in the 24th minute of the game. The assist from Halloran for goal number one was set up by Zac Clough’s wonderful through ball. Ibusuki’s second goal in 10 minutes would be set up from Bovalina’s looping ball into the box. Adelaide’s Japanese striker would complete the comeback he started for United, firing the ball into the net.

Ibusuki would turn from goal scorer to assister. A ball played across the six-yard box ended at the feet of the Bayern-bound teenager, Nestory Irankunda, on the other side of the box. Irankunda fired the ball into the net, and after being judged offside originally, the goal would be given, 3-1 Adelaide, on the stroke of half-time.

It would be a case of three of the best for Hiroshi Ibusuki. In the “form of his life,” he would end the night with three goals and an assist. Zac Clough again found an assist to add to his season’s tally. A 72nd minute peach of a cross, finding Ibusuki’s head for the first hattrick in the a-league for Adelaide’s talisman.

Minutes after going 4-1 down, Sydney would send a cross into the box and with the ball bobbling around in the 6-yard box, Joe Lolley’s class would shine through. Bundling the ball over the line and with it restarting the Sydney heartbeat with 14 minutes of regular time to go.

Joe Lolley’s showmanship became the encore to the Hiroshi show, the Englishman taking centre stage toward the final curtain call. In minute 94 of 97, Joe Lolley’s shot from outside the box would catch a deflection off former Adelaide captain Isaias and fly past James Delanov. With the score now 4-3, Adelaide United were in real trouble. Despite the lead, they had lost possession, (64-36 percent) and total shots (7-21). Sydney had a real chance to equalise, with the harbour-based team bound to get one more chance. That chance would again come from Joe Lolley, as the show rolled on, Lolley played the ball to Mitchell Glasson, however the pass would miss and roll out for a goal kick.

Thanks to Hiroshi Ibusuki, United would fly back from Unite round and take three points as extra baggage. At the end of the round, they would sit 5th on the ladder. After the postponement of Western United vs Adelaide in Tarneit due to the pitch not being completed because of a delay in the construction, it meant Adelaide would have a 12-day break between games. The Reds would have an opportunity to launch further up the ladder in their last game of January.

On matchday 14, a trip to AAMI Stadium in Melbourne awaited the Reds. They would take on 8th placed Melbourne City, who recently came off a 2-1 loss to the Central Coast Mariners.

Back at home and back in control was the motto for Melbourne City! After just 5 minutes they had something to show for it. Natel was trapped against the boundary line, he played a great ball into Tolgay Arslan. The German setting up a wonderful opportunity for Melbourne’s defensive midfielder, Terry Antonis. The Australian’s right footed rocket from the top of the D, travelling into the right top corner. As Paramount Plus’s main commentator, Teo Pellizzeri, said “He is putting together some collector’s items with his goals this season.”

The goal would cause a red wave. Adelaide would end the half with more possession, more shots, and more shots inside the box. Melbourne were forced to play on the counterattack. Adelaide led in almost all aspects, except where it mattered most, the scoreboard. On the stroke of half an hour, Hiroshi Ibusuki’s January form looked to continue. Ibusuki’s headed effort forcing Jamie Young to save on the goal line. Young would continue to save again and again with shots from Bovalina, Irankunda, twice, and Halloran before the half was out.

10 minutes into the half, Mazzeo cut in and sent the football just wide of the left sided goal netting. Mazzeo wasn’t done yet for his purple patch, and his second shot of the half landing exactly where the first did, despite, as Teo Pellizzeri denoted “the bottom left corner was begging for the ball to nestle.”

78 minutes in Irankunda’s talent would open another chance for the Reds. Irankunda was sprinting at the keeper, after nicking the ball on the halfway line. His shot saved by the outstretched leg of Jamie Young. Irankunda wasn’t done, just minutes later it was a case of deja vu, in a driving run toward the 18-yard box, he watched a shot sail over the bar, United were getting desperate.

However, it would be a case of no points on blue territory for the Reds. The game would end 1-0 and United would slump to 8th after 14 games, with two homes game to begin February ahead of the Reds. It is vital that United begins the year’s second month with 6 points from 6 and to turn Hindmarsh into a fortress to wash away the form of the last couple months. Since the start of December, United have picked out 8 points from a possible 27, at an average of 0.89 points a game, dropping the season average points per game from 2 at the start of December to 1.29 at the end of January.