Heart v Adelaide

A-League report by Daniel Quinn
Melbourne Heart v Adelaide United


Adelaide United have upset the inform Melbourne Heart 3-0 at AAMI Park on Big Wednesday afternoon. Sergio van Dijk finished with two strikes and Dario Vidosic with the other goal with Eli Babalj with a late consolidation.

Melbourne Heart go into the encounter making one change with the injured Fred making way for one of Thursday night's goal scorers Jason Hoffman. The visitors from Adelaide made one change with Spase Dilevski making way for Zenon Caravella. There was also no room for former captain Jon McKain who made way for the returning Iain Ramsay and new signing Jacob Melling.

The encounter started slowly with the first chance coming on 15 minutes when Sergio van Dijk shot wide.

Three minutes later Cameron Watson created another change for the visitors with a great ball but Fabian Barbiero volleyed his effort wide.

On 36 minutes Simon Colosimo took down Bruce Djite in the box and the referee Kris Griffiths-Jones awarded a penalty. Sergio van Dijk stepped up and buried into the bottom corner. Colosimo was also substituted soon after with a knee injury after that collision with Djite.

Right before half-time Aziz Behich had a chance to equalise with Heart's only real chance of the Heart when he made a great run into the box before shooting his right foot effort straight at Eugene Galekovic. Prove why Behich's right foot is known just for standing.

Heart could have had penalties earlier in the half when Mate Dugandzic went down after Francisco Usucar's challenge and Nigel Boogaard handled on the edge of the box.

Three minutes into the second-half Adelaide extended the lead with Dario Vidosic. Zenon Caravella and van Dijk played a great one-two before Caravella played through Vidosic who beat Clint Bolton at the near post.

On 56 minutes first-half substitute Curtis Good could have cut the scoreboard in half but shot wide after Eli Babalj's quick feet inside the penalty box.

Four minutes later Antony Golec was the first player to be yellow carded. But Dugandzic put his free-kick over the Galekovic's goal.

On 69 minutes Heart had two chances inside two minutes. First with Alex Terra who put his header over the top before the ball fell for Babalj off a corner. But the tall forward smashed it over the bar.

Ten minutes later it was 3-0 thanks to van Dijk's second. The Dutchman was too strong and turned Brendan Hamill before shooting passed Bolton in goal for Heart.

In stoppage time Heart grabbed one goal back thanks to Babalj. The young forward turned and inside the box before finishing passed Galekovic.