In a thrilling encounter at Coopers Stadium on Good Friday, Adelaide United emerged victorious against Wellington Phoenix, clinching a dramatic 3-2 win thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Archie Goodwin. The Reds' victory keeps their hopes of making the finals alive, as they now sit within striking distance of the sixth spot in the A-League standings.
Adelaide started the match with impressive vigor, scoring two early goals that had the home crowd buzzing. Panagiotis Kikianis opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a well-placed header from a corner kick, followed shortly by Stefan Mauk, who found the net in the 12th minute with a close-range effort. However, the Phoenix showed resilience, fighting back to equalize just before halftime.
Wellington's Kosta Barbarouses got the visitors on the scoreboard in the 31st minute, slotting home a precise shot after a clever assist from Hideki Ishige. Just four minutes later, Isaac Hughes leveled the match with a diving header that caught the Adelaide defense off guard. The teams went into the break tied at 2-2, setting the stage for a tense second half.
Despite Wellington's momentum, it was Adelaide who looked more threatening after the interval. Coach Carl Veart expressed relief at the result, stating, "I’m sitting here relieved that we won the game tonight. We started so well, scored two good goals and could’ve had more. Then we gave away some fairly soft goals and made it hard for ourselves. But we got the three points, and that’s what we needed tonight." Veart acknowledged the importance of winning at home, especially after a season where they struggled at Coopers Stadium.
As the clock wound down, both teams pushed for a decisive goal. Wellington's head coach, Giancarlo Italiano, was frustrated with his team's slow start and defensive lapses. He commented, "Just disappointed that we gifted two early goals. I felt as though we were slow to start. I don’t think we showed any energy at the beginning." His team had opportunities to take the lead in the second half but failed to capitalize, while Adelaide's defense held firm.
In the 89th minute, disaster struck for the Phoenix. After a shot from Dylan Pierias was parried by Wellington's goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi, Goodwin was in the right place at the right time to tap in the rebound, sealing the match for Adelaide with his 13th goal of the season. Veart praised Goodwin's impact, saying, "Yaya always provides a spark, and we needed a strong start tonight, so we rolled the dice with him. He was excellent early on and got the goal. It’s about building that consistency for longer periods, and that’s something he’s working on."
The result leaves Adelaide United with two crucial games ahead, as they vie for a playoff spot against Sydney FC. Veart emphasized the importance of focusing on their own performances, stating, "We’re in a bit of a shootout with Sydney for that final spot. All we can do is focus on ourselves. Two games to go, short turnarounds. Hopefully, the win tonight gives us a confidence boost heading into Brisbane and then City."
Wellington Phoenix, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next match against Brisbane Roar. After suffering back-to-back defeats, Italiano's side faces mounting pressure to perform in their penultimate game of the season. He noted, "We knuckled down after 20/25…and then we scored…and then all of a sudden we sprung into life. Halftime we addressed a couple of issues, and I actually felt second half we were quite good. We curbed a lot of their threats and I never felt for a moment that they were going to score, and then obviously we conceded."
As the A-League season approaches its climax, both teams are at critical junctures. Adelaide United's thrilling win keeps their finals aspirations alive, while Wellington Phoenix must quickly find their form to salvage their season. With two matches left, every point is crucial, and the excitement of the A-League is palpable.
