Sydney keep finals hopes alive, Adelaide nighmare run continues

Sydney produced a late late show to take all three points in an enthralling Coopers encounter

Adelaide United and Sydney served up an entertaining contest as they fought to find clear air in the race for a top-six berth in an increasingly congested and competitive league where, on their day, any team (well maybe not Brisbane or Perth) can seemingly beat each other.

On this occasion the host’s endeavour and the visitor’s commitment (notwithstanding the artful elegance of their main creative force Douglas Costa) almost cancelled each other out until a late late winner from substitute Adrian Segecic gave Ufuk Talay's team all three points on a 3-2 scoreline.

The result leaves both still battling for a spot in the lower reaches of the finals spots and for fans and neutrals alike ensures the season remains alive as Easter and the final few weeks loom into view.

But for Adelaide the prognosis looks grim: this was the seventh game in succession where they have failed to win. Sydney has a tough schedule, with continental football thrown in, but they will take plenty of heart from this victory.

It was a tale of two goalkeepers in the first half at Coopers Stadium as Max Vartuli conceded an unfortunate opener on his debut for Adelaide while his opposite number Harrison Devenish Meares produced a number of excellent saves to keep his Sydney side in the driving seat.

Vartuli, who was the Reds third choice keeper having joined from Sydney in the off-season, was given his first start for the club by beleaguered coach Carl Veart, whose own future in South Australia was reported to be in doubt earlier this week.

He had precious little to do in an opening period in which the home side had dominated possession, a state of affairs that made the way he conceded the opening goal even more embarrassing.

Not that it was all his fault: Adelaide's veteran Dutch defender Bart Vriends must also shoulder some of the blame as he too was caught out after Joe Lolley lofted nothing more than an optimistic long ball forward, aiming in the general direction of Patryk Kimala.

The ball fell in an awkward spot, but neither the onrushing Vartuli, who neither caught the ball nor kicked it clear, nor Vriends, who failed to block Klimala, covered themselves in glory as they allowed the ball to bounce off both of them and into the path of Sydney's Polish striker. Klimala had kept going and needed little invitation to stroke the ball home into an unguarded net.

It was the sort of sucker punch that always seems to happen to teams who are down on their luck - as Adelaide, who have not won in their last six games, a run dating back two months - most certainly is.

And, as also always seems to be the case, they had little luck at the other end either, although that had more to do with some excellent play by Devenish Meares than anything else.

Shortly after Sydney hit the front Adelaide once again sprung their defensive line and Dylan Pierias got clear on the right, advancing towards goal with only Devenish Meares to beat. The Sydney shot stopper stayed big and then got down well to save the low drive when it seemed the Reds wing back must score.

Shortly afterwards the Sydney keeper pulled off another excellent stop to preserve his team's lead, this time after Pierias turned provider. His cross from the right found Archie Goodwin in space, but Devenish Meares somehow managed to block Goodwin's close-range drive.

A goal to the good, Sydney began to grow in confidence thanks to the excellent Costa, whose strength, technique, vision and control allowed him to take charge in the visitor's forward third.

It was Costa who gave Vartuli the chance to recover his confidence - and keep his team in the game - with an excellent save of his own.

The Brazilian created space beautifully for himself on the right before unleashing a fierce drive which Vartuli did well to keep out at his near post.

Devenish Meares had been Sydney's hero in the opening 45 minutes but he was himself left red-faced just 30 seconds after the restart when Adelaide got back on level terms through Goodwin.

The striker seized on a cross from the right and shot from close range but it looked as though Devenish Meares would deal with it - until he opened his legs and let the ball run into the net.

Really this was the least Adelaide deserved but their joy was short-lived. Once again Costa, the class act of this game, split the Reds’ defence with a through ball to Jordan Courtney Perkins whose cross was parried by Vartuli only for the ball to fall to Klimala.

Although there were several Adelaide defenders in close proximity he was able to pick his spot and drive past the youngster in the Adelaide goal.

Klimala was now full of confidence and searching for his hat trick, and he was only denied when Vartuli did well to dive to his left and fingertip his shot from inside the area wide of the post.

Adelaide stuck to the task and with 17 minutes remaining hauled themselves back into the game with substitute Yaya Dukuly creating the leveller for Goodwin to score his second of the game.

Dukuly got free down the left, sold two dummies and then dipped over an inviting cross from the byline which evaded Devenish Meares’ attempt to punch and fell to Goodwin, who nodded home from close range.

It was his 12th goal of the season, putting him in the lead in the race for the Golden Boot.

Substitute Adrian Segecic had a golden opportunity to win it for Sydney in the last minute but he somehow contrived to miss from close range; his blushes were spared minutes later in stoppage time when he smashed home the rebound of his own shot to give Sydney all three points. It was hard not to feel sorry for Vartuli in particular, and Adelaide in general, but that's how life goes when your luck is out.