April 05, 2015 09:26:38 UK
Goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic was the star of the show as Adelaide United won 1-0 away to Sydney FC to take over top spot in the A-League.
The Socceroo stood between Sydney and the league’s summit as he made a series of outstanding saves at Allianz Stadium.
Then with eight minutes to go he pumped a long ball forward that found Awer Mabil in space and the youngster scored the only goal of the match.
The Sky Blues, who are 5.00 to win the Grand Final, registered 17 shots to four in the match, and the visitors didn’t manage a single effort on goal in the first half when it seemed that a goal just had to come for Sydney.
Galekovic parried a close-range effort from Alex Brosque in the 17th minute, and denied the same player just before the break with a fine low reaction save.
Golden Boot leader Marc Janko headed an early chance over the bar and he squandered another chance midway through the half. Bernie Ibini, on his 100th A-League appearance, sent in a low cross that the Austrian striker failed to make contact with.
The home side looked to have broken the deadlock just after the interval when Janko escaped from his marker and prodded in from a Milos Dimitrijevic free-kick, but the effort was disallowed for offside.
The chances kept coming, with Chris Naumoff seeing his volley beaten away by Galekovic who then smothered a low side-foot effort from Brosque as he met an Ibini cross.
Their rear-guard action began to look like it would pay off with a point for Adelaide, but that suddenly became all three when Galekovic’s long kick found substitute Mabil on the right wing. He cut inside before curling a superlative shot beyond Janjetovic into the far corner.
Sydney FC are 2.80 to win their next game against Perth Glory, who are 2.30 with the draw 3.40.
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