Stalemate at Hindmarsh

Adelaide United and the Central Coast Mariners fought out an exciting 1-1 draw in the A-League’s top-of-the-table clash at Hindmarsh Stadium last night.

The 7,013 spectators who braved persistent rain were treated to an entertaining game of end-to-end football that belied United’s reputation as a dour, defensive team and the Mariners’ long injury list.

A rare goal from Adelaide defender Michael Valkanis 11 minutes from half-time cancelled out an earlier header from Central Coast striker Adam Kwasnik, before the Mariners held off a determined United in a thrilling finish.

Adelaide maintains top spot on the ladder, unbeaten and three points clear of Central Coast after five rounds.

Without key forwards Nick Mrdja and Stewart Petrie, the Mariners were expected to struggle against a United team riding high and coming off a morale-boosting triumph in Perth.

However, led by their clever German import Andre Gumprecht, the visitors controlled the majority of the first 45 minutes, using the width of the pitch to trouble the tight Adelaide defence. The Mariners spread United across the flanks and it came as no surprise when they took the lead after 18 minutes.

Replacement striker Kwasnik latched onto a corner kick and clinically put away the header past keeper Robert Bajic, the first goal United has conceded at home in this competition.

While Central Coast looked to be the better side, it counted for little when Valkanis equalized in the 34th minute from a superb Matthew Kemp cross. The score changed the complexion of the match and gradually Adelaide worked its way back into the contest.

Three minutes after half-time, Richie Alagich drew a save from Mariners keeper John Crawley, which was followed by a series of near misses from captain Ross Aloisi, who wasted three clear chances to put United into the lead.

Adelaide’s Chinese import Shengqing Qu came on with half an hour left and had an immediate impact, glancing a header past the far post, as the game opened up with both sides searching for the winner.

Central Coast was operating well on the counter-attack and twice went close, first through Tom Pondeljak, who just failed to gather a lovely ball from Dean Heffernan, and then courtesy of a Gumprecht header that necessitated a smart save from Bajic.

But with Angelo Constanzo again brilliant in a sweeper role, it was United who always looked more likely to make the breakthrough, and they never stopped trying, ensuring a frantic four minutes of stoppage time.

Ultimately though, nothing never came to fruition, as the rock solid Crawley stepped up to deny Adelaide a six-point break at the top of the table and preserve the Mariners’ position ahead of the chasing pack.

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