Adelaide United have won the Hyundai A-League Grand Final defeating Western Sydney Wanderers 3-1 at Adelaide Oval on Sunday in front of 50,119 fans.
Roared on by a boisterous home crowd, the biggest for a domestic match in South Australia, the Reds crowned an extraordinary season by winning the Championship just weeks after lifting the Premiership.
Adelaide United have completed one of the most extraordinary stories in Hyundai A-League – and Australian sporting – history.
Winless and bottom of the league in Round 8, the Reds under first year senior coach Gui Amor galvanised their spirit, tightened up their defence and went on an unforgettable run.
This run reaped the Premiership in a thrilling final round of the A-League a few weeks ago.
And on Sunday United completed put the capstone on a remarkable resurgence by seeing off the Wanderers in front of a packed Adelaide Oval crowd.
GOALS
21’ 1-0 Kamau: Adelaide United
Carrusca was the architect. His trickery on the ball near the left touchline saw the Argentine feed Goodwin, who found Mauk, who set the Argentine free to burst into the box. His controlled low cross was guided home by Kamau who attacked ball in the six-yard box brushing aside Jamieson’s attentions.
32’ 2-0 Isaias Adelaide United.
World class. A set-piece worthy of a grand final. After Topor-Stanley conceded the foul on the lively Kamau on the edge of the box, the Spaniard curled it over the wall and into the top right side of Redmayne’s net with the keeper helpless to stop the Reds taking a 2-0 lead.
58’ 2-1 Neville Western Sydney Wanderers
On the right side of the Reds box, Castelen’s ball in was laid off cleverly by Santalab to Scott Neville who curled a superb shot past Galekovic. Game on!
89 3-1 Sanchez Adelaide United
Wanderers failed to clear the ball in the box and the Spanish super-sub pounced to smash a low shot past Redmayne.
TEAM
Adelaide United: Galekovic, Marrone (Elrich 70’), La Rocca, McGowan, Mauk, Cirio, Carrusca (Sanchez 85’), Djite, Goodwin, Kamau (Mells 90′)