A nice crowd at Centrebet Stadium in Penrith saw Adelaide United score a second half goal to earn a 1-1 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday. The visitors were responsible for the opening goal as well, with Nigel Boogaard putting a Tahj Minniecon cross into his own net in the seventh minute. Sergio Cirio poked in the equalizer just after half-time to earn a respectable result for the injury-ravaged Reds.
As is often the case, both goalkeepers, Ante Covic and Eugene Galekovic, were instrumental in keeping a low-scoring game. Covic's brilliant 23rd minute save of a Cirio shot prevented an early equalizer while Galekovic denied Tomi Juric on a breakaway. Late in the game, Adelaide back-up keeper Paul Izzo produced a fine save, diving to stop a Youssouf Hersi shot that was destined for the bottom corner.
The game in Penrith was the Adelaide debut for Steven Lustica, who just signed with the Reds on September 9. He will need to work his way into the team quickly as Josep Gombau's side are missing the likes of Jeronimo, Bruce Djite and Cassio due to injury.
Adelaide's final pre-season match comes on Friday September 27 against Melbourne Heart at Epping Stadium in New South Wales. Western Sydney play Melbourne Victory on Sunday September 29 in Tasmania before concluding pre-season with a friendly against Bankstown City Lions in Sefton on Thursday October 3.
Scoring:
WSW Boogaard (og) 7'
AU Cirio 47'
Line-ups:
Western Sydney Wanderers: Covic (Tyson 60'); D'Apuzzo (Mcging 75'), Topor-Stanley (Olsen 75'), Beauchamp (Lo 60'), Polenz (Heffernan 60'); Poljak (Cole 60'), Mooy (Ono 60'), Trifiro (Hersi 46'); Juric (Cindric 60'), Minniecon (Bridge 46'), Haliti (La Rocca 46')
Unused subs: None
Adelaide United: Galekovic; Boogaard, McKain, Bowles, Zullo; Isais, Carrusca, Lustica, Barker-Daish, Ferreira; Cirio