AIS hit Reds for six

The AIS have recorded a convincing 6-2 win over Adelaide United in the National Youth League at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday with Anthony Proia and Hernan Espindola both netting a brace.

The AIS have recorded a convincing 6-2 win over Adelaide United in the National Youth League at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday with Anthony Proia and Hernan Espindola both netting a brace.

It was a horror start for new coach, former United and Socceroo defender, Michael Valkanis, who replaced Joe Mullen during the week.

It also marked the second time in as many games United have conceded five or more goals after a 5-0 demolition at the hands of Gold Coast last week.

The visitors bounced back in comprehensive fashion to register their third win of the season after their own 4-1 thrashing by league leader Brisbane Roar last week.

AIS opened up with a blistering first half to lead 3-0 inside the opening half hour, including two in the first 15 minutes.

Proia got the visitors off to the perfect start after he latched onto a long ball out of defence and pounced on some slack Adelaide defending and dispatched his shot past Baby Reds keeper Nic Munro from inside the area.

Soon after AIS doubled their advantage after more slack checking from the United.

A corner was floated in from the right and when the hosts failed to clear, the ball sat up perfectly for Jason Geria.

The midfielder smashed the ball home from the top of the box to put the visitors in a commanding position.

Hernan Espindola made it three on 24 minutes finishing off a swift counter attack from the AIS.

The visitors broke quickly out of defence with a slick exchange of passes before Espindola found the back of the net with a clever, curling finish.

In the 35th minute the Baby Reds pulled one back through two-time NYL top goal scorer Francesco Monterosso.

The lanky striker coolly finished from 10 metres after some great work on the right from Shin who supplied his team-mate with a neat cut back to finish a probing run.

Monterosso doubled his tally five minutes later to give United hope of salvaging a result after a poor first half hour.

The Reds’ marksman was beautifully played through with delightful chip over the defence from speedster Jordan Spadavecchia and Monterosso turned his defender before powering a shot past AIS keeper Paul Izzo from 10 metres.

United started the stronger of the two sides after the break and Spadavecchia almost levelled the scores when he intercepted a poor pass out of defence from the AIS.

The winger beat one defender before firing a shot into the bottom corner only for Izzo to tip it past the post.

Defender Matthew Halliday had a great chance from the resulting corner but blasted wide his shot from close range.

AIS then turned on a master class performance to seal the three points.

Jake Barker-Daish converted his spot kick just after the hour with Perry Mitris conceding the penalty before Proia and Espindola each got their second within five minutes.

Espindola again punished some static Reds defending thumping home from inside the area with United failing to clear a cross.

Proia’s second was the pick of the bunch with the striker rounding off a superb fast break from defence.

AIS won the ball inside their own half but tore United apart with quick, one-touch passing before setting up Proia who found the back of the net from just inside the area.