A star-studded Adelaide United and a depleted Australian Institute of Sport have played out an amazing 4-4 draw in the National Youth League match at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday.
It was 1-1 at half-time before the teams took part in some extraordinary counter-punch football which saw four goals scored in 10 minutes and six for the second half.
Throughout the game both sides led twice but neither could deliver the knock-out blow.
The Reds, who were strengthened by the inclusion of Lucas Pantelis, Lloyd Owusu, Cassio and Fabian Barbiero, entered the clash red hot favourites and would’ve been disappointed with the result.
Adelaide’s youth league side has now drawn five matches at home and surrendered the lead in four of them closing in on full-time.
In contrast the AIS should be pleased with its efforts as several of its key players are currently fulfilling national commitments.
Adelaide’s experience shone through in the opening minutes with Pantelis bombarding the box with crosses from the left while Cassio was getting plenty of the ball too.
But it was the AIS which struck first with Kamal Ibrahim’s powerful strike. The No.7 raced along the left side, ducked in-board and pulled the trigger from about 20 metres to send the ball into top right corner of the net.
It took the Reds 15 minutes to respond with a Panteils free-kick setting up Francesco Monterosso for the equaliser.
The striker emerged from a bunch of players, got his head to the ball and steered it home with the helpful deflection off the right goal post.
United started the second half strongly and when a trademark Cassio free-kick from the ‘D’ cleared the defensive wall and crashed in off the crossbar, the home side had the momentum.
But then came the flurry of goals.
Aaron Peterson streamed towards goal, was initially denied by goalkeeper Codey Larkin, before slotting the ball into the back of the net.
The following minute John Martinoski put his side 3-2 up and he celebrated with a forward flip and a group hug.
It was then United’s turn to record back-to-to back goals with Dane Milovanovic nodding home a Pantelis free-kick at the 72nd minute before Pantelis himself got in on the act with the home side’s fourth two minutes later.
The AIS kept attacking and was rewarded when Ibrahim found space on the left side and sent the ball over the top of Larkin for his second and the equaliser.
Adelaide United 4 (Monterosso 26, Cassio 65, Milovanovic 72, Pantelis 74)
AIS 4 (Ibrahim 11, 87, Peterson 66, Martinoski 67)
@ Hindmarsh Stadium
