Western Sydney Wanderers have come from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw with Adelaide United at Campbelltown Stadium in Saturday’s National Youth League action.
Western Sydney Wanderers have come from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw with Adelaide United at Campbelltown Stadium in Saturday’s National Youth League action.
The hosts trailed 2-0 after 68 minutes before goals to Zac Elrich and Jake McGing ensured them an even split of the points.
It had appeared to be Adelaide’s night after Evan Kostopoulos scored twice to hand the Reds a 2-0 half-time lead on a chilly evening at Campbelltown Stadium.
But the Wanderers showed tremendous spirit and fight to pull back the deficit and grab their second point of the campaign.
The Reds now have a win, a draw and a loss from three starts.
Kostopoulos was one of three over-aged players used by Adelaide coach Michael Valkanis, along with Fabian Barbiero and Zenon Caravella.
Their class was evident when Caravella and Kostopoulos combined for the first goal after 19 minutes.
Caravella weaved his way into the box and let fly with a left-foot drive that struck the near post.
Kostopoulos was quickest to react, tucking away the rebound to give the visitors a deserved lead.
The Reds doubled their advantage in the 36th minute after Kostopoulos finished off some good work from Awer Mabil down the right to score his second.
The Wanderers struggled for cohesion and fluency on the bumpy surface but almost pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time.
Adelaide goalkeeper Nicholas Harpas spread himself to twice deny the Wanderers from close range and ensure his side went to the break two goals to the good.
Western Sydney picked up where they left off after the break
A lovely long ball out of defence from Stepjan Paric found Zak Elrich en route to the penalty area.
The No.7 did wonderfully well to chest the ball to ground while holding off the defence before rolling the ball past Harpas.
McGing completed the comeback when he swept the ball home from close range with 14 minutes left.
Both sides pressed for a winner but had to be content to share the points after a pulsating, end-to-end contest.
Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Elrich 68, McGing 76)
Adelaide United 2 (Kostopoulos 19, 36)
Western Sydney Wanderers: 5. Baldacchino, 9. Barac (c), 10. Cindric, 7. Elrich, 1. Lidell, 8. McGing, 11. Olsen, 4. Paric, 6. Perkatis, 2. Quinn, 3. Williams
Res: 13. Jamba, 12. Koulizakis, 14. Madgwick, 20. Manos
Adelaide United: 4. Barker-Daish, 8. Briscoe, 3. Elsey (c), 20. Harpas, 14. Mabil, 15. Melling, 5. Nagel, 12. Welsh, 10. Barbiero, 6. Caravella, 11. Kostopoulos
Res: 9. Karatzas, 1. Solari, 7. Wooding
