But the key was the defensive effort – with Dan Hall and Nando Pijnaker prominent – while Callan Elliott and Jake Girdwood-Reich did well on the flanks. They were sharp in the pass and hungry in the tackle but couldn’t make the most of several promising situations. The opening goal came against the run of play, as Adelaide won the ball near halfway. It was a special moment for the Chilean, just his second goal in 49 A-League appearances. A two-footed Sakai tackle sparked an all-in melee, before May was booked for grabbing the throat of an opponent.

Source: New Zealand Herald April 03, 2026 21:07 UTC