The ongoing trading of top-spot between Adelaide United and Auckland FC has proven a fascinating storyline through the early stages of the A-League Men’s season, and now looks set to go the distance after last week’s dramatic maiden meeting between the clubs.
Archie Goodwin’s brace off the bench looked to have earned all three points for United at a heaving Hindmarsh stadium, only to concede a late equaliser and finish at 2-2. Auckland have since pulled two points clear atop the table after their weekend fixture, but the Reds hold the upper hand with an extra game to play.
To be trading blows, and three goals in the final seventeen minutes, in a top-of-the-table clash is a far cry from the eighth position Carl Veart’s side finished last season. While they may have been disappointed to draw, the overwhelming sense should be that they can match it with the best – if they are not that side themselves.
‘It was an excellent game, the intensity from the first whistle to last was non-stop. When we looked at our physical data from the game it was the highest we’ve charted in distance, and in high-speed running, in the last three years’, Veart told Box2Box.
‘Last year was a little bit disappointing in the way we finished, we started well but then fell in a hole we couldn’t get out of. The playing group now feels very strong, very united, having brought in some recruits that have fitted in. It’s been a big change.’
Bart Vriends (Sparta Rotterdam) and Archie Goodwin (Newcastle Jets) have headlined those recruits, but retained in Veart’s squad overhaul was the underlying current of South Australian talent, nurtured and deployed before the patriotic Hindmarsh fanbase, in a stadium commonly considered the envy of most other clubs.
The state’s talent pathway has produced Nestory Irankunda, Awer Mabil, Riley McGree and the Toure brothers in the past decade, and is showing no sign of slowing. Just this week, four Adelaide players were selected in the Young Socceroos U20 Asian Cup squad: Luka Jovanovic, Panagiotis Kikianis, Jonny Yull, Fabian Talladira. Only Talladira has featured for Veart’s side less than fourteen times this season.
‘It’s no secret since I’ve taken control that I’ve wanted to play our young players, produce our own, and we’ve had consistency with our youth development, and our [relationship] with the Federation. Football Federation South Australia runs the elite pathway for us and does a fantastic job, and we’re very fortunate to have that connection.
‘They do great work in the suburbs, developing players that might find it difficult to play at NPL clubs [otherwise], so we’re able to cast our net very wide and make sure we pick up any young talent that shows interest in our game. We’re very fortunate that we have strong NPL clubs that do a good job of developing players, as well.’
The Reds will only meet Auckland once more in the regular season, although one suspects there could be further meetings beyond that. At present, they’re the clubs leading the charge on developing local talent and connecting with their fanbases, and rewards on and off the pitch are flowing.
Up next for Adelaide is Sydney FC, and a chance to make good on the late draw they coughed up just prior to Christmas when they’d led 3-1 in the 88th minute.
‘We’re in the top two and want to stay there. We’ve dropped some points at home this season so it’s important to keep our away form up. Sydney have lost their last two so they’re going to want to bounce back. It will be cagey, I would say, and hopefully another win for us.’