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Elevated to the top of the run sheet after NSW s coronavirus cluster played havoc on the A-League schedule, Monday night s clash proved a feisty one in front of 5128 fans.
The Reds could easily have snared all three points but for Western United s desperate defending which included a goal-line clearance in each half. A draw in the end s a fair result, Adelaide coach Carl Veart said. As the game went on I think we were the side that was more likely to win but I was happy with that performance.
Adelaide s squad, heavily hit by departures over the off-season, offered a glimpse of life to come under Veart with a plethora of local products and youngsters.
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Adelaide star Tomi Juric showed glimpses of his goal threat against Western United on A-League opening day and insists ‘there’s a lot more to come’.
The 41-cap Socceroo made his return from five years playing in Europe and caused the Green and Black endless problems as the Reds were held to a 0-0 stalemate draw at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong.
The Sydneysider spent the past half-decade running out in the Dutch, Swiss and Bulgarian top-flight competitions following spells with Adelaide and Western Sydney Wanderers on home soil.
Juric was tempted back down under in the off-season and the powerful target man proved to be a handful while pulling on a Reds jersey for the first time in seven years on Monday.
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Western United traded blows with Adelaide United but the A-League 2020/21 season opener remained deadlocked in a captivating 0-0 draw in Geelong.
Reds forwards Tomi Juric and Ben Halloran came closest to breaking the stalemate, watching their shots swiped off the goal-line, while returning Green and Black captain Alessandro Diamanti thrilled the returning GMHBA Stadium faithful and proved to once again be the home side’s danger man.
Five Adelaide players made their first competition starts for the club and six of the starting XI were aged 23 or younger, but Carl Veart’s newly-assembled side controlled the opening half with 17-year-old Yaya Dukuly impressing for his hometown team while Socceroos ace Juric was denied by Tomoki Imai’s last-gasp block.