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Adelaide, Central Coast win away from home [Sat Aug 27th, 2005]
The inaugural season of A-League kicked off with Adelaide United recording a 1-0 upset victory over the Newcastle United Jets at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
The away side dominated the early running against their star-studded opponents, who boast Ned Zelic, Jade North, Nick Carle and Ante Milicic in their impressive ranks, and managed to net a deserved goal in the first half through veteran striker Carl Veart.
Veart launched his head onto a cross from skipper Ross Aloisi to beat Jets' goalkeeper Liam Reddy convincingly with what was the competition's first ever goal, and in the end, proved to be the matchwinner.
The Jets rallied and had chances to equalise, only to see most of their efforts saved by a desperate and determined Adelaide defence and goalkeeping.
Adelaide soaked all of Newcastle's raids, and would have felt they themselves deserved more goals, with Veart and Aloisi controlling the play, and keeping the ball in the Jets' half for most of the game.
Despite the best efforts of Zelic and Carle to create openings for their forward line led by Milicic, the veteran striker's few opportunities lacked timing and the 'killer touch'.
Adelaide coach John Kosmina was delighted with his team's display.
"We know we're good enough, no one else thinks we are," Kosmina said.
"It was important that we came here and got something out of it... to come away from here with a result was great."
Skipper Aloisi added: "Everyone is ecstatic. It was the beginning of a new era, and we created history tonight, playing the very first A-League game and winning away from home when no-one expected us to win.
"We're confident in ourselves and we just showed tonight we can play good football."
The match was a positive start for the eagerly-awaited A-League. Former Australian international Johnny Warren, who before his death last year was one of the driving forces behind the creation of a new league, was also recognised with a minute's silence.
After a nervous start, both teams were determined to deliver attacking football, and had it not been for some tremendous defence and goalkeeping, the final scoreline would have included more goals. In the end, the better team on the night took home the competition’s first three points.
Meanwhile in the later kickoff, a stunning second-half strike from Central Coast skipper Noel Spencer delivered the Mariners the second away victory of the A-League's opening night over Perth Glory at Members' Equity Stadium.
Spencer's goal-of-the-season contender from outside the box separated a game which was evenly poised.
Former Leeds United striker Brian Deane made his debut for the Glory and was enterprising up front, latching onto many crosses, but to no avail on the night.
Mariners' coach Lawrie McKinna said he felt his side deserved the win.
"We were always confident after winning last week (final of Pre-Season Cup against Perth), and I thought we deserved to win tonight," McKinna said, realising the countless near-chances his team created before Spencer netting his peach of a strike.
"To come here and get three points is fantastic."
His Perth counterpart Steve McMahon was less excited by his team's display.
"We didn't perform as a team," he said. "I'm disappointed with the way we started, if you start in second gear, it's difficult to get out of it. I was worried about our team performance and we can play a lot better.
"We didn't make things happen and we didn't force the issue at times."
PA Sport
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