Jacob Absalonsen seals dramatic comeback win for Adelaide

Johan Absalonsen celebrates his late winner against Brisbane.
Johan Absalonsen celebrates his late winner against Brisbane.
Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Adelaide United stunned Brisbane Roar with two goals in the final moments to earn a 2-1 come-from-behind A-League victory on Friday night.

The Roar looked destined to win after Massimo Maccarone opened his account just eight minutes into his home debut, before John Aloisi's side seemingly weathered the worst of a second-half storm from the visitors.

But the Reds kept on coming and eventually broke through, with substitute Ryan Kitto equalising in the 88th minute, then Johan Absalonsen scoring the winner in injury time.

Usually it's Brisbane producing the late heroics at Suncorp Stadium but instead the tables were turned and Adelaide have now opened the new season with two consecutive wins.

It was a deserved result after Adelaide wrestled back control of a match that ebbed and flowed with both teams enjoying periods of dominance.

Johan Absalonsen celebrates his late winner against Brisbane.
Johan Absalonsen celebrates his late winner against Brisbane.
Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Italian veteran Maccarone got the ball rolling, smashing in his first A-League goal at the back post after he was set up by a Corey Brown cross, much to the delight of the 11,178-strong crowd.

The Roar had an array of chances to make it 2-0 but goalkeeper Paul Izzo made six important saves -- snuffing out a dangerous Peter Skapetis break, another Maccarone effort and a rasping shot from substitute Brett Holman.

The 22-year-old made a huge blooper in the 48th minute when he coughed up possession near the six-yard box and was cornered by Maccarone and Nick D'Agostino, but made up for it by blocking back-to-back efforts from the latter to keep Adelaide in the game.

United nearly equalised four minutes later after George Blackwood beat his marker and cut into the box, only for his shot to cannon off the post, into goalkeeper Michael Theo's back and then go out for a corner.

They continued to rally and were richly rewarded for their persistence, with Kitto making it 1-1 just minutes after coming off the bench.

Danish winger Absalonsen completed the comeback in terrific style, scoring his second goal in as many games with a powerful effort that went in off the underside of the bar.

Reds coach Marco Kurz was delighted with the win but less impressed with the number of errors his team made.

"We can do a lot of things better; I think we make too many mistakes," he said. "It's not possible to come back in every game [like this]. But I hope now, with the victory, we have more confidence in our quality."

Aloisi said the Roar paid the price for not finding a second goal and killing off the game.

"It's disappointing not to win. It's disappointing to have two losses in a row," he said. "But we can either roll over and feel sorry for ourselves or we can fight and make sure we're ready for the next game. "I know what I'm going to do -- I expect our players to fight as well."