- Ryan Kitto - 45'+1', 63'
- Ben Garuccio - 77'
- Robert Cornthwaite - 21'
Ryan Kitto scores twice as Adelaide see off Western Sydney Wanderers
A goal in each half from Ryan Kitto helped steer Adelaide United to a 2-0 win over 10-man Western Sydney Wanderers at Coopers Stadium on Sunday night.
The Reds also finished the match with 10 men with the VAR playing a significant role in shaping the contest, assisting in the expulsion of Robert Conrthwaite on 22 minutes and then Ben Garuccio in the closing stages.
An incident-packed first half saw the VAR lead to Wanderers skipper Cornthwaite receiving his marching orders.
Reds playmaker Karim Matmour had whipped in a cross for Baba Diawara whose shot struck the hand of Cornthwhaite in the 19th minute.
The match continued for a further two minutes until the Reds won a corner and play was halted.
After consulting vision on the touchline, referee Chris Beath awarded a spot kick and issued Cornthwaite his second yellow card -- just five minutes after receiving his first caution.
Diawara stepped up almost four minutes after the initial infringement but his penalty cannoned back off the upright.
The Reds dominated the rest of the half with the extra player advantage and almost broke the deadlock on the half hour.
After some missed opportunities United eventually found the back of the net through Kitto who tucked away his close range effort with the outside of his left boot after another cross from Matmour.
Despite the advantage, the Reds were unable to assert much authority over the Wanderers early in the second half.
In fact, it was the visitors who almost drew level on the hour after Oriol Riera watched his header thunder off the crossbar after a pin-point delivery from Raul Llorente.
But it was the Reds who found the net three minutes later with Kitto doubling Adelaide's lead with his second.
After a long ball upfield from Paul Izzo split the Wanderers' defence, Mileusnic was left bearing down with just the onrushing Janjetovic to beat.
The winger calmly held up play on the edge of the area before supplying Kitto who took a touch and finished truly into the unguarded net.
On 76 minutes the VAR again ruled, this time over turning Ben Garuccio's yellow card for a high, lunging tackle on Roly Bonevacia.
Referee Beath consulted the reply on the touchline and issued the full back a straight red card with both teams finishing the clash with 10 players.
Adelaide coach Marco Kurz applauded his players' effort after the gruelling extra time FFA Cup final defeat five days earlier.
"I think it was not too easy after the Cup final and 120 minutes," he said.
"They fight well and I think a good performance."
Newly installed Wanderers coach Josep Gombau remained upbeat despite the loss in just his second game in charge.
"Today we lost the game," he said.
"But I leave the stadium with a lot of positive things that will help us build what we want to build."
After a long ball upfield from Paul Izzo split the Wanderers' defence, Mileusnic was left bearing down with just the onrushing Janjetovic to beat.
The winger calmly held up play on the edge of the area before supplying Kitto who took a touch and finished truly into the unguarded net.
On 76 minutes the VAR again ruled, this time over turning Ben Garuccio's yellow card for a high, lunging tackle on Roly Bonevacia.
Referee Beath consulted the reply on the touchline and issued the full back a straight red card with both teams finishing the clash with 10 players.
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