10-man Adelaide United's stunning comeback from 3-0 down to beat 9-man Brisbane Roar

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:25 am

A 10-man Adelaide United came from 3-0 down to defeat nine-man Brisbane 4-3 in a stunning A-League contest at Coopers Stadium.

The Reds scored three times on Saturday night in the final half-hour, including a 97th-minute winner from substitute Nikola Mileusnic to complete an incredible comeback.

The Roar were reduced to nine men while leading 3-1 midway through the second half, with Dane Ingham and keeper Jamie Young dismissed within minutes.

The match was flipped on its head after just nine minutes when referee Alex King controversially sent off Ken Ilso. The Dane challenged Matt McKay for possession while falling and caught the Roar skipper on the shin. With no VAR intervention, Ilso was sent off when he most likely warranted a yellow card at worst.

The Roar capitalised and broke the deadlock on 21 minutes via Henrique, who was slipped through by Adam Taggart. The Brazilian rounded an onrushing Paul Izzo and tapped in, but had to wait almost two minutes for VAR to clear any offside suspicion.

On 38 minutes, Brisbane doubled their lead with Dylan Wenzel Halls scoring his maiden A-League goal with a strong finish from 10 metres after the ball ricocheted off Ryan Strain.

Taggart made it 3-0 on 42 minutes with a powerful strike from long range which Izzo managed to get a hand to but might have done better.

Nikola Mileusnic's 97th minute goal capped Adelaide United's remarkable comeback against Brisbane Roar.
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There was one more first half twist with Adelaide skipper Isaias pulling a goal back in injury time, nailing a stunning free kick from the edge of the area, leaving Young rooted to the spot.

United were given a lifeline on the hour when Brisbane were also reduced to 10 men, Ingham shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.

Only minutes later, teammate Young followed, receiving a straight red card for rushing out of his area and taking out Craig Goodwin after he was put through by Isaias.

Goodwin blasted the resulting free kick into the wall but picked up the rebound and fired low and hard through a sea of legs to score and make it 2-3 with 23 minutes remaining. Piling on immense pressure, the Reds drew level on 74 minutes, Goodwin crossing for George Blackwood who rose highest to nod home past substitute keeper Brendan White. The home side eventually found the winner deep into stoppage time with nine-man Brisbane unable to hold out.

Young substitute Carlo Armiento raced down the left and whipped in a cross which found fellow substitute Mileusnic at the back post who powered a header past White with 97 minutes on the clock.