Teen star Toure seals Adelaide United win over Melbourne Victory

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:10 am

A second-half strike from teenage sensation Mohamed Toure helped Adelaide United grind out a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory at Coopers.

The sides endured sweltering conditions with the temperature in Adelaide still in the mid-30s before kick-off.

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The Reds raced out of the blocks and could have opened the scoring inside two minutes. Toure flew past Ryan Shotton on the wing and carried the ball 20 yards to find himself with just Max Crocombe to beat in the Victory goal, but only managed a tame shot that was easily saved.

Five minutes later, Victory went close to breaking the deadlock after a Jake Brimmer set-piece was met perfectly by Rudy Gestede but the header bounced back off the upright. That was to be the last action for Gestede, who limped off a minute later injured.

Toure was again involved on 11 minutes when he was released by Ben Halloran and again his pace proved too much for the visitors' defence. This time though, the winger could only find the side netting. Adelaide continued to create chances and on 18 minutes a long ball out of defence by Jordan Elsey found Ryan Strain in acres of space. The full-back stormed towards goal and forced a strong save from Crocombe. 

Mohamed Toure scored the only goal of the game to seal the win for Adelaide United.
Getty

Just before the break, Victory winger Elvis Kamsoba was put through one-on-one with Reds keeper James Delianov but his shot was well saved. Adelaide started the second half in much the same fashion and Halloran had the first chance four minutes after the restart. He collected the ball just outside the area and fired his shot towards the top corner but it was expertly tipped over by Crocombe.

It wasn't long before United broke the deadlock and, after looking most likely in the first half, it was Toure who found the net. Superbly put through by debutant Javi Lopez, who had replaced Strain at the break, Toure outmuscled Dylan Ryan, took the ball inside the area and picked out the far bottom corner with a finessed left-footed strike.

Victory pushed for an equaliser and Marco Rojas scuffed a glorious chance after the hour when he was inadvertently through on goal after an Adelaide ricochet, but a heavy touch saw Delianov race off his line and easily collect.