Western Sydney Wanderers have gone down 2-1 to Adelaide United at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.
Craig Goodwin was the difference for the Reds, scoring the winner midway through the second half after the Wanderers drew level Just after the break through a sublime Roly Bonevacia free-kick.
Goodwin had earlier set-up Adelaide’s opener with a superb run and lay-off to Vince Lia whose fierce strike was too hot for Wanderers keeper Nick Suman to handle.
The defeat means the Wanderers have now lost five games in a row, equalling their worst-ever run of form in the Hyundai A-League.
And Adelaide’s win means they have now opened up a 13-point gap between themselves in the top six and the eighth-placed Wanderers.
It took less than eight minutes for the visitors to gain the ascendancy.
Jordan Elsey’s long ball released Craig Goodwin in behind the Wanderers defence and after getting inside the box and cutting inside one defender, he played the ball back to the top of the box.
And an on-rushing Lia hit a Thunderous low drive which Suman got his hands to but only could only parry it into the roof of the net.
The Wanderers responded well to going behind, with Jaushua Sotirio wasting a couple of chances to draw his side level when he shot straight at keeper Paul Izzo on both occasions.
Markus Babbel changed his formation and brought on Nick Fitzgerald at the break and it paid off inside four minutes with the attacker winning a free-kick right on the edge of the box.
Bonevacia took the responsibility and curled a wonderful free-kick into the top corner with Izzo rooted to the spot.
But the Wanderers weren’t level for long as Goodwin restored Adelaide’s lead just 15 minutes later.
Nikola Mileusnic cut the ball back from the byline to Goodwin at the top of the box. The winger fashioned some space on his left foot and hit a sweet, low strike that snuck in at the far post.
Only a stunning save from Suman soon after denied Goodwin extending Adelaide’s lead and despite some bright moments late-on, the Wanderers were unable to find an equaliser.
