Sun 11th Feb 2007

Goalkeeper Daniel Beltrame was the hero as Adelaide United defeated the Newcastle Jets in a heart stopping penalty shoot out to make it through to the grand final. It was high drama from start to end as the scores were locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time and then again after the two periods of extra time.

Under the most immense pressure, Beltrame reeled off two brilliant saves in a row from Vaughan Coveny and Stuart Musialik to send The Reds through to the decider.

Adelaide had the better of the opening 45 minutes, Fernando, Carl Veart and Travis Dodd coming close a number of times only to be denied by Jets keeper Ante Covic and some wayward shooting. United’s pressure was first rate as they caused the Jets into turnovers and pushed the ball around confidently as The Reds looked for an opening going forward.

After numerous attempts without reward, Adelaide United finally broke the deadlock in the 57th minute through a Veart strike. Nathan Burns sent a high ball into Fernando 25 metres out, the Brazilian cleverly heading the ball on to Veart, who from 12 metres out, swung onto his right and latched onto a typical Carl Veart finish, steering it inside Covic’s right post.

The home fans begun to think of another journey to Melbourne, but Newcastle had other ideas as the pushed men forward and equalized in the 75th minute. Nicky Carle, who was a handful for the United defence all night, was given too much space on the left hand side, making The Reds pay as he put the ball across and substitute Vaughan Coveny was left unmarked in the middle of the goal mouth and tapped the ball in to make it 1-1.

Veart celebrates a well taken goalWith Newcastle suddenly sniffing victory the remaining 15 minutes was an end to end affair as both sides tried to score the winner. In the 88th minute either side could have snatched it within a minute, Troy Hearfield shooting on target only to be kept out by Beltrame, while down the other end Covic came to Newcastle’s rescue saving a Bruce Djite shot with his feet.

The three minutes of added time could not separate the teams, and the contest was going to extra time.

Newcastle came out the better in the first period of extra time but could not find a way through as United held on valiantly, before the home side responded in the second 15 minutes to outplay the Jets but again be left frustrated as neither Dodd, Djite or Fernando could ice the cake.

After 120 minutes, the result would come down to penalties, and with the home crowd lifting the stands of Hindmarsh Stadium with deafening noise and support, there felt an inevitability that Adelaide were destined to progress.

Newcastle fired home their first three penalties as did Diego, Owens and Alagich for United before Beltrame took centre stage. He saved from Coveny before Ross Aloisi converted from the spot, and then from Musialik as the stadium erupted.

Beltrame fell to the ground after his match winning save, before being quickly swamped by teammates and an animated John Kosmina who showed rare emotion at his team’s achievement.

Melbourne Victory now waits The Reds in the Hyundai A-League Grand Final, but for now United will enjoy their victory over Newcastle, consequently qualifying Adelaide United for the 2008 Asian Champions League.

Match Details
Adelaide United 1 (Veart ‘57)
Newcastle Jets 1 (Coveny ’75)
Adelaide wins 4-3 in penalty shootout
Crowd: 13,798 @ Hindmarsh Stadium
Referee: Matthew Breeze