Two time winner and reigning Pre-Season Cup champions Adelaide United FC has had the perfect start to the 2008 competition, taking all three points with a 2-1 win against Melbourne Victory in Launceston. New signing and Brazilian import Cristiano had a dream debut to his Reds career scoring twice, with the winner coming in the 90 minute of the match.

Played in wintry conditions, the Victory jumped to an 8th minute lead when Ney Fabiano got onto the end of a Nick Ward cross, before United started to piece together some promising forays forward.

United was the more threatening of the two sides in the first half despite conceding an early goal, Paul Agostino finding the side netting with a shot after an assist from Jonas Salley, before a Diego effort was blocked by the Melbourne defence.

Alemao was then unsuccessful as he tried his luck from long range before The Reds were eventually rewarded in the 33rd minute.

Agostino saw his shot from a Scott Jamieson corner blocked by Melbourne keeper Michael Theoklitos, the ball falling invitingly to Cristiano who knocked it in from close range.

Both sides each had another chance to take the lead before the break but neither found the back of the net, ending an entertaining first half.

Melbourne had the better of the early second half opportunities, United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic forced to diffuse a number of dangerous Melbourne counter attacks, while he also had to a produce a skilful save from a Danny Allsopp bullet.

Further chances to Allsopp and Fabiano went close to giving Melbourne the advantage but Galekovic and United’s defence managed to stand firm.

Then, just as the match seemed to be heading for a draw, Cristiano showed why he had such an ominous goal scoring record playing in Holland, when he made the most of a long ball, shrugging off his marker and firing past Victory substitute keeper Mitchell Langerak.

Adelaide United Coach Aurelio Vidmar was pleased with his team’s performance and said there were a number of encouraging aspects to take out of the contest.

“It was a pretty good hit out first up. I thought we controlled the majority of the game and I think we had about ten corners as well so that showed the intent that we really wanted to get forward.”

“There was just a little bit of a lack of delivery in the final third that hurt us on occasions, but in saying that I think it was a pretty even spread amongst the whole team,” Vidmar said.

“It wasn’t easy because it was quite greasy and the conditions made controlling the ball a bit difficult, but I thought both teams put in a very good effort.”

Vidmar also touched on Cristiano’s impact on the game as the Brazilian captured two goals in his debut for the club.

“It was a good opportunist goal the first one and the second one was a very good finish right at the death so I thought he did very well today,” Vidmar said.

The 2-1 result sits United on top of Group A after the first round of matches in the 2008 Pre-Season Cup, while it also gives The Reds an unbeaten record in Launceston, having registered two wins and a draw over the Victory in their three encounters at the venue.

United next heads to Cessnock in country NSW to take on the Newcastle Jets on Saturday 26 July, the Jets drawing 1-1 with Perth Glory in their first round match.

Adelaide United will train at 2pm tomorrow, Monday 21 July 2008 at Thebarton Oval.

Match Details
Melbourne Victory 1 (Ney Fabiano 8’)
Adelaide United 2 (Cristiano 32’, 90’)
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Aurora Stadium, Launceston, Tasmania
Referee: Ben Williams
Crowd: 4720

Melbourne Victory: 1.Michael THEOKLITOS (gk) (20.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk) 46’), 3.Michael THWAITE, 4.Steven PACE (6.Steve PANTELIDIS 87’), 5.Sebastian RYALL, 7.Matthew KEMP, 9.Danny ALLSOPP, 11.NEY FABIANO, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS (Captain), 15.Tom PONDELJAK (13.Nathan ELASI 72’), 19.Evan BERGER, 22.Nick WARD
Substitutes not used: 24.Semir SIVIC
Yellow cards: Danny Allsopp 42’, Ney Fabiano 49’

Adelaide United: 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.ALEMAO, 4.Angelo COSTANZO, 6.CASSIO, 9.Paul AGOSTINO (5.Michael VALKANIS 78’), 10.CRISTIANO, 13.Travis DODD (Captain), 14.Scott JAMIESON (18.Fabian BARBIERO 69’), 15.Jonas SALLEY (21.Jason SPAGNUOLO 69’), 20.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 22.DIEGO
Substitutes not used: 30.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk)
Yellow cards: Angelo Costanzo 46’, Alemao 52’, Travis Dodd 84’