Evergreen Socceroo Craig Goodwin and talented youngster Ethan Alagich have conjured up terrific goals to earn Adelaide United a comeback 2-1 victory at Thai side BG Pathum United in the Asian Champions League Two group stages.
The Reds kept up their perfect start to their continental campaign after the shock of conceding a goal in the first two minutes at the Pathum Thani Stadium in Thanyaburi on Thursday night.
But after Bosnian striker Marin Jurina had struck early, scuffing home his finish from close range, Adelaide's 34-year-old captain Goodwin, who reckons he hasn't given up on resurrecting his Socceroos' career, provided a swift response with a cracking speculative left-foot snapshot to level in the 10th minute.
From there, the action swung from end-to-end, with Juan Muniz having the chance to put the Reds ahead in the 21st minute only to fluff his lines with a weak finish in front of goal.
Josh Smits had to pull off an excellent save five minutes later, tipping Lucas Andersen’s 25-yarder over, while Jurina came close with two more glaring opportunities before the break.
The home keeper Saranon Anuin was equally busy, depriving Spaniard Muniz after the break, but when a bit of magic was needed for the visitors, it was 22-year-old Alagich, son of the former Adelaide legend Richie Alagich, who delivered in the 77th minute.
Taking Muniz's lofted through ball expertly on his chest, Alagich, an Australia Under-23 international just like his dad, cushioned the pass, before controlling the ball skilfully on the ground, spinning and cracking his left-foot strike into the top corner.
Just as in their opening win over Hong Kong Premier League outfit Tai Po at Hindmarsh Stadium, both Goodwin and Alagich were on the scoresheet again to ensure Airton Andrioli’s side have a maximum six points from their first two group matches.
That puts them two points clear of Singapore champions Lion City Sailors, who the Reds will host next in the league in a fortnight's time.
