City earns point in Australian Championship opener as Avondale claims bonus point
Adelaide City kicked off its Australian Championship campaign in an entertaining 2-2 draw against NPL Victoria Champions Avondale FC at Oakden.
A celebratory atmosphere filled Adelaide City Park on Friday night, as just over 1,400 fans packed the venue as the Adelaide sun began to set. Perfect conditions saw the Champions of South Australia host their Victorian counterparts in the first-ever meeting between the two sides.
Before the game, Adelaide City coach Vas Parhas promised that despite their fancied opponents' transfer spree, his side would go out on the front foot and take the game to them. That promise was fulfilled right from kick-off when Josh Mori was nearly picked out in the back post by Dom Costanzo, threatening to open the scoring in the opening 15 seconds of the game.
Despite the Avengers having most of the ball in the first half, it was clear the new-look side, with no fewer than five starting debuts, was still settling into life under new coach Sinisa Cohadzic, who only began in the role days earlier.
The Black and White looked dangerous on the counterattack, with Josh Mori particularly menacing, putting in a perfectly weighted cross to pick out Yuki Kitano, whose header was denied by an excellent Jack Gibson save.
City’s defence held firm, with John Hall exclusively facing long-range shots in the first half and Blake Carpenter looking especially threatening. Asad Kasumovic nearly ended the half with an exclamation mark, but his long-range effort cannoned off the post, sending the two sides to the break scoreless.
It was a familiar story for Kasumovic just two minutes after the restart, this time a free kick smashing off Gibson’s crossbar to keep the score level. City’s misfortune didn't last long, though, as Jacob Muir fouled Mori in the box four minutes later and Daniel Bressan converted from the penalty spot with an audacious Panenka to break the deadlock.
The Avengers hit back in the 65th minute, with former Campbelltown City player Blake Carpenter being found unmarked in the box to bury a bullet header to even the scoreline once again.
It was a sense of déjà vu just three minutes later, with Mori earning his side another penalty and Bressan keeping his composure to convert again. Avondale did not miss the chance to repeat their part of the script, with Niyah Joseph capitalising on a scramble on City’s goal line to grab his side’s second goal four minutes after the hosts regained the lead.
Despite an injury-time opportunity from Yuki Kitano, the two teams could not be separated after an entertaining 90 minutes, with the match going to a penalty shootout for a bonus point in the group stage, where Avondale edged Adelaide City in a marathon affair by a score of 7-6.
Post-match, goalscorer Danie Bressan reflected on the team's performance against strong opposition.
“It was a really tough game. [Avondale] came out and showed their quality and I thought we did quite well and matched them. It was disappointing at the end, but it was good to get back on the national stage; that's where we want to be.”
Bressan looked ahead to his side’s next game at Adelaide City Park against Wests APIA, crediting the fans for their support and backing them to replicate that atmosphere.
“We are excited. We got the first game under our belt; we know what to expect now and we can come out and show it.
“I'd like to thank all the fans for coming out, showing their support. They're always here at trainings, always coming out to the games; we're lucky to have them.”
Adelaide City takes on Wests APIA at Adelaide City Park next Friday, 23 October 2026.
Match Details
Adelaide City 2 (6) (Bressan 53' (pen), 70' pen))
Avondale FC 2 (7) (Carpenter 67’, Joseph 75’)
2026 Australian Championship — Round 1
Friday, 16 October 2026
Adelaide City Park
