City fightback falls short against Broadmeadow Magic
Adelaide City reached the halfway point of the group stage of the Australia Championship away at Broadmeadow Magic on Friday night.
Vas Parhas rewarded Fabian Grelli and Giorgio Parhas after positive second-half showings off the bench against Wests APIA, while also restoring Bailey O’Neil to the starting line-up after he missed the previous game.
After conceding in the opening minutes of Round Two, Adelaide City’s focus was on making a solid start in their first away game of the campaign.
That came undone by a moment of magic when Ezra Palombini won a scrappy ball off Adelaide City in a dangerous area 11 minutes into the game, flicking it to teammate Luis Lara Delgado, who then returned the favour with an even more exquisite flick, allowing Palombini to finish what he started and open the score for the hosts with a well-placed shot past John Hall.
Broadmeadow controlled proceedings in the first half, with Hall’s heroics denying Delgado twice after his role in the opener and keeping the Black and White in the game and only a goal behind heading into the break.
Adelaide City’s performance closely followed the script of the Wests APIA game, with the visitors shaking off a slow start and an early goal concession to come out with a point to prove after the break.
Daniel Bressan was denied a third Australian Championship goal by the post three minutes after the restart, with Mori putting a free kick just wide of the woodwork in the 57th minute, and Bailey O’Neil’s acrobatic effort being saved by the fingertips of Noah James 10 minutes later to hold the hosts scoreless despite a drastic momentum shift.
City was punished for not taking its chances in the 74th minute when lax defending allowed Delgado to rise highest in the back post during a corner and head the ball past a helpless John Hall. A short two minutes later, City’s misery was compounded by a long-range Bailey Wells effort to make it three for the Magic.
The visitors did not put their heads down; instead, they found a pulse in the 78th minute through Francesco Schimizzi, who returned from injury off the bench to poke a long, hopeful ball past Noah James to reduce City’s deficit.
The game looked set for a grandstand finish when Bailey O’Neil smashed home through a sea of bodies after a clever corner routine to make it 3-2.
Despite a positive start to the second half and a spirited fightback from three goals down, Broadmeadows' scoreboard damage proved too much for Adelaide City to overcome in the remaining time.
Broadmeadow’s first home victory in the Australian Championship solidifies its lead in Group B for another week. At the same time, Adelaide City has its work cut out for it, with only one point after three games and away trips to Avondale FC and Wests APIA looming in the next fortnight.
The Black and White return to action in Melbourne at Avenger Park on Sunday 8th of November for a sequel to the frantic 2-2 draw in Round One of the Championship against Avondale FC.
Match Details
Broadmeadow Magic 3 (Palombini 11’, Delgado 74’, Wells 75’)
Adelaide City 2 (Schimizzi 78’, O’Neil 85’)
2026 Australian Championship — Round 3
Friday, 30 October 2026
Magic Park
