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ADELAIDE - Adelaide United won through to its first A-League grand final after two saves from goalkeeper Daniel Beltrame in the penalty shoot out put paid to Newcastle's hopes at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight.
United booked a grand final match-up with Melbourne Victory next weekend thanks to a 4-3
win on penalties after the teams finished drawn at 1-1 after 90 minutes.
The two sides could not be separated after another 30 minutes of extra time before Beltrame saved spot kicks from veteran New Zealand international Vaughan Coveny and midfielder Stuart Musialik to secure the win.
Former Socceroo Carl Veart netted early in the second half to put Adelaide 1-0 up in front of 13,798 fans but evergreen Coveny came off the bench to square the ledger in the 74th minute.
Veart provided the poise in the cut throat match to drive home a low shot in the 57th minute from just inside the penalty area to set up a fairytale ending for United's season at home.
His fifth goal of the season looked liked delivering Adelaide United's first finals win in six A-League finals matches before the Jets bounced back.
But Beltrame kept Adelaide alive after Coveny's equaliser with a string of key saves and then set the scene for captain Ross Aloisi to net the winning penalty kick and kickstart the frenzied celebrations.
Adelaide carved out the better chances in the first half though Newcastle always looked dangerous on the break with midfield wizard Nick Carle carving out space for team mates.
The bulk fell to Brazilian striker Fernando but he failed to find the finishing prowess that netted him six goals this season.
He almost earned Adelaide a penalty in the 12th minute after taking a pass from Nathan Burns but was cut down just outside the penalty area by desperate Jets defender Matt Thompson.
Thompson received the first caution of the match for the late tackle but Newcastle striker Joel Griffiths rued it more after being cautioned in the aftermath by referee Matthew Breeze for dissent.
Adelaide defender Matthew Kemp was also cautioned.
Fernando forced a great diving save from Jets keeper Ante Covic in the 19th minute with a fierce drive but then skied a shot from eight metres out in the 28th minute with just the keeper to beat.
The Jets found more space just after halftime and Olyroo Mark Bridge tested Adelaide keeper Daniel Beltrame with two shots from the edge of the penalty box in the 47th and 49th minutes.
Veart's strike opened up the match more after drilling home a nod down from Fernando.
However, it was fellow veteran Coveny who found the key for Newcastle to unlock the United defence just four minutes after replacing disappointing Colombian Milton Rodriguez in the 70th minute.
Coveny stole in at the far post to tap home a driven cross from the energetic Carle, who mesmerised United defenders on the left.
Striker Bruce Djite almost delivered the same result for Adelaide after coming on for Olyroo team mate Nathan Burns and forcing a save from Covic with his leg in the 88th minute to send the match into extra time.
Beltrame excelled in the first period of extra time to repel close range shots from Jets substitute Troy Hearfield and Bridge as the Jets seemed to finish with more fuel in the tank.
Though Travis Dodd forced Covic to effect a fingertip save for a corner in the 121st minute after cutting in behind the Jets defence.
But United didn't not miss a penalty in the shootout to ensure last season's preliminary final loss became a distant memory.
- AAP
