Adelaide winger Dylan Pierias has been taken to hospital after suffering a serious-looking knee injury in the 10-man Reds' 1-0 win over Perth Glory at HBF Park.
The distressed Pierias was taken off on a stretcher, holding his hands over his face, in the 64th minute after his knee had twisted awkwardly when he was clattered into by Glory debutant Gio de Abreu.
The 25-year-old's injury took the shine off the visitors' victory on Saturday which was sealed by Craig Goodwin's 12th minute winner, even though the Socceroos star than also had a penalty saved just before halftime.
Adelaide held on despite going down to 10 men in the 81st minute when Panashe Madanha was handed a straight red for his reckless groin-high challenge on Charbel Shamoon.
Glory centre back Brian Kaltak had a chance to equalise in the 87th minute when the ball floated to him at the back post, but he failed to make contact with his header for what should have been an easy goal.
The win lifted Adelaide (12 points) into fifth spot, with four wins and five losses from their nine matches this season.
Reporting on the injury to Pierias after the match, Adelaide coach Airton Andrioli said the winger had been taken to a Perth hospital.
"I'm praying that it's nothing major, because he's also obviously a player that's part of our squad as a starter, and we just hope it's nothing too serious, but we have to wait and see," said Andrioli.
"He was in a bit of pain. So obviously we tried to, as you do in those moments, just to stay close to him and stay strong, that we are thinking of him."
The Reds' Brazilian Anselmo was also subbed off at halftime and had a big ice pack on his upper leg, but Andrioli just said it was precautionary due to some groin tightness.
Glory (10 points) remain ninth following their second loss on the trot.
Perth entered the match without Adam Taggart (groin), Jaiden Kucharski (hamstring) and Damian Despotovski (calf), and their absence was keenly felt, especially in the second half as Glory unleashed 11 shots to one.
Adelaide looked dangerous early, and Glory were made to pay for giving Goodwin too much space in the 12th minute.
Goodwin took advantage of the slack defending to snare some territory before unleashing a low 24-yard left-foot drive that curved back slightly to sneak past Matt Sutton's outstretched hand.
Glory players were left fuming in the 37th minute when their claims for a penalty were waved away, despite the bouncing ball appearing to clearly hit the lower arms of Adelaide defender Panagiotis Kikianis.
"I definitely saw that Kikianis almost cradled the ball like it was a baby, like a nice, gentle baby," Glory coach Adam Griffiths said.
To rub salt into the wound, Adelaide earned their own penalty seven minutes later when Yaya Dukuly streamed past three Glory defenders before being tripped by goalkeeper Matt Sutton.
Goodwin stepped up to the spot and fired the ball straight ahead - only for a diving Sutton to save it with his foot.
Glory pushed hard for an equaliser, but they lacked the finishing touch in the absence of Taggart, Despotovski and Kucharski.
"Deja vu," Griffiths said, in reference to Perth's 1-0 loss to Sydney a week earlier when Glory also dominated for long periods without being rewarded.
