National Premier League SA
Final Series, proudly presented by BORAL – Week 1
Adelaide City vs Campbelltown City
Venue: Adelaide City Park
Date: 11/08/2018 06:00 PM
Last time they met:
2018 NPL Round 13: Adelaide City 0 – 3 Campbelltown City
Summary:
The first leg of the Semi-Final sees Adelaide City take on 2018 Premiers Campbelltown City. The two will meet for the third time this season, with Joe Mullen’s side taking all 6 points on offer already this year, including a convincing win away from home back in round 13.
In the last round of the regular season, City took 3 points from MetroStars to overtake them on goal difference and finish 2nd on the ladder, securing their spot in the two leg semi-final.
Adelaide City controlled much of the first half last week, with early chances from Nagel and Costa, but City’s break didn’t come until the 35th minute when Stefan Casalbore was left with plenty of time to slot one past MetroStars keeper Isaac Carmody. Metro reacted with a 45th minute header from the league’s leading scorer Christian Esposito just before half time square up the ledger. The second half saw City take back the lead when a strike from the edge of the box by Joe Costa was deflected by a defender and sailed into the back of the net.
Campbelltown’s final round of the season saw them draw with sixth placed Adelaide Olympic. Despite taking an early lead through current A-League target Lui Ditroia, which was then doubled through the in-form Dion Kirk, a defensive error in the 57th minute saw Olympic back in the game. Olympic battled hard and it wasn’t until the final minutes that Campbelltown’s defence came undone through a tantalising Nicholas Harpas equaliser.
With both teams full of confidence after another successful season and the opportunity to take the ascendency into the second leg next week, this will be one tense affair.
Adelaide Comets vs Adelaide United
Venue: SA Athletics Stadium
Date: 11/08/2018 03:00 PM
Live Stream: https://www.facebook.com/footballfederationsa/
Radio Broadcast: http://c3.radioboss.fm:8019/stream, https://tunein.com/radio/Adelaide-Web-Radio-s304622/ via the tune in app
Last time they met:
2018 NPL Round 13 – Adelaide Comets 0 – 1 Adelaide United
Summary:
Adelaide Comets will host Adelaide United on Saturday for a second time this season, with only solo goal from D'Arrigo separating the sides last time they met.
Adelaide Comets won over Croydon Kings in their last game of the year after 2 first half goals capped off a solid season for South Australia’s FFA Cup Round of 32 representatives.
Adelaide United travelled to Para Hills Knights where an impressive 5-1 win saw them finish the league with 4 games undefeated.
United managed an impressive 3 goals in just over 10 minutes in the first half of their most recent clash. A break through the Para Hills defense saw Konstandopoulos open the scoring for the youth team, shortly followed by a Niyongabire strike, slotting the first of his three goals for the day.
Para Hills reacted after an impressive run from Sumaoro to beat 3 defenders and slot it past United’s shot-stopper Isaac Richards at the near post.
Once the second half commenced Para Hills could not hold United as they rounded out the day as 5-1 victors.
Despite Adelaide Comets strong season they have not been able to get a win against United in either of their encounters during 2018.
Don’t miss this thriller! The match will kick off at 3pm down at SA Athletics Stadium. Full coverage starts just before 3pm, if you can’t make it to the game, be sure to tune into the FFSA Facebook page for the live stream broadcast or via radio broadcast at Radio Boss http://c3.radioboss.fm:8019/stream & TuneIn https://tunein.com/radio/Adelaide-Web-Radio-s304622/
MetroStars vs Adelaide Olympic
Venue: TK Shutter Reserve
Date: 11/08/2018 02:30 PM
5RTI Match of the Round Broadcast: tune into Radio Italiana 531am or via the tune in app.
2018 NPL Round 16: Adelaide Olympic 3 – 0 MetroStars
Summary:
The second elimination final this week sees MetroStars host Adelaide Olympic, as the home side looks to rebound from their 3-0 loss to Olympic back in round 16.
On this occasion, it was an impressive hattrick from gun striker Fausto Erba that separated the sides, a turning point in Metro’s season after leading the pack for most of the year.
MetroStars had a hard-fought game at home with Adelaide City last week, falling short of a win that would have secured them second place and the much desired double chance in the finals.
Olympic last week came from 2nil down after a defensive error in the 57th minute saw Jake Halliday record an own goal and bring Olympic back into the game. An equaliser in the dying minutes from Nicholas Harpas saw Olympic get a much needed point to secure their spot in the finals.
Adelaide Olympic’s late surge of 5 undefeated games to finish the season places them as contender to upset their higher placed opponents in MetroStars this weekend. If you can’t get to TK Shutter Reserve, be sure to tune into Radio Italiana 531am or via the tune in app to hear all the action LIVE.