National Premier League SA
Round 19
MetroStars vs Raiders
Venue: TK Shutter Reserve
Date: 27/07/2019 03:00 PM
Words by Jason Cavey | @JasonKVOfficial
MetroStars are coming off a 2-1 loss at home to Adelaide Olympic (match highlights here) last Saturday. Olympic were the better side in the first half, going ahead to an 11th-minute penalty from Pounendis. Tom Strain looked lively upfront upon his return to the first team Isaac Carmody made some great stops to prevent MetroStars going further behind heading into the half time break. The home team came out firing in the second half and got a deserved equaliser on 61 minutes when Dylan Smith's corner was headed home by Anthony Solagna. Solagna now has 3 headed goals from corners in the last 4 weeks. Both sides pushed for a winner and ultimately it went Olympic's way as Fausto Erba's free-kick rocketed into the back of the net in the 87th minute to give Olympic all 3 points. Defeat for MetroStars means we drop out of the top 6 for the first time this season.
Meanwhile, Raiders are coming into this game following a comfortable 4-0 win over relegation battlers South Adelaide. Yasmin Sudic (2), Giovanni Previtali and David Carosi were the goal scorers. Raiders are currently sitting 4th on the ladder and with 29 points, four points ahead of 7th placed MetroStars who have 25 points.
MetroStars coach Robbie Saraceno will be making it clear to his squad that every game is now a must-win as we try to fight back and qualify for this season's finals series. Tom Strain is back from injury, having played 60 minutes last week against Olympic. Michael D'Aloisio is a possibility to come back following a groin injury. Justin Davis and Nick Menechella are both out with season-ending injuries. Former club captain Adam van Dommele will return to T.K. Shutter Reserve for the first team since departing MetroStars at the end of 2017.
MetroStars: Cohan Morris, 1. Isaac Carmody (GK), 5. Timothy Henderson, 6. Lachlan Barr, 7. Michael Daloisio (C), 8. Rocky Callisto, 9. Thomas Strain, 10. Anthony Solagna, 11. Matthew Charalambous, 14. Dylan Smith, 15. Liam Wooding, 16. Alexander Jakob, 17. Matthew Dawber, 18. Fabian Barbiero, 19. Cooper O'Donnell, 22. Hamish Gow, 23. Christian Esposito, 24. Nahuel Bonada, 25. Jackson O'Donnell, 26. Stefan Cali
Coaches: Robert Saraceno, Travis Dodd, Terry Frangakis
Team Staff: Leonardo Cali, Joseph Polisena, Peter Terminello, George Laoutaris
Raiders: 2. Michael Acton, 3. Kalilou Kamara, 4. Paul Blefari, 5. Adam Van Dommele, 6. Omari Didero, 7. Jackson Walls, 8. Rocco Visconte, 10. Terence Carter, 11. David Carosi, 13. Nicholas Munro (GK), 14. Oliver Zafiridis, 16. Ambesager Yosief, 18. Joshua Mori, 20. Aaron Acton, 21. Jake Monaco, 30. Giovanni Previtali, 33. Mark Ulaj, 91. Yasmin Sudic, 99. Emanuel Philip
Coaches: Nikica Kuzman, Larry Piscioneri, Michael Paleka, Terry Westwood
Team Staff: Antonio Vella, Lisa Feleppa, An-Phong Nguyen
Para Hills Knights vs Adelaide City
Venue: The Paddocks
Date: 27/07/2019 03:00 PM
Para Hills welcomes Adelaide City to The Paddocks on Saturday which could lead to huge ramifications to West Adelaide.
With just four games remaining, City are three points above West Adelaide, who secure the higher of the two relegation spots. But with City having a much superior goal difference, that effectively is an extra point.
A win for Adelaide City on Saturday, and a loss for West Adelaide, would ultimately confirm City's NPL survival. But this is football, and anything can happen.
Para Hills have quietly gone about their business and merely shrugged off any relegation form. They now sit four points behind Adelaide United in 8th but seven points off a finals spot.
If they have any hope of clinching a finals spot, a win today is a must.
Para Hills Knights: 1. Timothy Ramsey (GK), 2. Elliot Sims, 3. Peter Eleftherakis, 4. Kieran Mcnally, 5. Tyson Herraman, 6. Matthew Marchioro, 8. Logan Mcfall, 9. Michael Ndjekompte, 10. Luke Colalancia, 12. Jordan Findlay, 14. Thilo Wilke, 15. Pierce Stephens, 16. Todd Leahy, 17. Mohammed Sumaoro, 18. Pietro Piantedosi, 19. Kyle Crout, 20. Charlie Devereux, 21. Isaac Mullen, 22. Hirofumi Kochi, 23. Tyler Bailey
Coaches: Barney Smith, Paul Crout, Matthew Bates
Team Staff: Geoff Sullivan, Jamie Ocego-Kingsley, Dwayne Hall
Adelaide City: Sadegh Heidari, 5. Zakariah Waters, 6. Dominic Matricciani, 7. Christopher Pepe, 8. Joseph Costa, 9. Anthony Costa, 10. Evan Kostopoulos, 17. Stefan Casalbore, 19. James Boffa, 20. Fabio Ferreira, 22. Haris Vuckic, 28. Yanni Delengas, 38. Austin Ayoubi, 45. Tomas Maricic, 46. Joe Gauci (GK), 48. Marcos Flores, 49. Massimo Falco
Coaches: Michael Matricciani, Geoff Hargreaves, Joe Verringer
Team Staff: Fabian Garuccio, Oliver Totani, Kevin Doan, Mark Zito
Adelaide Comets vs Adelaide United FC
Venue: SA Athletics Stadium
Date: 27/07/2019 03:00 PM
Words by Gianluca Filosi @GianlucaFilosi
Coming off the back of their biggest scalp of the season, Adelaide United Youth face Adelaide Comets on Saturday as they remain in the hunt for a top-six berth.
The Young Reds came from a goal down to beat ladder leaders Campbelltown City 2-1 in Round 18, and have suffered a solitary defeat in their past seven outings.
“It was a very big win, considering that they’re a great team and move the ball around,” Alhassan Toure said upon reflection, after scoring a stunning 85th-minute winner.
“At the start of the game, they were pressing us and keeping the ball and making us run.
“But we were able to stick together and play as a team and by the second half, we were able to dominate them.”
And while United Youth can take confidence from that game, Toure said they face another tricky test against a Comets that is unbeaten in four matches.
The winger admitted playing on a smaller pitch that is SA Athletics Stadium will take some adjusting to.
“Santos (SA Athletics Stadium) is a small pitch so there’ll be a lot of high-intensity efforts during the game because the ball is always in your half,” he said.
“Comets is a good side but we’ve also beaten other good sides so it’s not really a challenge for us but just another stepping stone to get into the top six.”
Toure also believes quick passes in attack will be the antidote to overcoming a resolute Comets defence that has kept three-straight clean sheets.
“I think fast passing and I think that will be the key to break down the defence,” he said.
“We’re going to use our speed upfront and with a big striker up top, Kusini (Yengi), to hold the ball up and just feed it out to the wingers and we’ll do our thing from there.”
The 19-year-old has found the back of the net in three consecutive weeks to take his season tally to four goals in 14 games, and as a result has been training with the first team during pre-season.
He said the key to his impressive form was due to the confidence imparted to him by the coaching staff and support from his teammates.
Toure further added that he hoped his strong performances would help lead to a finals appearance and earning a contract with the Hyundai A-League squad.
“Confidence comes from the team and the coaches… And the team gets behind you and once you score and just continue to score like that it’s just a mental thing,” he explained.
“… Scoring more goals and getting more people to see my performances and making sure that we make the top six. And It’s a team effort at the end of the day. It wouldn’t be done without the team.”
Adelaide Comets: 1. Julian Torresan (GK), 2. Harry Keramidas, 4. Tom Dittmar, 5. Adam Le Cornu, 6. Jack Bladen, 7. Thomas Cyganov, 8. Connor Gollan, 9. Andreas Wiens, 10. Lansana Smith, 11. Jayden Lobasso, 12. Tete Yengi, 13. Filimon Asefa, 14. Nathan Andijanto, 15. Philip Cash, 16. Stephan Travaglione, 17. Christos Kotsiou, 18. Stefan Simic, 22. Allan Welsh, 23. Scott Nagel, 30. Alexander Woodlands
Coaches: Konstandinos Antoniou, Elias Demo, Antonios Galanopoulos, Chris Simpson
Team Staff: Evangelo Katsambis, Elsie Kenny, Bridget Siviour
Adelaide United FC: Aladin Irabona, 2. Cooper Nunn, 5. Noah Smith, 6. Ryan Yates, 7. Taras Gomulka, 8. Jai King, 9. Ninko Beric, 10. Kusini Yengi, 19. Alhassan Toure, 21. Domenic Costanzo, 32. Yared Abetew, 33. Anthony Mavrolambados, 44. Jared Clark, 50. Dakota Ochsenham (GK)
Coaches: Paul Pezos, Mario Karlovic, Joshua Smith, Eugene Galekovic
Team Staff: Robert Muscio, William Cutts, Julian Urlings
West Adelaide vs South Adelaide
Venue: Adelaide City Park
Date: 27/07/2019 03:00 PM
The bottom two faces off on Saturday at Oakden on Saturday with West Adelaide desperate for a win, while South Adelaide start life without Ben Dale.
The Panthers, who are all but down, departed with Dale after last weekend's 4-0 defeat at Raiders.
For West Adelaide though, this is an absolute must-win game for them with them finding themselves three points behind an Adelaide City side who have found form.
West Adelaide have not enjoyed a win since the last time the sides met back in round 8, and that was also the last time they have found the net more than once in a game.
Quite simply, West Adelaide now have four grand finals to save their season, and pray that those above them lose points.
West Adelaide: 2. Joshua Papasian, 3. Gatlat Tongyik, 5. Zachary Hristodoulopoulos, 6. Elias Vlassis, 7. Perry Mitris, 8. Jack Yull, 10. Kosta Mantis, 11. Ibrahima Kamara, 12. Matthew Bouraee, 15. Asad Kasumovic, 16. Jordan Maricic, 17. Tzoi Tsarkani, 18. Tito Bontor, 19. Jaiden Diamantis, 20. Thanasis Lesi, 21. Lewis Moss (GK), 23. Kristos Stefanopoulos, 25. Rian Del Nido
Coaches: Stavros Gelekis, Nicholas Bouzalas
Team Staff: Aaron Kaselouris, Charlie Larosa
South Adelaide: David Thornton, Michael Goode, 1. Ryan Veitch (GK), 3. Christopher Reed, 4. Robert Parker, 5. Caden Yates, 7. Nicholas Harpas, 8. Sam Carmichael (C), 9. Charlie Rhodes, 10. Donovan Pollock, 11. Thomas Parks, 13. Jai Conroy, 14. Jeven Beck, 15. Christopher Ashwood, 17. Joel Smith
Coaches: Matthew Huntley, Fraser McLean
Team Staff: Kym Goode, Lucy Boseley, Connor Fagan
Croydon Kings vs Adelaide Blue Eagles
Venue: Polonia Reserve
Date: 27/07/2019 03:00 PM
The most competitive Finals chasing NPLSA story in years will take another interesting twist on Saturday as Blue Eagles travel to Polonia to face Croydon Kings in what could be the penultimate game at their famous old ground.
Croydon, who lay in sixth, are just three points off Blue Eagles, who currently sit in second spot.
In truly remarkable circumstances, a win for Croydon could see them sit in the top two spots for the first time since the opening weekend of the campaign. And with three wins on the spin, Kings are heading into the final push on some good form when it counts most.
Blue Eagles have been stuttering of late but their stubborn character will be a test for any opponent. But with just two wins in their last six outings, the side formally known as 'Azzuri' will be looking to pick up the points before facing the risk of a potential drop out of the top six altogether.
Blue Eagles pipped Kings to a 2-1 win the last time the sides met in round 8 at Marden.
Croydon Kings: 1. Gianni Tramontin, 2. John Panagaris, 3. James Polli, 4. Alexander Sunasky, 5. James Skeffington, 6. Kerrin Stokes, 8. Andrew Maio, 9. Nathan Munro, 10. Luke Klimek (C), 11. Antoni Trimboli, 12. Christopher Vivian, 13. Eric Scardigno, 14. Peter Mercurio, 15. Jo Ichiguchi, 16. Adam Martinello, 17. Alex Demasi, 18. Jarrod Brazzale, 19. Masahiro Haruoka, 20. Zade Heinicke, 21. John Hall (GK), 23. Patrick Caraccia
Coaches: Angelo Costanzo, Maurice Natale, Robert Matosevic
Team Staff: Mario Catalano, Joshua Avery, Latham Byfield
Adelaide Blue Eagles: 1. Benjamin Jackson, 3. Raffaele De Lucia, 5. Christopher Annicchiarico (C), 6. Brylon Nthoane, 7. Shekubah Hutton-Addy, 8. Damien Crettenden, 9. Daniel Cockerline, 10. Evan Kounavelis, 13. Alemayo Kebede, 14. Stefan Gluscevic, 15. Christian D'Angelo, 16. Hamish Mccabe, 17. Liam Mccabe, 18. Lucas Candeloro, 23. Antoni Panagoulias, 24. Adrian Barone, 26. Richard Goss (GK)
Coaches: Vojislav Gluscevic, Danny Barone
Team Staff: Zlatko Belanic, Bhavik Dadia, Jackson Howie, Zac Bastick, John Herlihy
Adelaide Olympic vs Campbelltown City
Venue: VALO Football Centre
Date: 27/07/2019 07:00 PM
In our VALO Match of the Round, our FFA Cup representatives face-off in the middle of a massive week for both clubs.
Olympic endured a fantastic night at VALO Football Centre on Wednesday, progressing into the last 16 of the FFA Cup with a sensational 4-3 win against WA side Floreat Athena. The win came at a cost though, with Fausto Erba missing Saturday's game through suspension after his sending off.
While Olympic will be on cloud nine, their physical and mental strength will be tested after a huge midweek game, while Campbelltown City have been well-rested.
The Red Devils though will have one eye on their huge FFA Cup clash with A-League outfit Melbourne City on Wednesday. But Joe Mullen's side will want to take care of domestic business first, as they itch towards successive NPLSA Minor Premierships.
Adelaide Olympic: 1. Daniel Vaughan (GK), 2. Jacob Butler-Bowdon, 3. Matthew Halliday, 4. Thomas Brown, 5. David Makridis, 6. Elias Vlassis, 7. John Karatzas, 8. Manni Katopodis, 9. Christos Pounendis, 10. Ricardo DaSilva (C), 11. Alexandros Koutoulogenis, 12. Dimitri Toumazos, 13. Paul Espina, 15. Jack Chivers, 16. John Tsimopoulos, 17. Paul Koutsampasis, 21. Nikolas Harpas, 23. Michael Alexandrou
Coaches: George Tsonis, Tony Sacca, Ali Sadick
Team Staff: Caroline Riemelmoser, Carl Robinson, Alex Abela
Campbelltown City: Leslie Pogliacomi, 1. Jamie Signorello, 2. Shaun Harvey, 4. Iain Fyfe (C), 5. Matthew Mullen, 6. Dion Kirk, 7. Joel Allwright, 8. Alexander Mullen, 9. Marc Marino, 10. Luigi Ditroia, 11. Anthony Ture, 12. Jacob Williams, 14. Adam Piscioneri, 16. Daniel Mullen, 18. Yohei Matsumoto, 20. Nicholas Harpas (GK), 23. Jake Halliday
Coaches: Joseph Mullen, Philip Stubbins, Leslie Pogliacomi
Team Staff: Panfilo Ciccocioppo, David Cavaiuolo, Elio Bria