The penultimate round of the NPLSA season is upon us, and everything is at stake. Here's how things stand as we head into Round 14.
Adelaide Olympic vs Para Hills Knights
Venue: VALO Football Centre
Date: 23/10/2020 08:15 PM
This week’s Friday night fixture will showcase two sides who haven’t given the best account of themselves this season, however for Olympic, it’s not too late. The last time these two met seems like a lifetime ago, and on that day it was Olympic who came out on top.
Despite two losses in their last two outings, Olympic are holding on to hope. They are still a game away from that coveted top-six spot, and a gutsy win this weekend could give them a fighting chance.
2020 just hasn’t been Para Hills’ year, however, they aren’t going down without a fight. Knocking off Modbury last week may have significant relegation implications for the Jets, and for the Knights, it is yet another example of the potential they have.
This game promises to be a cracker, as Olympic fight for finals and Para Hills fight for respect.
Adelaide Olympic line-up: 1. Nikolas Harpas (GK), 2. Jacob Butler-Bowdon, 3. Matthew Halliday, 4. Benkert Abdija, 5. Julian Ionni, 6. Kristin Konstandopoulos, 7. Nicholas Harpas, 8. Jason Konstandopoulos, 9. Christos Pounendis (C), 10. Charlie devereux, 11. Ioannis Simosis, 12. Dimitri Toumazos, 13. Emile Damey, 14. Mark Ochieng, 15. Melad Ahmad, 21. Gianni Tramontin, 24. Panagiotis Manidakis
Coaches: George Tsonis, Peter Mihalopoulos, Ali Sadick
Team Staff: Caroline Riemelmoser, Sumin Kim
Para Hills Knights line-up: Mutuza Binyangi, RGK. Caleb Robinson, GK. Jordan Findlay, 2. Will Hendon, 3. Paul Wilson, 5. Roberto Bonelli, 7. Ali Rayez Muradi, 8. Luka Chikwuba, 9. Mohamed Conneh, 10. Isaac Mullen, 11. Andrew Maio, 12. Jaweed Muradi, 13. Jagajeet shrestha Shrestha, 14. Lochlan Czapla, 16. Tito Bontor, 18. Franz Pjetri, 19. Logan Marley-Mcfall
Coaches: Theodoros Tsiounis, Kosta Dimopoulos, Chris Simpson
Team Staff: Jamie Ocego-Kingsley, Geoff Sullivan, John Vu
Raiders vs Adelaide Blue Eagles
Venue: Croatian Sports Centre
Date: 23/10/2020 08:15 PM
Do or die is the only way to describe this affair, finals potentially await for Raiders if they triumph and with a bit of luck the same for Blue Eagles. These two have played out some absolute classics in recent years, with Raiders taking the chocolates in the reverse fixture earlier this year.
The Gepps Cross side are coming off a loss to Campbelltown, so we might see more than just cevapi being cooked at the Croatian Sports Centre if they don’t perform. Blue Eagles are also out with a point to prove, last week’s loss to Olympic renders a finals appearance to be a herculean task for the Marden outfit.
With Cumberland on level-points, and this week’s opponents also breathing down their necks; the pressure is tangible for Raiders. They will need to be firing on all cylinders, but if talisman Alun Webb has his shooting boots on; we may see a famous win at the Sports Centre.
Raiders line-up: 2. Jacob Lever, 3. Nikola Jurkovic, 4. Paul Blefari (C), 5. Adam Van Dommele, 6. Noah Holmes, 7. Mohammed Sumaoro, 8. Joseph Costa, 9. Alun Webb, 11. David Carosi, 13. Nicholas Munro (GK), 14. Oliver Zafiridis, 15. Lucas Cuschieri, 16. Sallu Kamara, 17. Thomas Brown, 44. Kalilou Kamara, 99. Emanuel Philip
Coaches: Nikica Kuzman, Terry Westwood
Team Staff: Lisa Feleppa
Adelaide Blue Eagles line-up: 1. Richard Goss, 3. Paul Espina, 4. Christian Sotira, 5. Christopher Annicchiarico, 6. Brylon Nthoane, 7. Stanisa Velinov, 8. Damien Crettenden, 10. Hamish Mccabe, 11. Evan Kounavelis, 12. Liam Mccabe, 15. Christian D'Angelo, 17. Tatenda Nyaruwe, 18. Yohei Matsumoto, 21. Bol Mapor, 22. Stefan Valentini, 23. Hirofumi Kochi, 25. Paul Reilly
Coaches: VOJISLAV GLUSCEVIC, Steven Melling
Team Staff: james keating, Josh Smith, Lewis Hutcheson
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Croydon Kings vs Campbelltown City
Venue: Jack Smith Park
Date: 24/10/2020 02:30 PM
Only four points separate first and fourth, and both Croydon and Campbelltown are in the absolute thick of it. After a slow start to the season by their standards, Campbelltown have grinded their way back to contention and will be looking to continue this trend against the ever-tricky Kings.
Croydon themselves have had their ups and down, but are sitting pretty in fourth; just a point behind this weekend’s opponents. Last week’s 1-0 loss to United was out of character and makes obtaining the Premier’s plate an almighty task. Contrarily, Campbelltown are coming off a hard-fought win against Raiders.
With the quality and finals experience within both their ranks, the winner of this battle could very well be who we see lifting the trophy come the end of the season.
Croydon Kings line-up: 1. Sebastian Matosevic, 2. John Panagaris, 3. Filimon Asefa, 5. Luke Klimek (C), 7. Kur Kur, 8. Adam Martinello, 9. Nathan Munro, 11. Antoni Trimboli, 12. Christopher Vivian, 14. Peter Mercurio, 15. Joseph Macheda, 17. Kelvin Kamburu, 18. Jarrod Brazzale, 19. Raymond Muhoma, 20. Jared Clark, 21. John Hall (GK), 23. patrick caraccia
Coaches: Angelo Costanzo, Maurice Natale, Latham Byfield
Team Staff: Mario Catalano, Joshua Avery
Campbelltown City line-up: 1. Jamie Signorello, 2. Shaun Harvey (C), 3. Blake Carpenter, 5. Matthew Mullen, 6. Dion Kirk, 7. Joel Allwright, 8. Alexander Mullen, 10. Luigi Ditroia, 11. Joshua Barresi, 12. Nicholas Francese, 14. Adam Piscioneri, 15. Antony Piscioneri, 16. Daniel Mullen, 17. Tom van der Hoeven, 20. Nicholas Harpas (GK), 23. Jake Halliday
Coaches: Iain Fyfe, Corey Artone, Leslie Pogliacomi
Team Staff: Panfilo Ciccocioppo, David Cavaiuolo, Elio Bria
Cumberland United vs Adelaide Comets
Venue: A.A Bailey Reserve
Date: 24/10/2020 03:00 PM
Cumberland are a side with immense character, and are always up to the fight. Earlier on in the year, many predicted they were destined for relegation. However under the watchful eye of Neil Young, and through the devastating class of Thomas Briscoe; The Foxes have fought their way into finals contention.
Comets are doing what Comets do, and have being stellar all year. They sit on top of the pile at the moment, and will be looking to repeat their efforts of the reverse fixture, a 1-0 win over Cumberland.
A win would put Comets within a game of taking home the Premier’s plate, and if results go Cumby’s way, a win could secure a famous finals berth.
Cumberland United line-up: Ryan Wood, 1. Luke Schoen (GK), 2. Jack Schoen, 4. Declan Gray, 5. Sam Carmichael, 6. Christopher Skull, 7. Ayom Ayom Majok, 8. Harry Thannhauser, 9. JUAN GUTIERREZ, 11. Thomas Briscoe, 12. David Signore, 16. Matthew Charalambous, 17. Callum Elms, 32. Aristomenios Haralampopoulos, 34. Brayden Micallef
Adelaide Comets line-up: 1. Julian Torresan, 3. Manley Barnett, 4. Tom Dittmar, 5. Adam Le Cornu, 6. Jack Bladen, 7. Tete Yengi, 8. Ryan Yates, 9. Andreas Wiens, 10. Anthony Mavrolambados, 11. Jayden LoBasso, 14. Nathan Andijanto, 15. Konstandinos Tsalamangos, 16. Ninko Beric, 17. Lansana Smith, 18. Nathan Dimou, 22. Allan Welsh (C), 23. Scott Nagel, 31. Daniel Vaughan (GK), 77. Chris Christofilos
Coaches: Barney Smith, Konstandinos Antoniou, Antonios Galanopoulos, Matthew Bates
Team Staff: Evangelo Katsambis, Emma Gericke, Elsie Kenny
Adelaide City vs MetroStars
Venue: Adelaide City Park
Date: 24/10/2020 03:00 PM
These two sides have been the measure of quality in recent years. Even in what some consider a rebuilding period, Adelaide City are still in the thick of the top six, a measure of the stature and attitude of the club. City beat Blue Eagles last week and might have hit a run of form just in time.
Metro are just two points off top spot and are coming off a well-rounded 3-1 win over Cumberland last week. Momentum is everything come finals, and a win over one of their bitter rivals could kickstart the Metro hype-train.
The last time these two sides met, the spoils were shared in a 1-1 draw. However with everything on the line, one can assume shared points will be considered points lost to these two juggernauts.
Adelaide City line-up: 1. Alexander Woodlands (GK), 4. Jordan Maricic, 5. Zakariah Waters, 7. Perry Mitris, 9. Terence Christopher Carter, 10. Evan Kostopoulos, 11. Nicholas Bucco, 14. Aladin Irabona, 15. Jackson Stephens, 21. Adriano Pellegrino, 23. Markus Orchard, 24. Awal Dut, 34. Noah Benouzekri, 48. Lachlan Barr
Coaches: Michael Matricciani
Team Staff: brenton hiern, Liam Oates
MetroStars line-up: 1. Isaac Carmody (GK), 4. Justin Davis, 5. Timothy Henderson, 7. Michael Daloisio (C), 8. Rocky Callisto, 9. Thomas Strain, 10. Anthony Solagna, 11. Luis Benedetti, 12. Benjamin Head, 14. Dylan Smith, 16. Kyle Crout, 17. Matthew Dawber, 18. Fabian Barbiero, 19. Cooper O'Donnell, 20. Joshua Mori, 21. Alessio Melisi, 22. Hamish Gow, 23. Christian Esposito, 24. Nahuel Bonada, 45. Jayden Spruyt
Coaches: Robert Saraceno, Travis Dodd, Nicholas Bouzalas
Team Staff: Giorgio Capoccia, Joseph Polisena, Peter Terminello, George Laoutaris
Modbury Jets vs Adelaide United FC
Venue: Smith Partners Stadium
Date: 24/10/2020 03:00 PM
On the other end of the table, it does not get much bigger than this. Both Adelaide United and Modbury have had disappointing campaigns. Four points off safety, the Jets have to win if they are to avoid the perilous drop. From there, next week’s results must go their way as well.
United’s inexperience has tripped them up on occasion this season, however, Modbury have been excellent in providing youth an opportunity; so both sets of players will get a chance to put some finals-footy experience under their belt.
United and Modbury played out a pulsating 2-2 draw when they last met, a similarly thrilling game surely awaits.
Modbury Jets line-up: 1. Kieran Griffiths (GK), 2. Zack Gomez, 3. Thomas Veart, 5. Daniel Pritchard, 6. Nathan Farrell, 8. Zac Miller, 9. Rhys Turner, 10. Jesse Francesca, 11. Dylan Tripodi, 12. Cameron O'Doherty, 14. Donovan Pollock, 16. Peter Terminello, 17. Brandon Centofanti, 20. Declan Burchell (GK), 26. Shaun Mcgreevy, 27. Michael Doyle, 29. Paul Radice
Coaches: Nigel Gill, Raymond Coull
Team Staff: Damien Burchell, Ric Wojciechowski
Adelaide United FC line-up: Daniel Bressan, 14. Binyam Kebede, 18. Louis D’arrigo, 29. Kusini Yengi, 33. Cooper Nunn, 34. Yared Abetew, 36. Noah Smith, 40. Dakota Ochsenham (GK), 41. Jackson Walls, 49. Mohamed Toure, 53. Jaiden Diamantis, 55. Keshav Shrestha, 57. Terence Lynch, 58. Jonny Yull
Coaches: Paul Pezos, Joshua Smith
Team Staff: Justin Graetz