Match of the Round
Adelaide City vs South Adelaide
7:30 pm | Friday 13 April | Adelaide City Park
Last Meeting: (11/7/21) Round 21 | Adelaide City 0 v South Adelaide 0
Adelaide City will look to increase their three-point lead at the top of the RAA NPLSA as they face a currently struggling South Adelaide side at Adelaide City Park tonight. Remaining the only undefeated team in the league, Adelaide City’s Championship defence season couldn’t have started any better, winning six out of the first nine games, while only drawing three games. The team has continued to improve each week, winning four of their last five league fixtures.
Last week saw Adelaide City become one of only two RAA NPLSA teams to qualify for the Quarter Finals of the Australia Cup South Australian qualifiers as they beat fellow RAA NPLSA team WT Birkalla 5-0, which saw Matthew Dawber score his first goal for the club. In Round Nine of the RAA NPLSA season, Adelaide City recorded their sixth win of the season as they beat Sturt Lions 3-0, with Kur Kur recording his seventh of the season, Aladin Irabona scoring his fourth, while new signing Ayom Ayom Majok scored his third in four league games.
Adelaide City still holds the best-attacking record in the competition scoring 24 goals in nine games, only failing to score less than three goals on three occasions this season. This is a perfect opportunity for Adelaide City to further increase their goal difference in Round 10 as they face a South Adelaide team that has not kept a clean sheet since Round Two. Adelaide City historically has a great record against this week’s opponents, as South Adelaide is yet to beat Adelaide City in any competition since they entered the RAA NPLSA in 2014, only drawing on three occasions.
South Adelaide’s run of bad form continued as they entered Round 10, experiencing a run of six league games without a win. Although this bad patch of form, South Adelaide still sits in seventh only three points separating them and sixth, indicating how tightly contested the top six race in 2022 is going to be.
In Round Nine South Adelaide was beaten 4-2 by then bottom and lowest-scoring team Cumberland United at home, providing their opponents with only their second win of the season. This bad run of form continued into the Australia Cup South Australian qualifiers as they were knocked out of the cup by State League One highflyers Modbury Jets 4-3. A positive from their last two performances is resurgence of star striker Jonathon Rideout who has now scored in his last two matches, regaining his early season form that led his team to three consecutive wins.
South Adelaide will be eager to erase this run of form very soon as they search to regain their place within the top six before we enter the halfway point of the season.
Adelaide City line-up: Mohammad Mekawir, Ayom Ayom Majok, 4. Matthew Halliday, 6. Bradley Corbo, 7. Daniel Bressan, 10. Nicholas Bucco, 11. Kur Kur, 14. Aladin Irabona, 17. Thomas Brown, 19. Vianne Kurikwimana, 20. Charlie Devereux, 22. JUAN GUTIERREZ, 23. Jai King-Byrne, 27. Matthew Dawber, 33. Dakota Ochsenham (GK)
Coaches: Paul Pezos, George Tsonis
Team Staff: Fabian Garuccio, Luis Fernandez Astudillo, Nik Hagicostas
South Adelaide line-up: 1. Ryan Veitch (GK), 6. Liam Wooding, 7. Melad Ahmad, 8. Brett Rayner, 9. Ryan Wood, 10. Jonathon Rideout, 11. Alexander Rideout, 13. Jai Conroy, 14. Donovan Pollock, 15. Jackson Stephens, 18. Jack Rudge, 23. Jack Ellis, 24. Daniel Evans, 26. Divan Verdoorn, 40. Taine Muscroft
Coaches: Andrew Calderbank, Matthew Huntley, Anthony Rideout, Fraser McLean
Team Staff: Benjamin Mcdougall, Jacqueline Wingate
Croydon FC vs Campbelltown City
8:15 pm | Friday 13 May | Jack Smith Park
Last Meeting: (3/9/21) Round 20 | Croydon FC 1 v Campbelltown City 0
Croydon FC looks to bounce back to winning ways after experiencing a run of only one win in their last four league games. During this period Croydon FC have only lost once and conceded twice, however the team has dropped to fifth after dropping points on three occasions in the last four games, now sitting six points away from Adelaide City at the top of the RAA NPLSA. In their last league fixture, Croydon FC experienced only their second defeat of the season as Adelaide Olympic beat them by one goal. Further heartache was experienced as they were knocked out of the Australia Cup South Australian Qualifiers Round of 16 by State League One Side West Adelaide, recording back-to-back 1-0 defeats. A win in Round Ten will see Croydon FC overtake opponents Campbelltown City who sit in third. Croydon FC will be without star player Patrick Caraccia after he was sent off in their Round of 16 defeat.
Nine games without a defeat in all competitions, this is the extraordinary run that Campbelltown City has been on in recent months which now see them sit in third. Campbelltown City continued their streak over Adelaide Comets in Round Nine as they beat their rivals 2-1 with Daniel Mullen scoring his first of the season, while Joshua Barresi scored his second in two weeks with his goal earning him the Goal of the Week. Campbelltown City became only one of two RAA NPLSA teams to qualify for the Quarterfinals as they beat Adelaide Olympic 4-3 in a memorable game in the Australia Cup South Australian qualifiers. Adam Piscioneri returns to the squad after being sent off against Adelaide Comets in Round Nine, however, will be without goalkeeper Alex Woodlands this weekend, which could see young keeper Matthew Centofanti make his first start of the season.
Croydon Kings line-up: 1. Gianni Tramontin, 2. John Panagaris, 3. Raffaele De Lucia, 4. Lawand Hasan, 5. Luke Klimek (C), 7. Sebastian Goode, 8. Adam Martinello, 9. Dion Kirk, 10. Antoni Trimboli, 11. Luis Benedetti, 14. Peter Mercurio, 15. Froribert Niyonkuru, 16. Kristos Stefanopoulos, 17. Giuseppe Macheda, 18. Jarrod Brazzale, 19. Benson Nsegetse, 20. Jared Clark, 21. John Hall (GK)
Coaches: Travis Dodd, Latham Byfield, Adam Vizzari
Team Staff: Giuseppe Catalano, Joshua Avery
Campbelltown City line-up: 2. Shaun Harvey (C), 5. James Boffa, 6. Adam D'Agostino, 7. Joel Allwright, 8. Alexander Mullen, 9. Marc Marino, 10. Luigi Ditroia, 12. Nicholas Francese, 14. Adam Piscioneri, 15. Antony Piscioneri, 16. Daniel Mullen, 18. Yohei Matsumoto, 19. Joshua Barresi, 20. Matthew Centofanti (GK), 21. Jordan Maricic, 23. Jake Halliday
Coaches: Michael Matricciani, Adrian DAloia, brenton hiern, Edward Scalzi
Team Staff: Agelo Kapnistis, Liam Oates, Corey Artone
Cumberland United vs Adelaide Olympic
3:00 pm | Saturday 14 May | A.A Bailey Reserve
Last Meeting: (10/7/21) Round 12, Adelaide Olympic 1 v Cumberland United 1
For the first time since Round Two, Cumberland United head into the next Round not sitting at the bottom of the ladder after the side beat South Adelaide in Round Nine 4-2. Although their devastating start to the season, Cumberland United continued to show great ambitions to improve each week, which culminated with a great period of form which has seen them win two out of their last three. In their Round Nine win, Harry Thannhauser recorded his third win of the season, Thomas Visser scored twice, while Harry Thomas’s goal earned him a nomination for Goal of the Week. A win could see Cumberland United exit the bottom two if results go their way.
Adelaide Olympic recorded their third win of the season as the Fausto Erba’s goal earned his side a 1-0 win over Croydon FC to take them only three points away from the top six. Adelaide Olympic will be devasted not to have made the Quarter Finals of Australia Cup South Australian qualifiers after they lost 4-3 to Campbelltown City, marking the first year since 2017 that they have not qualified for the last eight. It will be an emotional game in Round Ten for those at Adelaide Olympic as the ever-loyal striker Fausto Erba will be departing the club as he embarks on a new adventure. A win could see them jump into the top six for the first time since Round Three.
Cumberland United line-up: Harry Thannhauser, 1. Luke Schoen (GK), 2. Jack Schoen, 4. Tom Dittmar, 5. Sam Carmichael, 7. Rocco Visconte, 14. Cohan Morris, 16. Brayden Micallef, 19. Lansana Smith, 20. Stavros Bakopanos, 22. Minsung Park, 24. Amir Ibrahim, 27. Harry Thomas, 35. Thomas Visser
Adelaide Olympic line-up: 1. Lewis Moss (GK), 3. Paul Wilson, 4. Benkert Abdija, 5. Adam Leombruno, 6. Kristin Konstandopoulos, 7. Jason Konstandopoulos, 9. Christos Pounendis, 10. Dylan D'Agostino, 13. Rastko Ljujic, 14. Fausto Erba (C), 15. Michael Cittadini, 20. Clifford Maina, 24. Panagiotis Manidakis
Coaches: Yianni Stamatelopoulos, George Konstandopoulos, Bill Nastou
Team Staff: Robert Muscio, Marcus Gentile, Sumin Kim
FK Beograd vs WT Birkalla
3:00 pm | Saturday 14 May | Frank Mitchell Park
Last Meeting: (14/4/22) Australia Cup South Australian Qualifiers Round 2, WT Birkalla 1 v FK Beograd 0
We are treated to the 2021 State League One Grand Final rematch this Saturday as FK Beograd host WT Birkalla at Frank Mitchell Park. FK Beograd has had a mixed start to life in the RAA NPLSA which has seen them win three, draw one and lose five in their opening nine games. Although picking up form between Round Three to Round Seven which saw them lose only once, FK Beograd’s form in recent weeks has dropped off, losing to Adelaide Comets and most recently to Adelaide United FC as they were beaten 5-2. After starting the season being goalless in his opening four games, attacker Joshua Mori has found his form for his new club, scoring six goals in his last five games, including two against Adelaide United FC in Round Nine. FK Beograd will hope Mori’s form can lead them to their fourth victory as they face their 2021 rivals.
WT Birkalla will be hoping to change their fortunes very soon as they now sit bottom of the RAA NPLSA ladder without a win since Round Two. Although only winning one of their opening nine games, WT Birkalla’s defensive performance has been strong thus far, with the team conceding the sixth least in the competition, with only three goals conceded in their last four league games. However, their attacking output has let the team down in recent weeks, only scoring one goal in their last five games which sees the team hold the worst attacking output record in the competition. Beating FK Beograd in the Australia Cup South Australian Qualifiers in Round Two, WT Birkalla will be hoping to replicate this as they search to remove themselves from the bottom of the RAA NPLSA.
FK Beograd line-up: 5. Jacob Butler-Bowdon, 6. Paul Radice, 9. Joshua Mori, 10. Thomas Love, 11. Evan Kounavelis, 12. Antonios Natsiopoulos, 13. Deale Chamberlain (GK), 14. Isaac Mullen, 15. Massimo Falco, 16. Ninko Beric, 17. Chahine Noujaim, 18. Stanisa Velinov, 19. Filimon Asefa, 20. Jordan Pudler, 21. Nikola Jokic, 22. Akok Arok, 23. Cooper Nunn
Coaches: Damian Mori, Jace Cummins, Scott Parr
Team Staff: Constantinos Tsaconas, Sachin Prakash Kumar
WT Birkalla line-up: 1. Nicholas Woolley, 2. George Mannion, 3. james polli, 4. Christopher Ashwood (C), 7. Stefan Simic, 8. Jake Monaco, 9. Calvin Mbarga, 10. Austin Ayoubi, 11. jonathon d'arrigo, 15. Christian D'Angelo, 17. David Makridis, 19. Nathan Munro, 20. Nicholas Harpas (GK), 21. Nicholas Harpas, 24. Noah Benouzekri, 91. Yasmin Sudic
Coaches: Jason Trimboli, George Katsaneris, Carmine Lauriello
Team Staff: Roger Williamson, Henry Lambert
Adelaide United FC vs Adelaide Comets
3:00 pm | Saturday 14 May | State Centre for Football
Last Meeting: (11/9/21) Round 21, Adelaide United FC 1 v Adelaide Comets 2
Adelaide United FC will be eager to build upon what was a strong performance against FK Beograd in Round Nine as they take on Adelaide Comets at State Centre for Football Saturday afternoon. Beating FK Beograd 5-2 in Round Nine, Adelaide United FC cemented themselves as one of the premier attacking outfits in the competition, holding the second-best attacking output record with 22 goals in nine games. Asad Kasumovic has found his form in his last two games, scoring two, while Luka Jovanovic demonstrated his incredible abilities in front of goals, scoring twice in their win against FK Beograd. A win would be vital for Adelaide United FC as they look to distance themselves from the bottom two before heading into the second half of the season.
After starting the season eight games undefeated, Adelaide Comets experienced their first defeat of the season in Round Nine as Campbelltown City beat them 2-1. Their Round Nine defeat to Campbelltown also marked the first time this league season that Adelaide Comets conceded more than one goal. After a week off, Adelaide Comets will hope to be refreshed and ready to close the three-point gap between themselves and league leaders Adelaide City. Still holding the best defensive record in the competition with only six goals conceded, Adelaide Comets have a difficult task of withholding an Adelaide United FC attack said has scored two or more in all of their last seven games.
Adelaide United FC line-up: Calum Campbell, 1. Steven Hall, 19. Yaya Dukuly, 37. Jonny Yull, 44. Arbi Mollas, 51. Panashe Madanha, 52. Giuseppe Bovalina, 53. Kane Vidmar, 55. Ethan Alagich, 61. Bailey O'Neil, 62. Fabian Talladira, 66. Nestor Irankunda, 77. Asad Kasumovic, 97. Luka Jovanovic, 99. Musa Toure
Coaches: Airton Andrioli, Elvis Markov, Vlado Blazeka, Joe Verringer
Team Staff: Will Mockridge, William Cutts, Jonathan Norodom, Katrina Smith
Adelaide Comets line-up: 1. Julian Torresan (GK), 5. Adam Le Cornu, 6. Francesco Pangallo, 8. Ryan Yates, 10. Anthony Mavrolambados, 11. Thomas Briscoe, 14. Nathan Andijanto, 16. Stelios Zacharakis, 18. Thomas Giannakopoulos, 21. Nikolas Ikonomopoulos, 22. Allan Welsh (C), 23. Scott Nagel, 24. Lachlan Stead, 77. Augustus Williams
Coaches: Barney Smith, John Falidis, Peter Eleftherakis, Andreas Wiens
Team Staff: Evangelo Katsambis, Emma Gericke, Elsie Kenny, Andrew Furner, Ilias Tsakiris
MetroStars vs Sturt Lions
3:30 pm | Saturday 14 May | TK Shutter Reserve
Last Meeting: (14/4/22) Australia Cup South Australian Qualifiers Round 2, Sturt Lions 2 v MetroStars 3
MetroStars look to continue their great run of form as they face Sturt Lions for the second time in a month. Having already played each other this year, as both teams faced off in Round Two of the Australia Cup South Australian Qualifiers, MetroStars currently have bragging rights after winning that encounter as Phil Cash’s 90th-minute goal sealed a 3-2 win. On a two-game winning streak in the league after beating Adelaide United FC and WT Birkalla, MetroStars will be devasted to have missed the opportunity of entering the Quarter Finals of Australia Cup South Australian Qualifiers as Playford City beat them with a 90th-minute penalty in the Round of 16. Only two points off second, three points would be vital for MetroStars’ early ambitions.
Having struggled in recent weeks, Sturt Lions have only won one of their last five games in all competitions, which has seen them drop valuable points against top-six rivals. Currently sitting in sixth, a loss could potentially see the team fall out of the top six. In their last outing, Sturt Lions lost 3-0 to league leaders Adelaide City, marking their fourth goalless performance of the season. Although the bad run of form, Sturt Lions have shown their great abilities to secure victories, with the team winning four times this season, scoring more than three in all those games. Sturt Lions will hope this scoring form can return this weekend as they look for their fifth win of the season.
MetroStars line-up: 1. Isaac Carmody, 2. Connor O'rielly, 4. Justin Davis, 5. Timothy Henderson, 6. Paul Blefari, 7. Hamish Gow, 8. Rocky Callisto, 9. Thomas Strain, 10. Anthony Solagna (C), 11. Ariath Piol, 12. Alessio Melisi, 14. Philip Cash, 15. Nicholas Pedicini, 16. Francesco Schimizzi, 17. Jackson Fortunatow, 18. Fabian Barbiero, 19. Cooper O'donnell, 20. Luke Ostbye (GK), 21. Cameron Woodfin, 22. Jackson Walls, 23. Christian Esposito, 26. Ren Nagamatsu
Coaches: Robert Saraceno, Nicholas Bouzalas, Adam Van Dommele, Michael Rende
Team Staff: Giorgio Capoccia, Joseph Polisena, Patrick Pike, George Laoutaris
Sturt Lions line-up: 1. James Klappers (GK), 2. Michael Marrone, 3. Daniel Guastella, 4. Jacob Atkinson, 6. Jack Dawson, 7. Ben Woollard, 8. Caden Yates, 9. Gonzalo Rodriguez, 10. Alexander Sortini, 11. Samed Altundag, 12. Tyreece Conway, 13. William Plush, 14. Zack Gomez, 15. Akira Kobaishi, 16. Samuel Voigt, 17. Jonathan Fusco (C), 18. Jack Locke, 19. Luke Fusco, 20. Brandon Centofanti, 21. Jed Gauci, 22. Toby Nelson
Coaches: Lino Fusco, Frank Tibaldi, Gregory Videon, Michael Harkness
Team Staff: Ivan Piovesan, Logan Stevens, Matthew Flounders
State League One
State League One football returns for Round Ten with six must-see games. We take a quick look at some of the exciting matches this weekend.
League leaders Modbury Jets are back in action as they look to increase their four-point lead at the top of the State League One as they face Adelaide Blue Eagles at Marden Sports Complex. Adelaide Blue Eagles are currently on a two-game winning streak after beating the bottom two sides Adelaide Hills and Adelaide University SC. Currently sitting in fifth, a win could potentially see Adelaide Blue Eagles take fourth place if other results go in their favour. Modbury Jets almost faced their first defeat of the season in Round Nine as Adelaide Victory held a 2-0 lead over the league leaders until two second-half goals by Josh Farrell and Liam Mccabe saved a point. Modbury Jets qualified for the Quarter Finals of the Australia Cup South Australian Qualifiers after beating RAA NPLSA side, South Adelaide 4-3. They will be without captain Jesse Francesca who received a red card in their match against South Adelaide and joint top goal scorer Josh Farrell who has departed the club.
We are also treated to the top two defensive teams in State League One facing off as Para Hills Knights host Adelaide Victory at The Paddocks. Para Hills Knights who currently sit in second are eager to close the four-point gap with Modbury Jets as they search for their seventh win of the season. Para Hills Knights have won four out of their last five games, with their last win coming against Adelaide University SC as they beat them 4-1. The team has only conceded nine goals in nine games to start the season. Adelaide Victory has been a very strong side this season, that almost all teams that have played them haven’t been able to break down. Currently sitting in eighth, Adelaide Victory has only won one and lost once this season, while holding six teams to draws. Only conceding eight goals thus far in eight games, the team have only scored nine goals showing their trouble finding the back of the net and securing three points this season. Three points are vital for both clubs’ ambitions for this season.
State League One football continues as Playford City faces West Adelaide at Ramsay Park, while Adelaide Hills travels to West Beach Parks Football centre to take on Fulham United FC, Adelaide University SC takes on Adelaide Croatia Raiders and Eastern United does battle with Port Adelaide at State Centre for Football Sunday afternoon.
State League Two
Vipers FC looks to continue their dominant run of form as they take on Western Strikers who look to regain a place in the top six. Vipers FC has not lost a game of football since the 26th of February in which they have won four, drew three in the league and have made the Quarter Finals of Australia Cup South Australian Qualifiers. In their last league fixture, Vipers FC recorded a 4-2 win over Pontian Eagles SC 4-2, then beating State League One Side, Port Adelaide, 1-0 in the Australia Cup South Australian Qualifiers Round of 16. A win could see the team enter the top three if other results go in their favour. Western Striker’s first season back in State League two has not started the way they would have wanted as they currently sit in eighth with only three wins in nine games. The team has looked much stronger in recent weeks, only losing one of their last four games, with their most recent win coming in Round Nine against Seaford Rangers as they beat them 2-1.
Pontian Eagles SC host Northern Demons at Smith Partners Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as we get to see the league’s top two leading scorers in Anthony Dimas and Yiannis Nestoras face off for the first time this season. Pontian Eagles SC are looking to regain form after experiencing two consecutive defeats, with the most recent coming against Vipers FC as they lost 4-2 in Round Nine. Currently sitting outside the top six on goal difference, a win will see Pontian Eagles overtake Northern Demons in fifth. After experiencing a three-game winning streak that almost saw the team enter the top two, Northern Demons have now lost their last two games, losing to fellow promotion hunters Vipers FC and most recently Salisbury United, losing 3-1. Now seven points from the top spot, Northern Demons will be desperate to pick up their fifth win of the season as they look to close the gap before entering the second half of the season.
In other State League Two action sees bottom side Gawler Eagles FC battle league leaders Adelaide Cobras, Modbury Vista host Noarlunga United at Newspot Stadium, Cove FC travels to Karingal Reserve to face Seaford Rangers and Salisbury United face Mount Barker United SC at Summit Sport and Recreation Park.