ELIMINATION FINAL:
West Adelaide vs Metro United WFC
Venue: VALO Football Centre
Date: Friday 25 September 6:00PM
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Round 5: Metro United 0 – 4 West Adelaide
Round 12: West Adelaide 2 – 0 Metro United
Week One of the 2020 WNPL Finals kicks off tonight at 6:00PM, as third placed West Adelaide take on fourth placed Metro United in a cut-throat knockout final at VALO Football Centre.
West were one of the league’s best sides this season, winning nine of their 14 fixtures and remaining in the mix for the premiership for the majority of the year.
They were unfortunately unable to hold onto second entering the final round, stumbling to a draw against NTC and suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of City in the last two weeks.
Despite the disappointing results that closed out their season, they will be confident entering this match given that they’ve had the better of Metro in both of their encounters this season.
Metro booked their tickets to the finals series with relative ease this season, winning seven of their eight matches against the sides that occupied the bottom half of the table.
Their win against City in Round 1 was notably the only time the premiers were bested this season, which was a major boon for Metro early in the season.
Narrowly missing out on finals football last year after reaching the Grand Final in 2018 will no doubt have spurred Metro on to achieve what they have this season.
Although their record against West this season makes for grim reading, they will be eager to capitalise on the slight dip in form their opponents suffered in the latter part of the season.
QUALIFYING FINAL:
Adelaide City vs Salisbury Inter
Venue: VALO Football Centre
Date: Friday 25 September 8:15PM
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Round 4: Salisbury Inter 1 – 8 Adelaide City
Round 11: Adelaide City 2 – 1 Salisbury Inter
WNPL Cup Semi Final: Adelaide City 3 – 0 Salisbury Inter
It seemed a mere formality when Adelaide City were crowned WNPL Premiers for the season, such was their form all throughout 2020.
Scoring 25 more goals than any other side while also boasting the league’s meanest defence is always going to set you up nicely for higher honours, and that is exactly what City were able to do: their final record reads 13 wins and one loss with a goal difference of 61.
Their attack has once again fired on all cylinders this season, with Chelsie Dawber’s remarkable 31 goals in 11 matches ably supported by co-captains Dylan Holmes and Tiarn Powell (10) and Daniela Di Bartolo (7).
City’s first win over Inter this season was an utter demolition, but their recent encounters have been much closer and more reflective of the strength of their opponents.
Despite slipping up in the run home, Inter managed to secure second place ahead of West and book a date with the competition’s powerhouse.
Losses to City and NTC threatened to derail their season but Inter came home strong with huge wins over Fulham (7 – 0), Comets (6 – 0) and Metro (6 – 2) to boost their goal difference ahead of West and ultimately leapfrog them at the death.
Inter will take confidence from their perfect end to the season, particularly against fellow finals side Metro, and their improved performances against City; their Round 11 loss was the only time City were held to less than four goals after Round 1.