Women's National Premier League SA - Grand Final Match Preview

Promotional Item Block - 600px x 300px - 2018 Grand Final

 

Adelaide City v Metro United

Saturday September 1st 2018, Coopers Stadium

Tickets - $15 Adults, $10 Concession, Children Under 16 FREE

Kick-off: 4:30pm

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/user/FFSANPL

Listen: Radio Italiana 531AM

Adelaide City: 1. Alisa Iino, 2. Alicia Nickolas, 4. Daniela Di Bartolo, 5. Alyce Macauley, 8. Dylan Holmes, 11. Grace Abbey, 12. Georgia Campagnale, 13. Jessica Goldfinch, 15. Bianca Gray, 16. Isobel Dahlen-Flight, 17. Tiarn Powell, 19. Daphne Mcloed, 20. Kendall Jenner (GK), 22. Nicole Roberston, 30. Chelsie Dawber, 33. Nanako Sasaki

Coach: Micheal Hatzipanagiotis, Assistant Coach 1: Paul Pezos, Assistant Coach 2: Miodrag Bogatic, GK Coach: Hamish Wilson, Manager: Seymour Di Bartolo, Technical Director: Andrew Calderbank, Trainer: Frank Coghlan

Metro United WFC: 1. Kelly Barltrop (GK), 2. Ebony Kyriacou, 5. Nicole Calder, 6. Laura Stockdale , 7. Racheal Quigley, 8. Chrissy Panagaris, 9. Roxanne Dodd, 11. Lauren Steer, 12. Rochelle Kuhar, 13. Vanessa Reed, 14. Donna Cockayne, 16. Kelsey Zafiridis, 17. Stella Rigon, 18. Isabella Scalzi, 20. Chanel Todino, 23. Kristy Moore, 24. Laura De Gregorio, 55. Esther Toth

Coach : Marie Spagnoletti, Assistant Coach :  Mayanne Mavra, Manager; Terry Kyriacou, Physic: Andreas Zacharia, Trainer 1: Marcelo Vilches, Trainer 2: Michael Hadaj

Last time they met:

Round 2: Adelaide City 4 – 2 Metro United

Round 9: Metro United 4 – 2 Adelaide City

Round 21: Metro United 2 – 2 Adelaide City

Cup Quarter Finals: Metro United 0 – 2 Adelaide City

Qualifying Final: Metro United 0 – 1 Adelaide City

Match Preview:

These two powerhouses of women’s football will meet for the sixth time this year when they clash at Coopers Stadium on Saturday.

Adelaide City completed the Cup and Grand Final double in 2017 and will be looking to do the same again this year after claiming the 2018 Women’s Premier and State League Cup title earlier this month. 

City qualified for Saturday’s Grand Final after overcoming Metro United only two weeks ago in their qualifying final. A strike from Chelsie Dawber was enough to get the job done on that occasion.

Metro were awarded a second chance after finishing top of the table in the regular season and made the most of the opportunity, thumping West Adelaide 4-1 last Friday at the VALO Football Centre to earn a rematch with their rivals on the big stage.

The clash will see the two most attacking teams in the league do battle, with an astounding total of 149 goals combined – 77 for City and 72 for Metro.

Their five previous encounters have produced a total of 19 goals. With the overall head to head tally for 2018 sitting at 3 wins for City, 1 win for Metro United and a draw.

Michael Hatzipanagiotis’ side boasts the best goal difference in the competition. Daniela Di Bartolo cracked the 20-goal mark for a second consecutive year, Captain Tiarn Powell chipped in with a valuable 17 goals, while Chelsie Dawber managed a solid 13 goals in the same amount of league appearances for her 2018 campaign.

Metro United can credit the majority of their goals to an outstanding individual season from young gun Chrissy Panagaris. A return of 27 goals from 21 matches should well and truly see her on the radar of W-league scouts. Contributions from Racheal Quigley (15) and Stella Rigon (10) notably adding to the attacking prowess of Maria Spagnoletti’s side.

If today’s showdown is anything like their previous encounters, expect to see a physical dual and plenty of goals.