Thomas Perrotta preview the first weekend of the National Premier League Finals Series, proudly brought to you by BORAL.
FIRST ELIMINATION FINAL: METROSTARS VS ADELAIDE CITY
VENUE: TK SHUTTER RESERVE
DATE: FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER 7:00PM
LAST FOUR HEAD-TO-HEAD:
R14 (24/10/20): Adelaide City 1 – 2 MetroStars
R3 (6/3/20): MetroStars 1 – 1 Adelaide City
R21 (10/8/19): MetroStars 4 – 2 Adelaide City
R10 (17/5/19): Adelaide City 1 – 0 MetroStars
The 2020 NPLSA Finals Series kicks off tonight with a huge elimination final double header, with the first seeing third placed MetroStars take on sixth placed Adelaide City at TK Shutter Reserve.
The two sides met only two weeks ago, a match which saw MetroStars claim all three points away from home and extend their unbeaten run against City to three games and almost 18 months.
The home side performed strongly all year and led for a significant portion of the season but stumbled at the final hurdle, as their 2-1 loss to ninth placed Adelaide Blue Eagles last weekend saw them surrender second spot, and the double chance, to Campbelltown City.
Despite finishing outside the top two, MetroStars have proven the toughest side to beat this year at just five losses, equal with Campbelltown, and boasted the league’s most productive attack with 52 goals at a rate of 2.36 a match.
City managed to cling onto their spot in the top six on goal difference thanks to their 1-1 draw with Comets in the final round, staving off the chasing Cumberland United.
Their season was characterised by inconsistent results, which can be drawn from their final home and away record of eight wins, seven draws and seven losses, but it represents a massive improvement by the Club after only just holding their place in the NPLSA in 2019.
While their opponents tonight enter the contest with the most goals scored this season, City can lay claim to the league’s stingiest defence at just 23 conceded (1.05 per game), setting up an exciting contest tonight.
MetroStars line-up: 1. Isaac Carmody (GK), 3. Cohan Morris, 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, 22. Hamish Gow, 23. Christian Esposito, 24. Nahuel Bonada, 30. Alessio Ruggiero, 45. Jayden Spruyt
Coaches: Robert Saraceno, Travis Dodd, Nicholas Bouzalas
Team Staff: Giorgio Capoccia, Joseph Polisena, Peter Terminello, George Laoutaris
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
Match Officials: Daniel Elder, Henry Day, Ian Crossing, Andrew Kite
SECOND ELIMINATION FINAL: CROYDON KINGS VS RAIDERS
VENUE: JACK SMITH PARK
DATE: FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER 7:30PM
LAST FOUR HEAD-TO-HEAD:
R15 (31/10/20): Raiders 2 – 0 Croydon Kings
R4 (13/3/20): Croydon Kings 2 – 1 Raiders
R21 (10/8/19): Croydon Kings 1 – 1 Raiders
R10 (18/5/19): Raiders 5 – 1 Croydon Kings
The second elimination final of the night pits fourth placed Croydon Kings against fifth placed Raiders in a cut-throat contest at Jack Smith Park.
Raiders and the Kings actually faced off last week in a match that served as a potential precursor to the first week of finals, which Raiders won 2-0 to cement themselves in fifth on the ladder and signal their quality to the Kings, who knew they would finish fourth regardless of the outcome.
It has been an impressive season for the Kings, who flirted with the top six for much of the first half of the campaign before winning seven matches in a row between Rounds 6 and 12 and threatening to dethrone Comets at the top.
Ultimately, the Kings slumped to fourth after losing their last three fixtures, but there is little doubt that they have left their mark as a genuine contender come finals time.
Raiders managed to recover from a mid-season slump that saw them slide out of the top six, winning four of their last five games to settle in fifth.
The visitors have found themselves in this position before, having contested an elimination final with MetroStars last season in which they were smashed 4-0, so will be looking to take that extra step further this time round.
Of their most recent encounters Raiders has had the edge over the Kings with two victories to one, but any sport enthusiast knows that form lines tend to be thrown out the window in finals and to expect the unexpected.
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, 16. Paul Pavlou, 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
Raiders line-up: 1. Vasilios Tryfopoulos, 2. Jacob Lever, 3. Nikola Jurkovic, 4. Paul Blefari, 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. Vianne Kurikwimana, 16. Sallu Kamara, 17. Thomas Brown, 21. Lucas Cuschieri, 23. James Odenwalder, 25. Mark Ulaj, 44. Kalilou Kamara, 99. Emanuel Philip
Coaches: Nikica Kuzman, Terry Westwood
Team Staff: Lisa Feleppa
Match Officials: Daniel Cook, Daniel Goodwin, Nick Elagin, Jack Robinson
FIRST SEMI-FINAL: CAMPBELLTOWN CITY VS ADELAIDE COMETS
VENUE: STEVE WOODCOCK SPORTS CENTRE
DATE: FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER 7:30PM
LAST FOUR HEAD-TO-HEAD:
R9 (19/9/20): Campbelltown City 3 – 2 Adelaide Comets
R18 (18/7/20): Adelaide Comets 0 – 1 Campbelltown City
GF (14/9/19): Campbelltown City 3 – 0 Adelaide Comets
2SF (31/8/19): Campbelltown City 2 – 0 Adelaide Comets
The biggest match of the round comes in the form of the first leg of the semi-final, as Adelaide Comets and Campbelltown City face off once again in a repeat of the 2019 finals series.
Campbelltown progressed to the Grand Final after the two ties before defeating Comets 3-0 in a commanding victory to secure the Championship, a match which this season’s minor premiers will be eager to avenge in the 2020 edition.
Comets have held their place at the league summit since mid-season, boosted by a seven-match winning run from Round 19 to Round 8, but only won four of their last eight fixtures to survive challenges from MetroStars, the Kings and Campbelltown.
Their 14 wins were the most earned by any side this season, while their goals scored and conceded were both ranked second in the league to hand them the greatest goal difference over the minor round.
However, Campbelltown have proven the greatest thorn in their side in 2020, losing both of the fixtures between the sides to make their opponents tonight the only side they failed to beat in the entire home and away season.
Campbelltown can count themselves lucky that MetroStars managed to fumble their golden opportunity to secure second place, if not top spot, and left the door open for them to snatch a double chance position.
In truth, they have consistently been one of the most impressive sides this season and have only lost twice in their last 14 outings after a slow start, developing a penchant for scoring late goals.
Their three wins to end the season, in addition to their excellent recent record against Comets, should hold them in good stead for tonight and set up another classic finals encounter between the two clubs.
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, 13. Joel De Donatis, 14. Adam Piscioneri, 15. Antony Piscioneri, 16. Daniel Mullen, 20. Nicholas Harpas (GK), 23. Jake Halliday
Coaches: Iain Fyfe, Corey Artone, Leslie Pogliacomi
Team Staff: Panfilo Ciccocioppo, David Cavaiuolo, Elio Bria
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
Match Officials: Isabella Blaess, Cole Davy, Alexander Diamon, Garry Powers