Round Two of the RAA National Premier Leagues SA gets underway on Friday night, with MetroStars and Cumberland United kicking things off under the lights at TK Shutter Reserve.
MetroStars vs Cumberland United
Venue: TK Shutter Reserve
Date: Friday 16 April, 8:15 PM
Round 2 of NPL action for 2021 kicks off tonight, as MetroStars host Cumberland United under lights at TK Shutter Reserve in what promises to be an exciting contest.
MetroStars opened their season with a 1-1 draw at reigning minor premier Comets, which represents a solid result on paper, but they’d be disappointed to have not snatched victory after playing against ten men for the majority of the second half.
Cumberland had no such issues in front of goal in their game against Olympic, with a Thomas Briscoe hat-trick netting them a comfortable 3-0 victory to end the round as the first ladder leaders of the season.
The hosts will be keen to grab their first three points of the season but will have to work hard to earn it if Cumberland, and Briscoe, bring their shooting boots tonight.
MetroStars line-up: 1. Isaac Carmody (GK), 2. Oliver Zafiridis, 3. Luke Frangakis, 4. Justin Davis, 5. Timothy Henderson, 7. Michael Daloisio, 8. Rocky Callisto, 9. Thomas Strain, 10. Anthony Solagna (C), 11. Ariath Piol, 12. Alessio Melisi, 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. Gusmao Naidoo, 26. Stefan Cali, 45. Jackson O'Donnell (GK), 68. Kalilou Kamara
Coaches: Robert Saraceno, Nicholas Bouzalas, Adam Van Dommele, Michael Rende
Team Staff: Joseph Polisena, Patrick Pike, George Laoutaris
Cumberland United line-up: Jack Schoen (C), 1. Luke Schoen (GK), 3. Joshua Harvey, 4. Declan Gray, 5. Sam Carmichael, 6. David Signore, 8. Harry Thannhauser, 9. JUAN GUTIERREZ, 10. Jumar Oakley, 11. Thomas Briscoe, 15. Ryan Wood, 16. Brayden Micallef, 17. Tom Dittmar, 20. Stavros Bakopanos
Coaches: Neil Young, Mathew Balopitos, Matthew Prodanovski, Marijan Kolar
Team Staff: Jody Loomes, Sean Bushby
Adelaide United vs Croydon Kings
Venue: Marden Sports Complex
Date: Saturday 17 April, 1:30 PM
The early kick-off on Saturday afternoon sees two sides face off in an attempt to rebound from their Round 1 losses in the shape of United and Kings.
The Young Reds fought hard against promoted side South Adelaide but were ultimately undone by a penalty and injury-time strike in a 2-0 loss to the league’s new boys.
The visitors suffered a similar fate to their hosts last week, tasting defeat against another promoted side, Sturt Lions, on their home turf thanks to an injury-time winner that sealed a 2-1 loss.
As two clubs searching for their first win of the season, both United and Kings will be eager to atone for their results last week and hit the ground running at Marden Sports Complex tomorrow.
Adelaide United FC line-up: 14. Domenic Costanzo, 19. Yaya Dukuly, 33. Dakota Ochsenham (GK), 35. Yared Abetew, 37. Jonny Yull, 41. Daniel Bressan, 42. Fergus Lynch, 43. Alexandar Popovic, 44. Arbi Mollas, 48. Michael Cittadini, 51. Binyam Kebede, 53. Jason Konstandopoulos, 64. Adam Leombruno
Coaches: Airton Andrioli, Elvis Markov
Team Staff: Justin Graetz, Katrina Smith
Croydon Kings line-up: 1. Gianni Tramontin, 2. John Panagaris, 3. Filimon Asefa, 4. Joseph Coppola, 5. Luke Klimek (C), 6. Christopher Vivian, 7. Antoni Trimboli, 8. Adam Martinello, 9. Nathan Munro, 10. Rocco Visconte, 11. Luis Benedetti, 12. Paul Pavlou, 13. Foribert Niyonkuru, 14. Peter Mercurio, 15. Manni Katopodis, 17. Tatenda Nyaruwe, 18. Jarrod Brazzale, 19. Chikondi NYIRENDA, 20. Jared Clark, 21. John Hall (GK), 23. patrick caraccia
Coaches: Travis Dodd, Latham Byfield, Adam Vizzari
Team Staff: Mario Catalano, Joshua Avery
Adelaide Croatia Raiders vs Adelaide Comets
Venue: Croatian Sports Centre
Date: Saturday 17 April, 3:00 PM
Raiders got their season off to a winning start last weekend and will be hoping to make it two from two as they host perennial title contenders Comets tomorrow afternoon.
The home side won their Monday night fixture against Blue Eagles in dramatic fashion, with a 91st-minute penalty converted by new signing Dion Kirk snatching all three points at the death.
Comets were held to a 1-1 draw at home by MetroStars but required a resolute defensive performance to cling on for a point after having a man sent off early in the second half.
With the majority of their premiership-winning squad remaining intact, Comets will want to avoid a winless opening two rounds but have to get past another tough outfit in the form of Raiders to do so.
Adelaide Croatia Raiders line-up: Harley Gepp, Lansana Smith, Kelvin Kamburu, Massimo Falco, Omari Didero, Julian Vella, Jaxson Bullen, Dylan Pickert, Nicholas Munro (C) (GK), Thanasis Lesi, Vianne Kurikwimana, David Carosi, Jackson Walls, Dion Kirk, Aaron Bannister, Mark Ulaj, Jacob Williams, Matthew Mullen, Nathan Hancock
Coaches: Terry Westwood, Steven Hughes, Michael Paleka
Team Staff: Antonio Vella, Lisa Feleppa
Adelaide Comets line-up: 1. Julian Torresan, 3. Manley Barnett, 4. Nathan Dimou, 5. Adam Le Cornu, 6. Jack Bladen, 7. John Karatzas, 8. Ryan Yates, 10. Anthony Mavrolambados, 11. Jayden LoBasso, 12. Harry Keramidas, 14. Nathan Andijanto, 15. Konstandinos Tsalamangos, 16. Ninko Beric, 18. Thomas Giannakopoulos, 19. Jaiden Diamantis, 21. Nikolas Ikonomopoulos, 22. Allan Welsh (C), 23. Scott Nagel, 31. Daniel Vaughan, 77. Chris Christofilos
Coaches: Barney Smith, James Guffogg, Matthew Bates
Team Staff: Evangelo Katsambis, Emma Gericke
Sturt Lions vs Campbelltown City
Venue: West Beach Parks Football Centre
Date: Saturday 17 April, 3:00 PM
Life in the top tier couldn’t have started much better for the Lions but their quest for a second win on the spin faces a significant hurdle, as the reigning champions will be paying them a visit.
A fortuitous injury-time winner saw the hosts claim all three points over Kings on their home turf to announce their return to the NPL after two years in State League One.
Campbelltown’s blockbuster season opener against City at Steve Woodcock Sports Centre didn’t quite go to plan as they were unable to overcome their opponents’ lead, falling to a 2-1 home defeat.
The visitors certainly have a point to prove tomorrow after their championship defence got off to a shaky start, but they’d be wise to not take the Lions lightly.
Sturt Lions line-up: Luke Fusco, Anthony Taylor, James Klappers, Daniel Guastella, Jacob Atkinson, Daniel Snobl, Cale Nagle, Toby Nelson, Tom van der Hoeven, Michael Gravas, Valentino Esposito, Cooper Mullins, Ben Woollard, Alexander Sortini, Samuel Voigt, Oliver Sigley, Jonathan Fusco, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Samed Altundag, Caden Yates, Akira Kobaishi, Brandon Centofanti
Coaches: Lino Fusco, Frank Tibaldi, Gregory Videon, Michael Harkness
Team Staff: Ivan Piovesan, Jakson Messent, Andrew Ross
Campbelltown City line-up: 1. Jamie Signorello, 2. Shaun Harvey (C), 3. Liam Miller, 4. Connor Centofanti, 5. Julian Oscar Ionni, 7. Joel Allwright, 8. Alexander Mullen, 9. Marc Marino, 10. Luigi Ditroia, 12. Nicholas Francese, 14. Adam Piscioneri, 15. Antony Piscioneri, 16. Daniel Mullen, 17. Adam De Ieso, 20. Nicholas Harpas (GK), 23. Jake Halliday
Coaches: Iain Fyfe, Leslie Pogliacomi, Corey Artone, Ali Sadick
Team Staff: Agelo Kapnistis, Ryan Hanlon, David Cavaiuolo
Adelaide City vs Adelaide Blue Eagles
Venue: Adelaide City Park
Date: Saturday 17 April, 5:00 PM
City announced themselves as one of the teams to beat with a commanding display in Round 1 and face off against Blue Eagles, who will be desperate to avenge their dramatic loss.
The NPL was put on notice last week as City engineered a commanding victory at the home of last year’s champions Campbelltown, with a first half double to Nicholas Bucco enough to seal the points.
Blue Eagles, meanwhile, were desperately unlucky to not come away with a point after conceding a penalty in injury time against Raiders that broke the deadlock and made it 1-0.
City will be looking to make their mark in the league and announce themselves as bona fide contenders in 2021, while their opponents won’t want to let the season get away from them early on.
Adelaide City will be celebrating the life of Charlie Di Bartolo at the conclusion of their match at Adelaide City Park on Saturday and will wear black armbands in memory of the City legend who sadly passed away last year.
Adelaide City line-up: 1. Alexander Woodlands (GK), 4. Matthew Halliday, 5. Zakariah Waters, 6. Bradley Corbo, 7. Nicholas Harpas, 8. Joseph Costa, 10. Nicholas Bucco, 11. Charlie Devereux, 13. Lachlan Barr, 14. Aladin Irabona, 20. Kur Kur, 21. Cristian Aloisi, 22. Noah Benouzekri, 23. Jai King-Byrne, 26. Sebastian Scalzi, 45. Markus Orchard, 77. Asad Kasumovic
Coaches: Paul Pezos, Stavros Gelekis, Angelo Paul, Edward Scalzi
Team Staff: Fabian Garuccio
Adelaide Blue Eagles line-up: Yohei Matsumoto, Hamish Anderson, Isaac Mullen, Stefan Gluscevic, Stanisa Velinov, Dillon Howie, Nikolas Harpas, Caleb Evans, Beau Ieraci, Taki Tsialafos, Tomas Maricic, Anik Warnakulasuriya, Paul Reilly, Raffaele De Lucia, Christian Sotira, Liam Mccabe, Christian D'Angelo, Alex Tsavalas, Hamish Mccabe, Dylan D'Agostino, Yuta Chinen
Coaches: VOJISLAV GLUSCEVIC, Steven Melling
Team Staff: James Keating, Josh Smith
Adelaide City line-up: 1. Alexander Woodlands (GK), 4. Matthew Halliday, 5. Zakariah Waters, 6. Bradley Corbo, 7. Nicholas Harpas, 8. Joseph Costa, 10. Nicholas Bucco, 11. Charlie Devereux, 13. Lachlan Barr, 14. Aladin Irabona, 20. Kur Kur, 21. Cristian Aloisi, 22. Noah Benouzekri, 23. Jai King-Byrne, 26. Sebastian Scalzi, 45. Markus Orchard, 77. Asad Kasumovic
Coaches: Paul Pezos, Stavros Gelekis, Angelo Paul, Edward Scalzi
Team Staff: Fabian Garuccio
Adelaide Blue Eagles line-up: Yohei Matsumoto, Hamish Anderson, Isaac Mullen, Stefan Gluscevic, Stanisa Velinov, Dillon Howie, Nikolas Harpas, Caleb Evans, Beau Ieraci, Taki Tsialafos, Tomas Maricic, Anik Warnakulasuriya, Paul Reilly, Raffaele De Lucia, Christian Sotira, Liam Mccabe, Christian D'Angelo, Alex Tsavalas, Hamish Mccabe, Dylan D'Agostino, Yuta Chinen
Coaches: VOJISLAV GLUSCEVIC, Steven Melling
Team Staff: James Keating, Josh Smith
Adelaide Olympic vs South Adelaide
Venue: VALO Football Centre
Date: Saturday 17 April, 6:00 PM
Olympic face off against South in the 6:00 PM kick-off tomorrow night with a point to prove, following their disappointing loss in the opening round of the season.
They were taken apart by a revitalised Cumberland side, ultimately falling to a disappointing 3-0 loss to start a 2021 season without a host of their first-team stars from last year.
South, meanwhile, announced their return to the NPL with a 2-0 win over United thanks to a double from State League One Player of the Season Jonathon Rideout, who now finds himself in the unfamiliar position of not leading the goalscoring charts.
Olympic will need to avoid taking the form that saw their 2020 season fizzle out into this one, with a South side fresh off a handy victory proving a stern test for them.
Adelaide Olympic line-up: Kosta Styladis, Joshua Kavenagh (GK), 2. Abou Keita, 3. Mohamed Conneh, 6. Kristin Konstandopoulos, 7. Jacob Jones, 8. Alex Demasi, 9. Christos Pounendis (C), 10. Hirofumi Kochi, 11. Tito Bontor, 12. Luka Chikwuba, 20. Clifford Maina, 24. Panagiotis Manidakis, 25. Will Hendon
Coaches: Yianni Stamatelopoulos, George Konstandopoulos, Lansana Conneh
Team Staff: Konstandinos Dimas, Sumin Kim
South Adelaide line-up: 1. Ryan Veitch (GK), 2. Michael Goode, 4. Robert Parker (C), 5. Declan Finney, 6. Liam Wooding, 7. Joel Smith, 9. Jack Rudge, 10. Jonathon Rideout, 11. Alexander Rideout, 13. Jai Conroy, 14. Scott Gobec, 15. Jackson Stephens, 18. Blake Lindsay, 20. Jack Walker, 21. Jack Ellis, 24. Daniel Evans, 25. Callum Nissen, 31. Masaya Sasaki, 35. Jack Hudson, 39. Awal Dut
Coaches: Andrew Calderbank, Anthony Rideout, Mitchell Daly, Fraser McLean
Team Staff: Wayne Harrington