Match of the Round
Croydon FC vs MetroStars
7:30 pm | Friday 10 June | Jack Smith Park
Last Meeting: (6/3/22) Round Three | MetroStars 1 v Croydon FC 2
Indigenous Round returns tonight as a great initiative by Croydon FC and MetroStars comes to life for the second consecutive year. Having played the first edition of this round last season which saw the match end in a 0-0 draw, their second matchup is set to be one to remember.
Croydon FC will look to become the first winner of the Indigenous Round as they search to secure their sixth win of the season and attempt to regain some form having lost four out of their last five games. During this time Croydon FC has dropped from third and has seen their three-point gap between them and first place erased as they are currently 13 points away now. In their last fixture, Croydon FC experienced their fifth defeat of the season as league leaders Adelaide City secured a 1-0 after scoring a 69th-minute penalty.
Croydon FC has continued to stay strong defensively throughout the season holding the third-best defensive record with only 14 goals conceded, however, the team has struggled in recent weeks, conceding six in their last five. During this period Croydon FC has remained goalless on three out of the five occasions, demonstrating their struggles going forward this season which has seen them remain the third lowest-scoring team in the competition.
When Corydon FC met MetroStars at TK Shutter Reserve in Round Three at the beginning of the season, they were able to record a 2-1 win which saw them serve MetroStars their first defeat of the season and continue their impressive start to the season. Dion Kirk was the star on the day as his 25th-minute penalty gave Croydon FC an early 1-0 lead, with his 63rd-minute finish securing the 2-1 win, erasing Alessio Melisi’s 45th-minute equaliser for MetroStars.
MetroStars has looked extremely positive over the last month after experiencing their own bad run which saw them remain winless between Rounds Five and Seven, however, the team looks like they have completely overcome this period, as they are now on a run of five wins in their last six matches. This incredible run of form has seen the team remain in contention for the title, with only six points currently separating them and current leaders Adelaide City.
After facing a 1-0 loss to South Adelaide in Round 11, MetroStars has bounced back with consecutive 2-0 wins which saw them beat Adelaide Olympic and most recently Campbelltown City as they jumped back into the top three. MetroStars took advantage of Campbelltown City's depleted squad as the experience and depth of Robbie Saraceno’s side ran over their opponents in the second half which saw Cameron Woodfin and Anthony Solagna all secure their first goals of the season.
A win for MetroStars could see them jump into the top two for the first time this season if Adelaide Comets are to drop points, setting the team up for a strong end to the season.
We spoke to Croydon FC Head Coach Travis Dodd and MetroStars Head Coach Robbie Saraceno quickly about what the upcoming Indigenous Round means to them and their respective clubs:
Croydon FC Head Coach, Travis Dodd:
It’s great that Croydon and Metro have taken the initiative to get this off the ground. Right now, I see this as an event to acknowledge the Indigenous culture and learn about our shared histories. This is a fantastic vehicle to start a conversation not only about that but also as a way to promote the game in the wider communities.
I would love to see this round embraced by Football SA in the future to have a full Indigenous round for all of the clubs where we can all start to build a connection between First Nations people and the world game.
MetroStars Head Coach, Robbie Saraceno:
Having had the privilege of taking part in the inaugural indigenous round last season and being able to continue that this year is a huge honour for both MetroStars and Myself. Tonight we are able to celebrate and recognise the oldest culture and continue to learn more about the rich history that goes with it.
Metrostars also partners with SAASTA in being able to give opportunities to young indigenous children to be able to chase their dreams of sports whilst continuing their academic studies. We were lucky enough to have Schiciara from SAASTA who designed our strips, speak and tell us about her story behind the design and what it meant to her and her family. I know the players will go out and wear it proudly and play with honour to respect her shirt design.
Moving forward, this game between Metro and Corydon should be the launching pad to be able to change it from a once a year game to a full round dedicated to recognising and embracing our indigenous culture and history.!!
Croydon FC 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), 23. Patrick Caraccia
Coaches: Travis Dodd, Latham Byfield, Adam Vizzari
Team Staff: Giuseppe Catalano, Joshua Avery
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, 10. Anthony Solagna (C), 11. Ariath Piol, 12. Alessio Melisi, 14. Philip Cash, 16. Francesco Schimizzi, 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
Cumberland United vs Adelaide City
3:00 pm | Saturday 11 June | A.A Bailey Reserve
Last Meeting: (5/3/22) Round Three | Adelaide City 5 v Cumberland United 1
After three consecutive defeats, Cumberland United is currently searching to remove themselves from the bottom two, however, must look to overcome the dominant and undefeated league leaders Adelaide City. Facing three of the top five in the last three weeks, Cumberland United’s run doesn’t get any easier this week as they search for their first points since their 3-2 win over their fellow bottom three side Adelaide Olympic in Round Ten. In their last fixture, Cumberland United was unable to take points of second-place Adelaide Comets for the second time this season as they lost 2-1. The team showed great potential throughout that encounter, with Sam Carmichael’s 30th-minute penalty restoring hope as he took the score to 2-1, however, their opposition was too strong on the day. Current sitting in 11th, Cumberland United sit one point off the tenth, meaning a win could potentially see them leave the bottom two and set themselves up for a good run in their final eight games of the season.
When Adelaide City and Cumberland United faced earlier in the season in Round Three, Adelaide City dominated proceedings winning the matchup 5-1. Vianne Kurikwimana scored his only goal of the season thus far as he opened the scoring in the 11th minute before Kur Kur showed his ability to be a star player in the RAA NPLSA scoring a hattrick, while Henry Filsell scored his first goal of the season. Cumberland United’s Harry Thannhauser also grabbed his first of the season in that fixture, however that merely acted as an academic note on the day.
Adelaide City is looking to extend their four-point lead at the top of the RAA NPLSA as they face a currently struggling Cumberland United. Currently experiencing a three-game winning streak, Adelaide City has beaten the likes of Adelaide Olympic, Campbelltown City and most recently Croydon FC in their last fixture. Aladin Irabona has been the centre of this success, scoring a penalty in all his side's last three games, including a 69th-minute winner against Croydon FC in Round 13. The defence has been the focal point of the team’s success in recent weeks, with the side conceding only once in their last five fixtures, currently on a run of three consecutive clean sheets. After beating West Adelaide’s 2015 run of twelve games unbeaten, Adelaide City will be looking to continue this as they search to continue this until the end of the season as they look to secure the Premiership that slipped through their fingers last season.
Cumberland United line-up: Charlie Ince, 1. Luke Schoen (GK), 2. Jack Schoen, 4. Tom Dittmar, 7. Rocco Visconte, 8. Harry Thannhauser, 9. Yuya Taguchi, 14. Cohan Morris, 16. Brayden Micallef, 20. Stavros Bakopanos, 22. Minsung Park, 24. Amir Ibrahim, 35. Thomas Visser
Adelaide City line-up: 4. Matthew Halliday (C), 5. Zakariah Waters, 6. Bradley Corbo, 7. Daniel Bressan, 10. Nicholas Bucco, 11. Kur Kur, 14. Aladin Irabona, 17. Thomas Brown, 20. Charlie Devereux, 25. Mohammad Mekawir, 27. Matthew Dawber, 33. Dakota Ochsenham (GK), 44. Henry Filsell, 99. Ayom Ayom Majok
Coaches: Paul Pezos, George Tsonis, Lewis Vallelonga
Team Staff: Fabian Garuccio, Nik Hagicostas, Luis Fernandez Astudillo
Sturt Lions vs Adelaide Comets
3:00 pm | Saturday 11 June | Karinya Reserve
Last Meeting: (4/3/22) Round Three, Adelaide Comets 2 v Sturt Lions 0
Sturt Lions look to secure their place in the top six in Round 14 as they faceoff against a strong Adelaide Comets side at Karinya Reserve Saturday afternoon.
Sturt Lions have regained their top-six status for the first time since Round Nine after securing their first win since Round Eight beating WT Birkalla 4-2, marking their first win at Karinya Reserve. Alex Sortini opened the scoring in the 25th-minute, which then led to Tyreece Conway's first goal since Round Four to give Sturt Lions a 2-0 lead. After conceding twice in the second half, Conway was the saviour for his side, as he scored his second of the game which ultimately gave Sturt Lions the lead. Zack Gomez put the final nail into the coffin as he secured his first of the season in the 94th minute. After struggling in recent weeks, Sturt Lions look to be returning to their best as they look to make a late push to enter this year’s Final Series as the end of the season gradually looms.
Both teams met earlier in the season in Round Three which saw Adelaide Comets secure a 2-0 win which included one of the goals of the season as Allan Welsh smashed home a spectacular long-range effort from around the centre circle only one minute after Augustus Williams opened the scoring. Sturt Lions were unable to find a reply for the rest of the game, with Adelaide Comets' early first-half double being enough to secure the three points.
Adelaide Comets is currently experiencing their best run of the season as they secured their third consecutive win beating Cumberland United 2-1 last weekend. Thomas Briscoe opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, grabbing his first goal against his former side since he left them at the end of last season, also securing his fifth of the season in the process. Lachlan Stead scored his first of the season a minute after Briscoe's opener as his incredible run and finish gave Adelaide Comets a 2-0 lead. Currently four points off first place Adelaide City, Adelaide Comets are preparing for a strong run to the end of the season and will continue to put pressure on the league leaders, especially after overcoming a seven-point deficit with four matches to go last season to win the premiership.
Sturt Lions line-up: 1. James Klappers (GK), 2. Michael Marrone, 3. Daniel Guastella, 4. Jacob Atkinson, 5. Lachlan Duffy, 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. Toby Nelson, 19. Luke Fusco, 20. Mitchell Keens, 21. Jed Gauci, 22. Jack Locke
Coaches: Lino Fusco, Frank Tibaldi, Gregory Videon
Team Staff: Ivan Piovesan, Logan Stevens, Matthew Flounders
Adelaide Comets line-up: 1. Julian Torresan, 3. Ross Hatzi, 5. Adam Le Cornu, 6. Boris Glushkov, 7. Dylan Smith, 8. Ryan Yates, 9. Ryan Cook, 10. Anthony Mavrolambados, 11. Thomas Briscoe, 12. Lukas Ikonomopoulos, 14. Nathan Andijanto, 16. Stelios Zacharakis, 18. Thomas Giannakopoulos, 19. Jaiden Diamantis, 21. Nikolas Ikonomopoulos, 22. Allan Welsh (C), 23. Scott Nagel, 24. Lachlan Stead, 31. Daniel Vaughan (GK), 77. Augustus Williams
Coaches: Barney Smith, John Falidis, Peter Eleftherakis
Team Staff: Evangelo Katsambis, Andrew Furner, Emma Gericke, Andreas Wiens, Ilias Tsakiris
South Adelaide vs WT Birkalla
3:00 pm | Saturday 11 June | O’Sullivan Beach Sports and Community Centre
Last Meeting: (4/3/22) Round Three, WT Birkalla 2 v South Adelaide 3
Two clubs who are desperate for a win are set to face off Saturday afternoon as South Adelaide hosts current bottom side WT Birkalla at O’Sullivan Beach Sports and Community Centre.
South Adelaide would like to quickly forget their Round 13 match after losing the encounter 8-0 to Adelaide United FC, surpassing their Round Two 6-0 win over the same side as the biggest defeat of the season. Things could have been much different for South Adelaide in that encounter as they went down 2-0 at half-time, missing numerous valuable chances to bring the game level, however, the class and speed of Adelaide United FC became too much for the side in the second half. After regaining their top-six status in Round 12 after a decent run of one win and two draws, South Adelaide has now dropped back out, falling to ninth place. They have a great opportunity to close the three-point gap between themselves and the top six as they face WT Birkalla who have only secured two wins in their first 13 games.
When South Adelaide met WT Birkalla earlier in the season, South secured an early lead as Blake Lindsay, Jonathon Rideout and Donovan Pollock all scored in the first 45 minutes to give their side a 3-0 lead heading into the break. However, this did not faze WT Birkalla who returned in the second half with the belief of restoring the deficit, as Calvin Mbarga and Noah Benouzekri both contributed with a goal each, but it was not enough on the day as they lost 3-2.
After looking to have turned a corner in their season as they beat Adelaide United FC 2-1 in Round 11, WT Birkalla has now lost two in a row as they were beaten by Adelaide Comets and most recently Sturt Lions. In last week’s encounter with Sturt Lions, WT Birkalla fought hard to try and restore a point after being down 2-0 as Ethan Stevenson and Yasmin Sudic secured goals to bring the score to 2-2, however, this didn’t last long as Sturt Lions secured two goals in the last ten minutes to take the score to 4-2. After starting the season struggling to find goals, the team has been more prolific in the forward line, scoring seven goals in their last four games compared to their eight goals in their opening nine games. Though their strong defensive performances have looked to have faded, with the team having conceded eight goals in their last two matches. Currently sitting in twelfth, a win could see WT Birkalla leave the bottom two for the first time since Round Eight, with only two points separating them and Adelaide Olympic in tenth.
South Adelaide line-up: 1. Ryan Veitch (GK), 4. Robert Parker (C), 6. Liam Wooding, 7. Melad Ahmad, 8. Brett Rayner, 9. Ryan Wood, 13. Jai Conroy, 14. Donovan Pollock, 15. Jackson Stephens, 16. Declan Finney, 18. Jack Rudge, 23. Jack Ellis, 24. Daniel Evans, 40. Taine Muscroft, 41. Thomas Sills
Coaches: Daniel Milovanovic, Christopher Reed, Ken Burdon, Fraser McLean
Team Staff: Ronnie Sills, Jacqueline Wingate
WT Birkalla line-up: 3. james polli, 5. Lucas Tsaconas, 8. Zac Becker, 9. Calvin Mbarga, 10. Austin Ayoubi, 13. Ethan Stevenson, 15. Christian D'Angelo, 17. David Makridis (C), 19. Nathan Munro, 20. Nicholas Harpas (GK), 21. Nicholas Harpas, 24. Noah Benouzekri, 91. Yasmin Sudic
Coaches: Jason Trimboli, George Katsaneris
Team Staff: Henry Lambert, Carmine Lauriello
Campbelltown City vs FK Beograd
3:00 pm | Saturday 11 June | Steve Woodcock Sports Centre
Last Meeting: (5/3/22) Round Three, FK Beograd 2 v Campbelltown City 2
After facing three consecutive defeats in all competition, Campbelltown City is eager to get their season back on track as they face FK Beograd at Steve Woodcock Sports Centre.
Remaining unbeaten since their Round Two defeat to MetroStars, Campbelltown City's loss to Adelaide City in Round 12 has looked detrimental to the team's form as they have now gone from one win off first place to now eight points away. After recording a loss to Eastern United in the Australia Cup SA Preliminary Rounds, Campbelltown City was unable to make a quick return to winning form in Round 13 as they faced their second defeat against MetroStars this season, with their opponents securing a 2-0 win. Having struggled with injuries in the last couple of weeks, Campbelltown City is hopeful to see the return of a couple of their experienced players, with Jake Halliday being set to return after serving a suspension last match.
When the teams met last time in Round Three, FK Beograd performed a great comeback as the game finished 2-2. Lui Ditroia and Antony Piscioneri both opened the scoring early in the encounter, providing Campbelltown City with a 2-0 lead heading into the half-time break. However, the side couldn’t hold this lead in the second half as two defensive mistakes saw FK Beograd striker Ninko Beric pounce and secure a double, earning his side their first points of the season.
FK Beograd has looked strong in recent weeks as they remain unbeaten since their Round Nine loss to Adelaide United FC, winning one and drawing three. The team is currently on a run of three consecutive 1-1 draws, which has seen them drop points against Sturt Lions, South Adelaide and most recently Adelaide Olympic, where Evan Kounavelis secured a point with his 45th-minute goal. FK Beograd has struggled so far this season defensively, keeping a clean sheet on only one occasion this season, with the team currently holding the joint third-worst defensive record in the competition with 28 goals already conceded. Sitting in eighth, FK Beograd are currently only two points off the top six, with another win in Round 14 potentially taking them back into contention.
Campbelltown City line-up: 1. Alexander Woodlands (GK), 2. Shaun Harvey (C), 3. Mario Orrico, 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, 19. Joshua Barresi, 20. Matthew Centofanti, 21. Jordan Maricic, 23. Jake Halliday, 35. Luca Meggetto
Coaches: Michael Matricciani, Adrian DAloia, brenton hiern, Edward Scalzi
Team Staff: Agelo Kapnistis, Liam Oates, Corey Artone
FK Beograd line-up: 5. Jacob Butler-Bowdon, 6. Paul Radice, 9. Joshua Mori, 10. Thomas Love, 11. Evan Kounavelis, 12. Antonios Natsiopoulos, 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, Joshua Smith, Scott Parr
Team Staff: Constantinos Tsaconas, Sachin Prakash Kumar
Adelaide Olympic vs Adelaide United FC
8:30 pm | Wednesday 29 June | APEX Football Stadium
Last Meeting: (5/3/22) Round Three, Adelaide United FC 3 v Adelaide Olympic 1
State League One
Adelaide Blue Eagles are set to host Playford City at Marden Sports Complex Saturday afternoon in what should be an exciting top six encounter. After six consecutive wins, Adelaide Blue Eagles' streak has come to an end as they drew with current bottom two side Fulham United FC last Saturday. After taking the lead through a 64th-minute Dante Isla Cacciavillani penalty, Adelaide Blue Eagles were unable to hold the lead as Fulham United FC equalised soon after. Drawing their last match saw Adelaide Blue Eagles drop to third in the ladder, taking them eight points from the top spot now. Their opponents Playford City continue to experience mixed results this season as their 2-0 loss to Modbury Jets last week took their tally to six wins and seven losses which see them remain in the top six by one point. This Round 14 matchup could be extremely important for their season, as a win could potentially see them jump into fifth, however, another loss could see them drop out of the top six for the first time this season if Eastern United or Port Adelaide is to win. When the teams met in Round Three, Playford City came out of the contest as the winners, securing a 2-0 win with Daniel Ryan scoring a second-half penalty and Matt Capone grabbing the second on the night.
In other action, we see top-six hopefuls Port Adelaide take on a Para Hills Knights side who are eager to jump back into to top two. Currently sitting in eighth, Port Adelaide is now only two points off a place in the top six with a win putting them in a great position if Eastern United and Playford City are to drop points. In their last fixture, Port Adelaide played out an impressive 4-3 win which saw Nicholas Mavromatis and Mitchel Anderson both secure goals, while Raymond Muhoma’s double included a 79th-minute winner, however, Muhoma will now miss the next match after receiving a red card in the final minutes of the game. Their opponents Para Hills Knights have experienced a major drop in form in recent weeks, which saw them be without a win since Round Nine, drawing two and losing one in the process. However, last week the side got their season back on track as a first-half double from inform attacker Austyn Scambiattera and a goal from Keshav Shrestha was too much for Adelaide Hills as they secured a 3-2 win. Currently, only one point off second place, a win for Para Hills Knights could secure a return to the top two if Adelaide Blue Eagles and West Adelaide are to drop points.
State League One football continues as Adelaide Hills face Adelaide Croatia Raiders at the Hawks Nest, while Adelaide University SC travels to Smith Partners Stadium to take on league leaders Modbury Jets, West Adelaide takes on Adelaide Victory and Eastern United battle with Fulham United FC at Steve Woodcock Sports Centre Monday afternoon.
State League Two
It’s second vs third in State League Two action Saturday afternoon as Salisbury United host Vipers FC at Steve Jarvis Park – Burton. Facing only their second defeat last week as the then eleventh placed Seaford Rangers came from behind to secure a 3-1 win, Salisbury United missed a valuable opportunity to overtake Adelaide Cobras at the top of State League Two. Currently only one point ahead of opponents Vipers FC who currently sit in third, a win for Salisbury United could cement their place in the top two. However, Vipers FC is eager to enter the top two for the first time this season after they’ve experienced eleven games without a defeat in the league. Vipers FC missed a valuable chance to close the four-point gap between them and league leaders last week, as a late Adelaide Cobras goal took the three points away from them, meaning both teams had to settle for a point each. When Vipers FC met Salisbury United earlier in the season, they played out an exciting 3-3 draw, which saw both teams share the points on the day.
We are also treated to another top-six matchup as an informed Western Strikers travel to Wilfred Taylor Reserve to take on a Noarlunga United side who continue to climb the State League Two ladder. Noarlunga United jumped back into the top six for the first time since Round Four as they beat Pontian Eagles 3-0, with Joel Smith continuing his great run of form as he secured the opener, while Cameron Gardner scored twice late in the encounter to secure the three points. Noarlunga United are looking to secure their place in the top six with another win in Round 14. Their opponent's Western Strikers are searching to close the three-point gap between them and third-place Vipers FC as they look to continue their five-game unbeaten run. Western Strikers are currently experiencing a run of form which has seen them win three in a row including a 1-0 victory over top-six rivals Cove FC last week as Joseph Tripodi scored late from the penalty spot. Continuously improving each week, Western Strikers continue to impress each week as they look to close the gap between themselves and the top two.
In other State League Two action sees Gawler Eagles FC battle Modbury Vista, Cove FC host Northern Demons at Southern Soccer Facility, Seaford Rangers travel to Summit Sport and Recreation Park to face Mount Barker United SC, while Adelaide Cobras will face Pontian Eagles.