It all comes down to this. League Premiership, Finals Football and relegation is on the line. Here's how it can all play out on what will sure to be a dramatic night of WNPLSA football!
West Adelaide vs Adelaide City
Venue: TK Shutter Reserve
Date: Friday 1 October, 8:15 PM
West Adelaide
Position: 2nd (44 points, +31 GD)
One of the two powerhouse sides from the very beginning of the season, West’s imperious early and mid-season form saw them hold first place almost unchallenged for much of the year and cement their place in the top two weeks out from the end of the minor round.
However, having picked up just two wins in their past five outings, their grip on the minor premiership has slipped from their grasp as they now sit two points behind leaders Inter entering the final weekend of matches.
Regardless of what happens tonight, West will be facing off against their near rivals in the first week of the finals in a double chance crunch match to send the victors through to the 2021 WNPLSA Grand Final.
IF WEST…
WIN:
- Finish in first place, win the minor premiership and play Inter in the Qualifying Final if they lose
- Finish second and play Inter in the Qualifying Final if they win or draw
DRAW OR LOSE:
- Finish second
Adelaide City
Position: 3rd (32 points, +19 GD)
The season hasn’t quite materialised for City in the same way that 2020 did, where they were the runaway leaders throughout, but a number of key player departures meant that it would be a difficult act to follow for them.
Still, they’ve put together an impressive year and never looked too much of a threat of missing out on finals football. Indeed, they’re destined to finish in third place regardless of the outcome of tonight’s round of fixtures.
They’ll be hoping to turn around some indifferent form, though, as they slumped to a shock 3-2 defeat to last-placed Fulham last weekend and failed to take all three points from their match against Comets three weeks prior.
IF CITY…
WIN, DRAW OR LOSE:
- Finish third and play in the Elimination Final against NTC or Metro.
West Adelaide line-up: Lucy Adamopoulos (C), Mawa Sumaoro, Georgie Nicola, Georgia Bailey, Elena Psaroulis, Maddie DuRieu, Emily Hodgson, Alison Atkins, Erin Murphy, Siena Covino, Laura Johns, Sarah Willacy (GK), Zoe Haralampopoulos, Georgia Macri, Nicole Tilley, Harriet Burnett, Christie Hillyer
Adelaide City line-up: 1. Kendall Jenner (GK), 3. Matilda Mcnamara, 4. Daniela Di Bartolo, 5. Alyce Macauley, 7. Tiarn Powell, 8. Alanah Ursino, 9. Chrissie Zikos, 10. Chelsie Dawber, 11. Isabel Hodgson, 13. Sophie Leszczynski, 15. Bianca Gray, 16. Isobel Dahlen-Flight, 18. Alana Fitzsimmons, 19. Shae Blackwood, 20. Abbey Lucas (GK), 21. Mikayla Vidmar, 23. Natalie Frantzis, 28. Anastasia Nuttall
Coaches: Jamie Dunning, Nicholas Whiteside
Team Staff: Seymour Di Bartolo, Alexander Tan
Adelaide Comets vs Football SA NTC
Venue: VALO Football Centre
Date: Friday 1 October, 8:15 PM
Adelaide Comets
Position: 6th (22 points, -26 GD)
Comets’ finals hopes were dashed last weekend with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of ladder leaders Inter, needing a win to stand any chance of surmounting tonight’s opponents and Metro and progressing through to play City.
That shouldn’t take away from what has been a significant improvement for a side that won just once and finished bottom of the table in the truncated 2020 WNPLSA season, increasing that number to six this year with a 3-2 win over Metro an undoubted highlight.
They can finish as high as fifth with a win tonight and in doing so play a significant role in determining the final side to lock themselves into the top four and contest finals football in 2021.
IF COMETS…
WIN:
- Finish fifth if Metro lose
- Finish sixth if Metro win or draw
DRAW OR LOSE:
- Finish sixth
Football SA NTC
Position: 4th (26 points, -4 GD)
The young talent of NTC have experienced a season of highs and lows that has seen them flirt with the top four consistently, hovering between third and fifth for most of the year, and now find themselves in the box seat to play finals football this year.
Their 2-1 victory over Metro last weekend saw them leapfrog their opponents and move two points and goal difference clear in fourth place, securing a crucial victory where a defeat would’ve ended their season with a week still to play.
The equation is simple for NTC: win tonight and they’ll be facing City in the first weekend of finals football. They can still progress with a draw, but they’ll be relying on Metro not winning by a large enough margin if they do so.
IF NTC…
WIN:
- Finish fourth and play in the Elimination Final against City
DRAW:
- Finish fourth if Metro draw or lose
- Finish fifth and miss out on finals football if they score less than three goals and Metro win by three or more goals
LOSE:
- Finish fourth if Metro draw or lose
- Finish fifth if Metro win
Adelaide Comets line-up: 1. Claudia Jenkins (GK), 3. Chantelle Reed, 4. Emily Gale, 7. Valeria Guajardo (C), 10. Esther M Heywood-smith, 13. Elyse Moon, 14. Pirrie Weeks, 16. Inana Toovey, 19. Hannah Jenkin, 22. Nicole Robertson, 27. Kate Seaton, 28. Kiara O'Sullivan, 31. Joanna Katsabis, 33. Nanako Sasaki, 40. Yuka Sasaki, 46. Clare Davey
Coaches: Andres Obieglo, Joshua Mcloughney, Brian Gale
Team Staff: katerina gatsios, Jade Conlon, Kieran O'Sullivan
Football SA NTC line-up: 1. ELYSHIA OGSTON (GK), 2. Abbey Burns, 3. Michaela Belmonte, 4. Zoe Tolland (C), 5. Katie Bowler, 6. Ella Tonkin, 8. Nicola Scalzi, 9. Anastasia Willoughby, 13. Lily Barber, 15. Lily Di Cola, 16. Madeleine Wright, 17. Abby Middleton, 21. Camila Madriz Figueroa, 23. Erin Kontoutsikos, 24. Victoria Costanzo, 25. Grace Wilson (GK)
Coaches: Michele Lastella, Mark Lobianco, Michael Moularas, Anthony Breaden
Team Staff: Sharee Mcnamara, Jason Collins
Adelaide University vs Salisbury Inter
Venue: VALO Football Centre
Date: Friday 1 October, 8:15 PM
Adelaide University
Position: 7th (14 points, -20 GD)
After a disappointing 2020 season in which they only registered two victories and finished seventh (albeit having made the Cup Final), Uni find themselves in a familiar position in 2021 as they languish in the bottom two.
They beat City 3-1 in the opening round and most recently dismantled NTC in a shock 4-1 triumph, but they’ve failed to register a victory in the seven matches since then, sucking them into a direct battle with Fulham to avoid the wooden spoon.
Although they face the might of Inter tonight, their massive 19-goal advantage over Fulham means that they only need to match their result to finish clear of the bottom, but they can also impact the top of the table with an upset.
IF UNI…
WIN:
- Finish seventh
DRAW:
- Finish seventh if Fulham draw or lose
- Finish eighth if Fulham win
LOSE:
- Finish seventh if Fulham lose
- Finish eighth if Fulham win or draw
Salisbury Inter
Position: 1st (46 points, +46 GD)
Inter have hardly looked in doubt this season, amassing 14 wins and scoring at a rate of three goals each match whilst also boasting the stingiest defence in the league (14 conceded, 0.7 per game) to find themselves perched atop the league with one match to go.
They’ve hit an almighty burst of form when it mattered most, winning each of their last four matches by an average of four goals which included the thrashing of their nearest rivals, West, 4-1 and set them up for the minor premiership.
Their goal difference is such that a draw will be sufficient for them to back up their Cup Final triumph earlier in the year with a second piece of silverware, so they’ll be eager to lock that in and add to their growing trophy cabinet.
IF INTER…
WIN OR DRAW:
- Finish first, win the minor premiership and play West in the Qualifying Final
LOSE:
- Finish first if West draw or lose
- Finish second and play West in the Qualifying Final if they win
Adelaide University line-up: 2. Elle Pirintzis, 3. Gemma MacFarlane, 4. Mabel Day, 5. Sasha Coorey, 6. Alysia Panagakos, 7. Velvet Klass, 8. Stella Rigon, 10. Georgia Iannella (C), 11. Ellie Sparrow, 12. Georgia Box, 13. Elysha Magor, 16. Milano Venter, 20. Aimee Benton (GK), 21. Sophie Burke, 25. Tahlia Curnow, 27. Madaleine Box, 32. Eleni Vosnakis, 40. Elisa Karas (GK), 77. Margarita Fitzharris
Coaches: Kosta Jaric, Danyon Loud, Bodi Love
Team Staff: Giorgio Profiris, Mark Bosio, Ebony Charles, Daniella Boccaccio
Salisbury Inter line-up: 1. Matilda Comley, 2. Khal Adam Khan, 5. Isabella Kouimtzis, 6. Nicole Calder, 7. Maria Jose Rojas Pino, 8. Emily Condon, 10. Chrissa Pavlomanolakos, 11. Nicola Frazzetto, 12. Chantelle Ryder, 14. Emily Heazlewood, 15. Sharni Tansell, 17. Dragana Kljajic, 20. Erin Hood, 23. Anna Pritchard, 24. Mina Nishitani
Coaches: Simon Catanzaro, Brad Donovan, Darran King, Arnouluck Sirisay
Team Staff: Tamara Simeoni, Shreya Modi, Colin Bajkusev
Fulham United vs Metro United
Venue: West Beach Parks Football Centre
Date: Friday 1 October, 8:15 PM
Fulham United
Position: 8th (14 points, -39 GD)
A season which appeared to be a lost cause sprang to life in the second half of the year for Fulham who, despite still sitting in last place, have given themselves a fighting chance of moving off the bottom of the table for the first time in months this weekend.
Having garnered just two points in the first 12 weeks of the season, Fulham have won four of their eight matches since the return of fixtures post-lockdown, picking up more points (12) than any club outside of the top two in that period.
Their 3-2 win over City last weekend was their biggest scalp yet, so they’ll be hoping to back that up with another win tonight and not only avoid the wooden spoon, but also leave their fingerprints on the makeup of the top four.
IF FULHAM…
WIN:
- Finish seventh if Uni draw or lose
- Finish eighth if Uni win
DRAW:
- Finish seventh if Uni lose
- Finish eighth if Uni win or draw
LOSE:
- Finish eighth
Metro United
Position: 5th (24 points, -7 GD)
It’s been a season of ups and downs for the 2020 WNPLSA Champions, who’ve failed to cement their place in the top four throughout the year and now find themselves at a significant risk of missing out altogether.
A run of three straight losses has seen them slip out of the top half, turning a four-point buffer on fifth into a two-point deficit on fourth, with their 2-1 defeat to NTC last weekend a particularly damaging one for their finals aspirations.
It’s now a two-horse for fourth, which ensures Metro knows fully what it must do: beat Fulham tonight and hope for a slip up by NTC in their match against Comets to complete a remarkable comeback and seal their place in the finals series.
IF METRO…
WIN:
- Finish fourth and play in the Elimination Final against City if NTC lose
- Finish fourth if they win by three or more goals and NTC draw and score less than three goals
- Finish fifth and miss out on finals football if they win by less than three goals and NTC draw
- Finish fifth if NTC win
DRAW:
- Finish fifth
LOSE:
- Finish fifth if Comets draw or lose
- Finish sixth if Comets win