Former NSL rivals West Adelaide and Adelaide City meet in tomorrow’s Federation Cup final

RIVALRIES old and new will ignite tomorrow when West Adelaide takes on Adelaide City in the Federation Cup final at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Former Adelaide City striker Carl Veart with captain Matt Halliday and West Adelaide skip

WEST Adelaide’s Paul Pezos was a 20-year-old rookie the last time he met Adelaide City in a derby at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Playing in West’s final National Soccer League season in 1998-99, the defender helped his side to a memorable 1-0 win over their bitter rivals.

“I had goosebumps throughout the whole week leading up to the game,” Pezos, now 35, says.

“Coming out to a big crowd was really good and getting that win was fantastic.”

Fast-forward 15 years and Pezos is preparing to again take on the Black and Whites in tomorrow’s Federation Cup final.

The skipper, who has led the club to the top of the Premier League table, says the return of the derby has given SA soccer a boost.

“It’s something we haven’t experienced for a very long time in this state,” says Pezos, who also played for City from 2005-2012.

“It’s bringing old supporters of both clubs back to the game because once we faded from the NSL I think a bit of that passion died.”

West made the decider after a 5-1 semi-final thrashing of Western Strikers.

With the cup winner qualifying for the inaugural FFA Cup, Pezos says the chance to take the club back to the national stage is spurring him on.

“To maybe face the likes of South Melbourne or Sydney Olympic again is a massive opportunity for this club,” he says.

City captain Matt Halliday was seven the last time the clubs met at the home of SA soccer.

The defender says the 1-1 derby draw played in front of 3000 fans in the opening round of the season offered his young teammates a glimpse into the clashes of yesteryear.

“I’ve never played in front of a crowd like that — it was amazing,” the 22-year-old says.

“Both these clubs have got a rich history and I think with the younger boys we’ve got in the team, this final is something they can look forward to.”

City, who won a record 16th cup last year, sit seventh in the league after going down 2-1 to West in last week’s league encounter.

While happy with his side’s underdog status, Halliday says the cup holder will take heart from its 3-1 semi-final win over Croydon.

“We haven’t been consistent enough in the league but in the cup we’ve been doing so well,” he says.

Former West Adelaide defender Richie Alagich will be among the large crowd expected for tomorrow’s decider.

The right back, who played 117 NSL games for the club from 1993-1999, says nothing compares to the derby.

“It’s not just another game — it’s West Adelaide versus Adelaide City,” the 40 year old says.

“To play at Hindmarsh and to play in a derby in front of a full house was always something you looked forward to and something that lifted you as a player.”

Alagich suffered a 2-0 loss in his derby debut in 1995.

The ex-Adelaide United star predicts a tough final between two fired up sides.

“It was always a great atmosphere and you had people talking about the game in the streets in the week leading up to it so this will be no different,” he says.

City great Carl Veart scored 85 goals in 313 games during three stints at the club.

The 18-cap Socceroo says the Black and Whites sides he played in usually had the edge over West.

“The only times they would beat us would be the years we would go on to win the championship so it was almost like an omen,” the ex-Crystal Palace and Sheffield United striker says.

“The derbies were always very passionate in the NSL days so hopefully we can have that same sort of atmosphere (today) which was always really special for the players.”