Sergio Melta Medallist Liam Wooding draws against South Adelaide, two weeks after quitting club to rejoin MetroStars
MetroStars attacker Liam Wooding played in a 3-3 draw against former team South Adelaide just two weeks after quitting the Panthers. South had been up 3-2 before conceding late.
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Sergio Melta medallist Liam Wooding faced off against South Adelaide just two weeks after the ex-Adelaide United attacker sensationally quit the Panthers to rejoin with MetroStars, Adelaide Olympic beat Adelaide Comets and Campbelltown City remained on top of the Premier League table after a 5-2 victory against Raiders.
All that and more in Messenger Community News’ round 14 match wraps.
METROSTARS 3
SOUTH ADELAIDE 3
MetroStars recorded a 3-3 draw with South Adelaide at TK Shutter Reserve.
It was the first time the two clubs had faced each other since South’s prized recruit Liam Wooding quit the club to re-sign with MetroStars.
Christian Esposito, Lachlan Barr and Stefan Cali scored for the hosts.
The Panthers remain bottom of the table and now have seven points.
They are two points behind 11th-placed Adelaide City and five points adrift of 10th-ranked West Adelaide.
South coach Ben Dale praised his side’s character but felt his players were unlucky not to take the maximum points.
“We struggled in the first half and they were in control, we changed things up and it worked well,” Dale said.
“There was a lot of good character shown by the boys today and it was a good defensive effort.
“It’s disappointing that we couldn’t get the result we wanted but we will take any points at the moment.”
Panthers youngster Joel Smith scored a first-half goal that Dale called an “absolute belter”, striking the ball past the keeper from beyond the 18-yard box.
Dale changed things up structurally in the second half and it paid dividends as new recruit Dave Thornton netted a brace.
The Panthers were up 3-2 and looked like they might win, only for MetroStars to equalise in the 81st minute with a goal Dale thought was questionable due to possible off-side.
Panthers then soaked up more pressure as the home side fought hard for a winner but could not produce one.
ADELAIDE OLYMPIC 2
ADELAIDE COMETS 1
Adelaide Olympic coach George Tsonis says the three wins in as many games against Comets this year is a huge effort for the club.
Olympic backed up its 2-0 round-three victory over Comets and 2-1 FFA Cup SA semi-final success by beating them 3-1 at Jack Smith Park on Friday night.
Ricardo da Silva got Olympic off to a great start with a goal from a free kick just outside the 18-yard box that went over Comets’ keeper into the back of the net.
Comets equalised in the 31st minute via Allan Welsh – his sixth goal of the season.
Olympic then scored the winner in the 81st minute from a Ioannis Simosis header at the back post following good build-up of play from his team.
“I am very happy with the result,” Tsonis said.
“To get another big scalp before the FFA Cup final (against Adelaide City) this week is a great confidence booster for the boys.
“To beat a quality side like Comets three times this year … is very pleasing and a huge effort for the club.”
Olympic is fifth after the 2-1 victory, while Comets are sixth.
RAIDERS 2
CAMPBELLTOWN CITY 5
Key skill errors proved costly for Raiders in their 5-2 loss to Campbelltown City at home on Saturday, according to coach Nik Kuzman.
Campbelltown controlled the first half and went up 1-0 through a goal to Marc Marino.
Lui Ditroia and Yohei Matsumoto then added two quick goals to start the second half, putting the visitors 3-0 ahead.
Yas Sudic began a fightback for the hosts when he netted on 77 minutes and then again two minutes later.
But two more goals to Ditroia before the final whistle ensured City took home the points.
“We played well enough to at least get a point,” Kuzman said.
“But in the end it was simple skill errors that cost us and you get punished against quality sides like Campbelltown.
“We’ll take positives from today. It was 3-0 and we fought hard to get it to 3-2 and kept fighting.
“Those two late goals to them were scored on the counter while we were striving for the equaliser.”
Raiders remain fourth on the table.
ADELAIDE BLUE EAGLES 1
WEST ADELAIDE 1
Adelaide Blue Eagles coach Vojo Gluscevic was frustrated his team failed to capitalise on its chances following a 1-1 draw with West Adelaide at Adelaide City Park on Saturday.
Hellas controlled the start and scored in the 31st minute through Kosta Mantis to take a 1-0 lead into half-time.
Emanuele Testardi then equalised early in the second half after tapping the ball in following a cross into the box.
Blue Eagles then created a number of chances but were not able to capitalise.
“We weren’t switched on at the start of the game,” Gluscevic said.
“We came out lazy and lacklustre but then we changed things up in the second half and created a number of opportunities to win the game.
“We created enough chances to win the game, which is frustrating.”
PARA HILLS 0
CROYDON KINGS 0
Para Hills remained ninth after recording a scoreless draw with Croydon at Polonia Reserve on Saturday.
The two clubs failed to breakthrough for a score and walked away with a share of the points following the 0-0 draw.
The Kings are seventh with four wins, seven draws and three losses.
The Kingits, meanwhile, have recorded just three victories, five draws and six losses.
Para Hills has another tough task ahead of its after this weekend’s bye with a clash against Adelaide Blue Eagles at home on Saturday, July 29.
Croydon takes on Adelaide Olympic away.
The league-wide bye makes way for the FFA Cup SA final between Adelaide City and Adelaide Olympic.
ADELAIDE CITY 2
ADELAIDE UNITED YOUTH 2
Adelaide City and Adelaide United youth played out a draw at the Parks on Saturday.
The two clubs claimed a share of the points following the 2-2 draw and neither moved from their respective positions on the table – City remained 11th and United eighth.
Adelaide United youth’s Kusini Yengi netted the first goal of the match on 11 minutes.
The Black and Whites’ Stefan Casalbore then locked the scores at 1-1 on 38 minutes before Yengi was again on target for United to put them back in front at half-time.
Adelaide City’s Anthony Costa levelled the scores again on 78 minutes and neither club could break the deadlock after that.
STATE LEAGUE ONE RESULTS:
■ White City 2 drew with Sturt Lions 2
■ Fulham United 2 lost to Adelaide Victory 4
■ Noarlunga United 0 lost to Western Strikers 4
■ Seaford Rangers 0 lost to Modbury Jets 3
■ Cumberland United 2 d West Torrens Birkalla 0
■ Salisbury United 1 lost to Playford City 2
STATE LEAGUE TWO RESULTS:
■ Adelaide Cobras 2 d Vipers 0
■ Port Pirates 1 drew with UniSA 1
■ Cove 0 drew with Eastern United 0
■ Adelaide Hills 4 d Northern Demons 1
■ Gawler 3 d Adelaide University 2
■ Modbury Vista 1 drew with Mount Barker 2
WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS:
■ Salisbury Inter 1 lost to West Adelaide 4
■ Adelaide University 1 lost to Adelaide City 3
■ Adelaide Comets 1 lost to Fulham United 2
■ FFSA NTC 2 lost to Metro United 3
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