Adelaide City through to FFA Cup SA final after 2-1 win over Elizabeth Downs

Top-flight Adelaide City defeated amateur club Elizabeth Downs 2-1 in a hard-fought FFA Cup SA semi-final on Tuesday night.

Adelaide City advanced to yet another FFA Cup SA final, seeing off amateur rival Elizabeth Downs in a 2-1 victory at the VALO Football Centre on Tuesday night.

Elizabeth were valiant in defeat, desperate for yet another shock after pulling off one of the greatest FFA Cup upsets of all time against Metrostars in the quarter-finals.

City took the lead during the first half and appeared to be out of sight when Marcos Flores doubled their advantage from the penalty spot with little over 15 minutes remaining.

Elizabeth, in front of 2268 fans, showed its bravery and had City sweating as the northern suburbs outfit gained momentum towards the final whistle.

It was a battle of youth versus experience in the midfield, with former A-League pair Adriano Pellegrino, 34, and Marcos Flores, 33, going up against youngsters Cody Morrison and Bailey Truscott.

Pellegrino fired off the first warning signs for the Black and Whites, sending a long-range effort just inches over the crossbar.

He was instrumental as City began to assert their dominance on the game in the second-half.

City made Elizabeth pay for their earlier missed opportunities when Evan Kostopoulos gave them the lead following a goal-mouth scramble just before the 30-minute mark.

Downs found a second wind after falling two goals behind, and finally broke through when Billy Allotey surged through City’s defence and squared it for Dylan Costanzo to finish from close range.

City faces the winner of Wednesday night’s clash between Adelaide Comets and Adelaide Olympic in the final, for a spot in the FFA Cup Round of 32.