Aloisi revered in Spain, meets Guillermo Amor, Western United scouts hot for SA talent, Reds on hunt for new keeper coach
John Aloisi’s legend lives on in Spain, Travis Dodd’s new soccer career, Vince Lia in demand across the border and Adelaide United tapping shoulders for new goalkeeper coach. These and more in this week’s 90 Minutes local soccer wrap.
Local Soccer SA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Soccer SA. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Chelo tips United to paint City red
- Reds fighting fit for finals test
- MetroStars snap drought to move into top four
- Minnows set to clash in FFA Cup
Former Adelaide City striker and Socceroos legend John Aloisi recently met Barcelona legend and ex Adelaide United coach Guillermo Amor in Spain.
The pair chatted and exchanged hugs as Aloisi, 43, a guest of the La Liga Show which is a weekly TV program on beINSPORTS, returned to a nation which adores the Socceroos, according to his brother Ross Aloisi.
“He just got back from New York on a family holiday and two days later La Liga wanted him to be in Spain,’’ Ross said.
“He caught up with Amor too, said he had a great time.”
Brisbane-based John Aloisi was flown to Spain to see his old clubs Deportivo Alaves and Osasuna at the request of the popular La Liga Show.
He played in Spain from 2001 until 2007, scoring 45 goals in 179 games.
Aloisi was interviewed during Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Alaves at his former La Liga home ground in the Basque capital, Vitoria-Gasteiz on April 24.
The former Brisbane Roar coach was also a guest of Osasuna, now in the nation’s second tier competition.
In a video posted by La Liga, the 43-year-old was at his former home ground where they chanted “Aloisi! Aloisi!” before Osasuna beat Albacete 2-0 on April 28.
The La Liga Show will soon feature the famous South Australian on beINSPORTS.
Former @Socceroos legend John Aloisi received a special reception from @CAOsasuna fans on his return to El Sadar! â¤ðŸ‡¦ðŸ‡º#LaLiga123 pic.twitter.com/e9lMuxIX7C
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) April 28, 2019
Western scouts busy in SA
New A-League club Western United is perusing SA’s NPL for more talent after its established neighbours Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City have plucked a number of players from this state.
Experienced Reds midfielder Vinni Lia is also a Western United option.
Sources claim the popular 34-year-old has been told a decision about a Reds contract extension will be made once Adelaide secures its new coach.
After signing Adelaide United’s Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and ex Adelaide City attacker Valentino Yuel, Western has also looked at Blue Eagles’ Italian defender Ivan D’Adamo, 26.
They also have a Raiders attacking target in mind.
Adelaide has recently re-signed Michael Marrone and Nikola Mileusnic without naming a new boss to succeed Marco Kurz next season.
Twitter stoush fires up fans
They are set to square off in a do-or-die elimination final this weekend.
But the feud between Adelaide United and Melbourne City had already begun on social media this week, long before a ball was kicked.
A cheeky Twitter post by the Victorian club on Monday depicted rapper Drake with a superimposed Reds badge on his jumper and the words “We’ll just leave this here #DrakeCurse”.
The tongue-in-cheek gibe referred to a supposed curse the Canadian star inflicts on sporting teams when he wears their colours.
#FeelTheFinals pic.twitter.com/ZMLhB1mwr6
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) April 29, 2019
Adelaide hit back with a video of Perth-bound former City captain Bruno Fornaroli swearing in his 2016 FFA Cup final winner’s speech, featuring a Glory emblem over his mouth.
City’s response depicted ex-Reds coach Aurelio Vidmar’s infamous p***ant speech.
United followed up with a post of a seagull-covered AAMI Park pitch proclaiming “Sorry, can’t talk now … too busy selling tickets”.
The lighthearted exchange encouraged supporters of both clubs to weigh in on the stoush ahead of the knockout Hindmarsh Stadium encounter.
Reds fans will be hoping to have the last laugh come Sunday night.
Reds great down at the Farm
Travis Dodd once faced English club Newcastle United in a UEFA Cup tie and later became the first indigenous player to score for the Socceroos.
These days, the Adelaide United great can be found having an occasional kick at suburban grounds across Adelaide in the SA Amateur Soccer League.
Dodd, 39, hung up his boots following a season with National Premier Leagues SA side MetroStars in 2016.
But the 36-goal A-League forward had been encouraged out of retirement by Sunday top flight amateur outfit Ingle Farm, where his younger brother, Toby Dodd, also plays.
Travis had managed just one match for the Farm so far in a 3-0 loss to Elizabeth Downs earlier this month, as he juggled playing with his assistant coach role at MetroStars.
But the 2016 champion would surely welcome more game-time for the Adelaide City product, as it sat second-bottom without a win from three outings.
Dodd played for Greek club Panionios against the Magpies in European action in 2004 and scored Australia’s opening goal in its 2-0 win over Kuwait two years later.
United playing for keeps
Adelaide United has tapped three local goalkeeper coaches to replace one of coach Marco Kurz’s lieutenants Frank Juric.
Juric is understood to be joining new Western United boss Mark Rudan despite remaining keen to stay in Adelaide.
It’s believed former Reds goalkeeper coach Peter Blazincic was asked to return.
The club apparently also asked two other possible new glovemen coaches to join the new coaching regimen.
However Blazincic is unlikely to return to the Reds after he was one of former Adelaide football director, captain and coach Aurelio Vidmar’s main men during the climb to the 2008 AFC Champions League final.
He was also former captain Eugene Galekovic’s backbone when the Socceroos keeper was at the top of his game at Adelaide.
He is now a well established SA builder with his company Home by Blazon after years of coaching Adelaide United’s A-League glovemen.
New pitch primed for action
MetroStars hope their $1.4 million ground upgrade will help them secure more on-field success and attract new supporters to the club.
The three-time top flight champion will host its first National Premier Leagues SA fixture at the new look TK Shutter Reserve when it faces West Adelaide on Saturday, May 11 (5pm).
It comes three weeks after a new artificial pitch and floodlights were installed at the Klemzig venue.
Coach Robbie Saraceno said the redeveloped facilities had been welcomed by players and fans alike.
“The club is pretty happy and it looks really good out there,” Saraceno said.
“We’re looking forward to playing on a good surface, week-in-week-out, and training as well, because in the back end of the season our (grass) pitch was always struggling.
Well done to all at @NE_MetroStars for the great work to get the new pitch up and running for today’s match. #MagicOfTheCup #FFACup pic.twitter.com/64yZ2VPpC3
— Dimitri Peppas (@DimitriPeppas_) April 20, 2019
“It’s probably bigger than most of the artificial pitches around and we’ve gone a little bit wider than most of them, which suits us quite well.
“The club is hoping to put more home games on there and put more of an emphasis on bringing people to the club.”
MetroStars played on the synthetic pitch for the first time on Saturday, April 20, when they downed Sturt Lions on penalties in an FFA Cup SA second round tie.
Next month’s league encounter will form part of a double-header as Metro United’s Womens’ NPL SA side also take on West Adelaide at 7.15pm.
Greek clubs eye Meni
Meni Haralampopoulos, 25, is attracting attention from Greek Super League clubs.
The former West Adelaide defender/midfielder has been courted by Greek Super League clubs Atromitos and Panionios after a standout season.
He is expected to train with Atromitos next week according to sources.
He scored a penalty for his club Acharnaikos’ 5-4 Cup final shootout win after a 1-1 draw over Aris Voula last weekend.
It’s understood he has also attracted attention from A-League clubs.
A-LEAGUE ROUND 27
Brisbane Roar 3 (Dylan Wenzel-Halls 35m, Nicholas. D'Agostino 45m, Eric Bautheac 61m) Adelaide United 5 (Nikola Mileusnic 4m, George Blackwood 51m, Craig Goodwin 71m, Papa Babacar Diawara 76m, Isaias 85m) at Suncorp Stadium
VOTES
Val Migliaccio: 3. Isaias, 2. Craig Goodwin, 1. Mirko Boland
Rob Greenwood: 3. Craig Goodwin, 2. Isaias, 1. Scott Galloway
Amelia Mulcahy: 3. Craig Goodwin, 2. Isaias, 1. Scott Galloway
STATS
Possession
Adelaide 62 per cent Roar 38 per cent
Shots on target
Adelaide 6 Roar 6
Keeper saves
Adelaide 2 Roar 1
Corners
Adelaide 5 Roar 2
Golden Boots
LEADERS
98. Isaias
81. Craig Goodwin
62. Ben Halloran
38. Mirko Boland
30. Michael Jakobsen
30. Scott Galloway
27. Paul Izzo
22. Michael Marrone
21. Vince Lia
19. Ryan Strain
12. George Blackwood
10. Nikola Mileusnic
8. Taylor Regan
7. Ryan Kitto
5. Ken Ilso
4. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos
GOALS
Craig Goodwin 10
Nikola Mileusnic 5
George Blackwood 4
Isaias 4
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos 3
Ken Ilso 3
Ben Halloran 2
Papa Babacar Diawara 1
Vince Lia 1
Scott Galloway 1
Ryan Kitto 1
Michael Marrone 1
OG 1
SA PLAYERS ABROAD
Brandon Borrello — Freiburg (Bundesliga): Unused substitute in a 2-1 loss to Leipzig at home
Alex Chidiac — Atletico Madrid (women’s Spanish Primera Division): Unused substitute in a 3-0- home win over Valencia
Ben Garuccio — Hearts (Scottish Premier League): Recovering from an ACL injury.
Meni Haralampopoulos — Acharnaikos (Greek Ethnic League): Played 120 minutes and scored in a 5-4 Cup final win over Aris Voula
Bradden Inman — Rochdale AFC (English League One): Not in the match day squad in a 1-0 win over Southend United at home
Awer Mabil — Midtylland (Danish Super League): Played 79 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Brondby away
Osama Malik — Al-Batin (Saudi Arabia League): Competition on a break until May 12
Andrew Marveggio — Macva Sabac (Serbian Superliga): Not in the match day squad in a 5-1 loss to Zemun at home
Ryan McGowan — Dundee (Scottish Premier League): Not in the match day squad in a 4-3 away loss to Motherwell
Dylan McGowan — Vendsyssel FF (Danish Superliga): Unused substitute in a 0-0 home draw with Randers
Raiders embrace ‘underdog’ tag, new recruit scores winner
An NPL side enjoying its second season in the top flight is making a strike for the top of the table, while another club coach says his side is playing a brand that’s ‘nice, it’s good, it’s sharp’. Check out The Messenger’s reports from the weekend’s action.
Top women’s soccer coach quits, cites ‘difference of opinion’
A top flight women’s soccer coach has quit mid season because “differing opinions” despite leading the side to first spot on the table with just one loss after six rounds.