Raiders bounce back to thump South Adelaide and maintain hopes of top-two NPL SA finish
Coach Nik Kuzman says Raiders are eyeing a top-two finish after bouncing back from an injury crisis and a shock capitulation to rediscover winning ways in style. Our local soccer wrap starts here.
RAIDERS are eyeing a top-two finish and a finals double chance after bouncing back from an injury crisis and a shock capitulation to rediscover winning ways in style.
The Gepps Cross outfit downed bottom side South Adelaide 4-0 at the Croatian Sports Centre on Saturday, as they moved to fourth on the NPL SA table with four games remaining.
Nick Kuzman’s side’s convincing triumph came a week on from its 6-0 humbling at the hands of fellow playoff contender Adelaide Comets.
The coach said the success had restored belief for the run-in, following a spate of injuries which had sidelined six first-team regulars.
“We’re happy with the turnaround,” Kuzman said.
“We knew we had to get a reaction from the boys after last week’s result, so it was pleasing to see.
“We’ve had a lot of injuries and players have been in and out of the squad.
“But it was important to get the ball rolling in the right direction towards the business end of the season.
“It’s all about getting momentum going into the finals.”
Yasmin Sudic settled early nerves against the Panthers with a 14th-minute header from a Josh Mori cross, before doubling the host’s advantage with a neat finish just shy of the break.
Second-half strikes by substitutes Giovanni Previtali, a forward who arrived from Italy last month, and David Carosi sealed the result and all but condemned South to relegation.
Kuzman said the victory was a much-needed boost, as the club ushered the likes of defenders Kalilou Kamara and Ambesager Yosief, as well as captain Paul Blefari, back to action.
“We were peppering them (South) from the word go,” said Kuzman, who praised the recent displays of teenagers Jackson Walls and Emanuel Philip.
“We put four away ... and we could’ve ran away with the game with double digits.
“But it was a good team performance and everyone stood up and refocussed.
“Before the season we were aiming for a top-two or top-three position.
“The last month-and-a-half have been a tough time for us as a unit, but we still believe we can finish high up on the table.”
The result left the seemingly doomed Panthers eight points adrift of safety with just 12 points still up for grabs.
Eleventh-placed West Adelaide also remained in trouble, after a 3-1 loss to Croydon Kings at the Parks.
A 70th-minute Thanasis Lesi goal cancelled out Patrick Caraccia’s first-half opener to give Hellas hope.
But Caraccia’s second a minute later and Peter Mercurio’s sealer fired the Kings into the top six and left West firmly in the drop zone.
Adelaide City moved three points clear of its former National Soccer League rival following an important 1-1 draw with second-ranked Adelaide Blue Eagles at Oakden.
Mid-season recruit and former Adelaide United winger Fabio Ferreira continued his hot form by handing the Black and Whites a 16th-minute lead.
But Hamish McCabe levelled just before the break for the visitors.
Adelaide United youth pulled off a shock, beating reigning champion and league-leader Campbelltown City 2-1 at Newton.
Japanese gun Yohei Matsumoto gave the Red Devils an early advantage, only for Aladin Irabona to square the ledger with a penalty.
Alhassan Toure grabbed the winner six minutes from time to keep the young Reds’ finals hopes alive.
Adelaide Olympic warmed up for its midweek FFA Cup round-of-32 clash with WA’s Floreat Athena with an impressive 2-1 success away to MetroStars.
Fausto Erba secured the triumph in the 86th minute, after the competition’s top scorer Christos Pounendis had handed the visitors the lead from the spot.
Olympic leapfrogged Adelaide Comets into third, following the Mile End side’s goalless draw with 10-man Para Hills at the Paddocks.