Adelaide City v Adelaide Blue Eagles

PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia - Round 19

When: Saturday, July 23rd Kick-off 3pm
Where: Adelaide City Park. Oakden

Teams:

Adelaide City: 1. Matthew Moore (GK), 2. Michael Acton, 3. Alexander Sunasky, 5. Matthew Halliday, 6. Jordan Pudler, 7. Joel Allwright, 8. Paul Blefari, 9. Anthony Costa, 10. Nikola Mileusnic, 16. Thomas Love, 17. Mamadi Kamara, 19. Gabriel Kolopelnyk, 21. Bradley Corbo

Adelaide Blue Eagles: Liam Mccabe, Alex Solari, Antoni Panagoulias, Ilario Spano, Hamish Mccabe, 1. Michael Catford (GK), 2. Adam Harris, 4. Christopher Atsikbasis (C), 5. Chris Christofilos, 6. Nathan Niutta, 7. Jean-Claude Boyokino, 8. Damien Crettenden, 9. Fortunato Filletti, 10. Evan Kounavelis, 13. Alemayo Kebede, 14. John Solari (GK), 15. Samuel Tesfagabr, 16. Matthew Charalambous, 17. Matthew Dawber, 18. Mattia Perrotti, 20. Anthony Dimas, 66. Pedram Sourjani (GK)

Form:

Adelaide City: W D W

Round 16: Raiders 0 lost to Adelaide City 4
Round 17 Campbelltown 1 drew Adelaide City 1
Round 18: Adelaide United 1 lost to Adelaide City 3

Adelaide Blue Eagles: L W W

Round 16: Blue Eagles 1 lost to MetroStars 2
Round 17: Croydon Kings 0 lost to Blue Eagles 2
Round 18: Blue Eagles 2 def. West Adelaide 0

Preview:

The battle for a top six berth continues on Saturday when Adelaide City welcome their Eastern suburb neighbours Adelaide Blue Eagles to Adelaide City Park in their PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia round 18 fixture.

In what is looming to be a nail bitting finish to the 2016 PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia season at the top end of the table, Blue Eagles who are sitting fourth on the ladder – one point clear of Comets, and four points ahead of the in-form MetroStars, will face a massive challenge when they step out to tackle Championship favourite Adelaide City for the three vital points at stake and the chance to cement a top four finish to the season.

But the “Marden Boys” won’t have it all their own way on the weekend as they confront an Adelaide City side chasing down an 18th Championship trophy for their silverware cabinet. City know that they have to keep banking points as Campbelltown City and W.T Birkalla, second and third respectively, keep snapping at their heels. So tight is the competition, that the makeup of the top six may not be decided until the final round of the season.

Saturday’s clash between two old rivals has all the hallmarks of another classic encounter. Both sides boast exceptional talent across the park, and the individual duels will be worth every cent of the admission fee.

The clash in the middle third will be the highlight of the game. Talented City trio Nicholas Bucco, Thomas Love, Jordan Pudler will go head to head with the Blue Eagles midfielders Alemayo Kebede, Damian Crettenden and Anthony Dimas. The winners of this mini battle will set the tempo of the game.

The competition’s leading goal scorer Anthony Costa will be hoping he receives enough ball supply from his “Three Amigos” down field to add to his impressive eighteen goal tally. He will have plenty of support from Nicola Mileusnic and the fleet footed Mamadi Kamara through the wing channels.

On the other side of the ledger the in-form Blue Eagles attacking wingers Yvan Boyokino, Fortunato Filletti and the pinch hitter Mathew Dawber will do their best to keep their star striker Mattia Perrotti busy in front of goal. The Italian import has shown enough in his limited appearances this far; to suggest he could be a dangerous prospect for any defence once he gains peak match fitness.

City will be slightly hampered with loss of the suspended Shane Tobias. But their defensive line-up led by the solid duo Paul Blefari and Mathew Halliday looks to have a slight edge over their Blue Eagles counterparts. However, one has to give an enormous credit to Blue Eagles coach Gianluca Legati, who after a disastrous injury plagued start to the season has done a marvellous job in moulding a competitive defensive unit from his depleted squad.

The “Marden Boys” will be looking to avenge their round eight 3-1 loss to City, but to do so will mean that this Blue Eagles side will need to do what no other side has been able to achieve all season, and that is defeat the Black & Whites on their home ground, an imposing challenge for most sides.

Written by: Joe Pangallo