MetroStars v Adelaide City
South Australia PlayStation4 National Premier League Round 6 

When: Saturday, March 14^th. Kick-off 3pm
Where: Casadio Park Oval, Bay Road, Mount Gambier 

Form: 

MetroStars: D D L 

Round 3: MetroStars 0-0 Campbelltown City, TK Shutter Reserve
Round 4: West Torrens Birkalla 1-1 MetroStars, Jack Smith Park
Round 5: Raiders 3-0 MetroStars, Croatian Sports Centre

Adelaide City: W L W

Round 3: South Adelaide 2-3 Adelaide City, O’ Sullivan Beach Sports Complex
Round 4: West Adelaide 3-2 Adelaide City, Adelaide Shores Football Centre
Round 5: Adelaide City 4-1 Para Hills, Adelaide City Park

Preview:

Two of the state’s most successful clubs do battle in this NSR Australia Regional Round clash, as MetroStars and Adelaide City aim to improve on stuttering starts in Round 6 of the South Australia PlayStation4 National Premier League at Casadio Park Oval in Mount Gambier on Saturday.

MetroStars have picked up just five points from as many games, suffering a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Raiders on Monday.

Coach Michael Pirone says they were second best and is concerned by a record of three goals scored in five matches.

“Raiders were the better team and deserved three points. They worked harder than we did and were a lot hungrier,” he lamented.

“We need to improve our work rate and quality on the ball. We turned it over too many times, both with and without pressure.

“It is a concern to have scored so few goals. We are not as free scoring as we have the potential to be. I think we are too static and are waiting for things to happen in the final third. We also need quality in and around the penalty area.”

The slow start is nothing new for MetroStars. They were eight points off the pace after 11 rounds last season, before romping home to finish first following 14 successive wins.

As they prepare to face Adelaide City, Pirone admits they need a change.

“We need the complete opposite to the Raiders game. It comes down to work rate, as complacency has crept in. We need to rediscover the hunger, even if the lull was perhaps subconscious.

“I saw Adelaide City in the Charity Cup and they were very good. They’ve had mixed results but are a quality side and have players who can do damage.”

Adelaide City have endured an inconsistent start to the campaign, but recovered from a loss to West Adelaide with a come-from-behind 4-1 triumph over Para Hills.

Attacker Nicholas Bucco said getting back to winning ways was vital.

“We played well after a slow start. We gave away a soft goal, but then got back into it and came out of the blocks firing in the second half. We got our reward, went on with it and in the end were ruthless,” he stated.

“Confidence was a bit low after the loss to West Adelaide, so it was vital. It allowed us to keep in touch with the leaders.”

City are seventh, but their only victories to date have come against Para Hills and South Adelaide – sides with a win between them.

Unusually, Damian Mori’s side have conceded 13 goals, something they hope to rectify against MetroStars.

“We have been underperforming and underachieving. We have a few less points than usual, but are in this spot for a reason,” Bucco said.

“We are working on the types of goals given away. But then a few have come from mistakes, so we need greater concentration. It was better against Para Hills.

“MetroStars had a shock result on Monday, but it’s always a big game against them and anything can happen. We want to dictate the game and if so we are confident of getting the points.”

Article by Luca Cetta - @l_cetta