Throughout the 2024 NPL SA season, Front Page Football looks at each week's big winners and losers from the action-packed South Australian top flight. Below are our picks from the third week of the Finals Series.
Matt Mullen (left) and Darsem Shaksi (right) chaired off in their final NPL game after the Modbury Jets were eliminated by Campbelltown City. (Image: Pagonis Photography)
Winners
Nagamatsu fires Metro into the Grand Final
When James Temelkovski departed MetroStars for NPL NSW side Marconi Stallions, Danny Graystone had the headache of replacing the competition's top goalscorer. The club trialled English striker Sam Ashton in the off-season before backing Temelkovski's backup, Ren Nagamtsu, to once again lead the line in his third season at the club after scoring some important goals in his role in 2023.
Nagamatsu repaid that trust in 2024, helping his side to a premiership as the league's top scorer and becoming a much more well-rounded player than he was when he walked into the club in 2022. During the first leg of the Semi-Final against Adelaide City, the forward's influence was quelled by Paul Pezos' side.
Heading into the final 10 minutes of the second leg with the scoreline still locked at 0-0, it was fitting that Nagamatsu opened the scoring, as he has often done this season. Michael Cittadini worked his magic on the left wing before putting the ball on a silver platter for the unmarked Japanese marksman to finish at the back post. When Cittadini was fouled in the box by Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio in injury time, Nagamatsu stepped up to convert his 20th goal in all competitions this year, sealing MetroStars' return to the NPL SA Grand Final after a decade's absence.
Ren Nagamatsu (right) celebrates firing MetroStars into the Grand Final. (Image: Ben Blaess/BDb.media)
Campbelltown find their scoring boots at the right time
After a two-goal win at Smith Partners Stadium against the Modbury Jets, Campbelltown City returned to Newton for the Semi-Final second leg with their fate in their hands and a lead to protect. After remaining steadfast under increasing Modbury pressure, a smothered Daniel Ditroia clearance fell into the path of Yohei Matsumoto on the stroke of half-time, who made the way back for Maurice Natale's side impossible with a close-range finish.
The Jets understandably emerged dejected for the second half, and a team like Campbelltown would always punish them. Marc Marino opened the scoring with the first attack of the half before Josh Mori made it three on the day and five on aggregate within five minutes.
Michael Matricciani would be undoubtedly pleased to see his attacking threats play themselves into form as they prepare to face MetroStars, the competition's most prolific side. The third goal triggered an influx of changes for the Red Devils, ensuring they enter the big game with some additional rest to go with the confidence boost the two games against Modbury have turned out to provide.
Brandon Centofanti celebrates Yohei Matsumoto's opening goal in the second leg of Campbelltown City's Semi-Final against the Modbury Jets. (Image: Pagonis Photography)
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Losers
City's incredible revival falls a week short
Adelaide City seemed nowhere near competing for a Grand Final spot a few months ago. The situation was so drab at Oakden that in May, after ten rounds, City only had two wins and a draw, their measly seven points seeing them locked in a relegation battle.
That tenth round saw City pick up their first point since the opening fortnight of the season, with that draw coming against MetroStars, a side they came up against in the Finals Series, after an incredible rise in the second half of the season saw Pezos' men win 10 of their next 13 games. One of those wins came in rampant fashion against Metro, but that was not replicated over their two-legged Semi Final clash.
MetroStars clearly learned from that Round 21 defeat and engaged in an arm wrestle with their opponents, with City eventually yielding in the fourth and final half of football over the two legs. A loss of concentration saw City concede in the 82nd minute. After Alex Battistella failed to capitalise on a defensive miscommunication with his weaker left foot, City seemed resigned to the reality of their dream run ending a week short, which was confirmed when Nagamatsu converted Metro's second from the penalty spot.
Late sucker punch ends Modbury's season
Do not die wondering seemed to be Maurice Natale's instruction to his Modbury Jets side, as they entered the second leg of their clash with Campbelltown City two goals down. The Jets loaded up their team, with Giuseppe Macheda deployed as an attacking full-back and Jordan O'Doherty receiving his first start since returning from injury.
Modbury pinned the Red Devils back for the majority of the first half, but they would have ideally liked to work backup goalkeeper Matt Centofanti more than they did. Conversely, while Campbelltown was clearly ready for Modbury's approach, they looked just as threatening on the counter-attack.
When the Red Devils were the first team to score in the dying efforts of the first half, the feeling of resignation was palpable as Modbury watched their promising season fade in front of them. While disappointed with the result, the Jets sent off Matt Mullen and Darsem Shaksi in style to a guard of honour conducted by both sides at full-time.
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