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 Round 21.
Anthony Costa celebrates his second goal as the Adelaide Croatia Raiders grounded the Modbury Jets in a seven-goal thriller. (Image: Pagonis Photography)
Winners
Croatia on the brink of survival
As their fast start to the season began fading, Adelaide Croatia Raiders inched closer and closer to the relegation zone, and they entered Round 21 only a point away from a resurgent Adelaide Olympic. Away against a Modbury Jets side desperate to return to the top of the league, it was never going to be easy, a point that proved accurate when Francesco Schimizzi opened the scoring for the hosts within 10 minutes.
Despite the slow start, Vlado Blazeka's men were obviously up for the fight. Goals from Anthony Costa and Rhys Thompson put Croatia in front, the side inspired by a strong number of away fans at their vocal best.
Modbury pushed for an equaliser early after half-time, but Thompson added to a brilliant first-half performance by winning a penalty, which Costa converted. The hosts responded with their own captain's spot-kick. Oliver Trimboli eventually made it four, but Frank Busasa's dismissal and a subsequent Jets goal through Cam Tompkins made it a nervous final 10 minutes for the Raiders.
But Adelaide Croatia held on, and their victory swept away weeks of frustration, putting the 2023 State League One champions in a solid position to survive the drop with one round to play.
Olympic above water, for now
A win in the relegation six-pointer against the Para Hills Knights in Round 20 kept Adelaide Olympic's season alive. However, Adelaide Croatia's win against Modbury meant the margin for error got even tighter for Kristi Vangjeli's side in Round 21.
Anything but a win against the already relegated South Adelaide Panthers at home would spell trouble for Olympic's survival chances. The hosts took the lead in a tense game after a clumsy challenge sent Binyam Kebede to the penalty spot, where he made no mistake in putting his team in front.
Adelaide Olympic's season has been characterised by errors that have seen their opposition outscore them. Against South Adelaide, Vangjeli's side was desperate for a clean sheet, which they achieved, keeping the Rideout brothers quiet.
This win saw Adelaide Olympic climb out of the relegation zone for the first time in months, with one game to play. Survival is in their hands now, but a formidable opponent, Adelaide City, stands in their way.
Croydon still a chance for the top six
Croydon's heavy loss to Adelaide City the previous week meant that anything but a win against the Adelaide Comets in Round 21 would see their season end with a week to go. The focus for Iain Fyfe's team was limiting the chances their opposition created, having heavily conceded in six of their past seven games.
Croydon managed to keep the Comets to zero shots on target at half-time. But the highlight came with the last attack of the first half when vice-captain Adam Martinello pulled out an astonishing bicycle kick from a corner to open the scoring for the hosts heading into the break.
George Tsonis' men hit back within minutes of the restart when Aladin Irabona and Roberto Fernandez Garrido combined well on the left before the former set up Jayden LoBasso for the equaliser. Just minutes later, as he often does when his team needs him to, Croydon's captain, Luke Klimek, found the back of the net when he was afforded too much time and space in the box.
Croydon held on for the three points and will enter Round 22 equal on points with their upcoming opponent, FK Beograd. Both sides need a win, while Adelaide United must drop points for the winner of the clash to qualify for the Finals Series.
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Losers
Metro's premiership party grinds to a stunning halt
If a group of fans was happier than Adelaide Croatia's on Friday night, it was the MetroStars. Modbury's loss meant Danny Graystone's side simply had to beat Adelaide City to seal a second consecutive first-place finish in the NPL SA.
But a change of system for Adelaide City caught MetroStars off guard on Saturday. After 21 minutes, Juan Gutierrez sent Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio through on goal, with the forward opening the scoring. Just two minutes later, Lawrie-Lattanzio's shot cannoned off the inside of the post and into the path of Daniel Bressan, who doubled City's lead on the rebound.
Lawrie-Lattanzio then rounded off a scintillating first-half performance with a smashing finish for his second, sending a dumbfounded MetroStars outfit into half-time three goals down on a night they could have sealed silverware. It got better for Paul Pezos' men when Raphael Lea'i opened his Adelaide City account to put the match beyond any doubt after the break.
Goalkeeper Dakota Ochsenham ensured City kept a clean sheet by saving a Ren Nagamatsu penalty, with his side sending shockwaves throughout the competition in the process.
Beograd's fate left out of their hands
An impressive win against the Modbury Jets meant that FK Beograd entered the last two rounds leading the chasing pack for the final top six spot. In Round 21, Adrian D'Aloia's side took on one of those teams, Adelaide United.
The Young Reds regained some players after the A-League Men side's win against Blacktown City in the Australia Cup, and two of them combined to open the scoring when Yaya Dukuly set up Harry Crawford for the opener. Adelaide United had most of the play but could not find a second goal until the last touch of the half when Joey Garrucio doubled his side's lead.
Austin Ayoubi silenced the fast-starting Beograd in the second half by pouncing on an error to make it three. Ryan White then completed the scoring, joining Crawford in completing a week where the young pair made their professional debuts and scored in the NPL. A late Maksim Ivanic header was nothing but consolation for the away side.
With this loss, FK Beograd now joins the pack chasing a Finals Series spot, as Adelaide United replaced them in sixth spot entering Round 22.
Austin Ayoubi got on the scoresheet against FK Beograd in Round 21. (Image: Chris Kelly Photographics)
Knights' relegation fears increase
Para Hills' loss to Adelaide Olympic put Theo Tsiounis' side in relegation danger with two weeks of the regular season to play. In Round 21, they had to take on a Campbelltown City side coming off a crushing midweek Australia Cup loss to Moreton City Excelsior.
Campbelltown's confidence and fitness levels were tested against a side fighting for survival, as neither team scored in the first half. The scoring was not opened until the 79th minute when a hopeful Alex Mullen cross made it all the way into the back of the net.
It was a deflating way for Para Hills to lose this match, a fact that became even more troubling when Adelaide Olympic won their match against South Adelaide a few hours later. Round 21 ended with Para Hills entering the relegation zone for the first time in 2024, now needing to win against South Adelaide, while hoping Adelaide Olympic drop points against Adelaide City.
Campbelltown City's Round 21 victory means the Para Hills Knights now enter a must-win situation for their last match of the season. (Image: Ken Carter)
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