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 22.
The MetroStars sealed their second consecutive NPL SA premiership in Round 22 of the 2024 season. (Image: Pagonis Photography)
Winners
Metro go back-to-back
After a defeat to Adelaide City - which was as heavy as it was unexpected - saw the MetroStars unable to claim the premiership in Round 21, Danny Graystone's side entered the season's final round with one shaky hand on the prize. In a game against Adelaide Comets, a side that has historically made life difficult for MetroStars, all eyes were on the league leaders, awaiting their response.
It did not take them long to answer all the questions that were asked of them, with Cam Woodfin scoring 10 minutes into a strong start from his side after a saved Hamish Gow free-kick caused chaos in the Comets box. Woodfin did the damage again four minutes later, finishing a cutback from Gow seconds after beautifully combining with his teammate in the midfield to double MetroStars' lead.
If the two-goal advantage was not secure already, Fabian Barbiero put an exclamation mark on it by finding the back of the net from long-range before half-time. A mature second-half performance saw Metro see out the 45 minutes to secure a second consecutive premiership.
This success is notable, considering MetroStars lost two of their most influential players, James Temelkovski and Austin Ayoubi, in the off-season. However, with honours such as the most clean sheets and the top goalscorer in their ranks, it is clear Graystone's side has found multiple contributors to step up in 2025, as they now chase the one trophy that eluded them last year.
Adelaide United clinch sixth
Adelaide United were one of the few teams that entered Round 22 with its destiny in its own hands. Airton Andrioli's side held sixth spot after defeating FK Beograd and needed to defeat the Adelaide Croatia Raiders to guarantee the right to defend their title in the Finals Series.
The Young Reds were the first team to score on a night of six simultaneous kick-offs when a smart Brody Burkitt flick released Amlani Tatu, who put the ball on a silver platter for Joey Garuccio to strike just after three minutes. The visitors held the lead until the hour mark when Vinko Stanisic was adjudged to have fouled Paul Radice in the box and Croatia's captain, Anthony Costa, made no mistake from the penalty spot to level proceedings.
With their finals hopes in the hands of the clash between FK Beograd and Croydon FC, the Young Reds needed another goal to reclaim their unassailable lead in sixth place. In the 86th minute, first-half goalscorer Joey Garuccio delivered a free-kick that picked out Ryan White, who, with an acrobatic effort, chipped Vincent Barbaro from close range to seal the three points for his side.
This victory sets up an enticing Grand Final rematch in the first week of the Finals Series, where the Modbury Jets will host Adelaide United in an elimination game.
Para Hills survive
After spending most of the season competing for a spot in the Finals Series, the possibility of dropping back into State League One became a threatening reality when the Para Hills Knights plunged into the relegation zone with one round to play. The desperation was clear when the Knights travelled to South Adelaide to take on the already relegated Panthers. Lansana Smith opened the scoring after 11 minutes from long range as Jude Yeomans could not keep the forward's effort out.
The lead was swiftly doubled when Rob Parker turned an Ali Rayez Muradi cross into his own net, and the Knights seemed comfortable in their position. The nerves hit once again when Jonathon Rideout made something out of nothing to pull a goal back in the 36th minute, but Para Hills quickly responded through Harrison Conant four minutes later to restore their two-goal buffer.
Doni Pollock cut the Knights' lead back to one goal on the stroke of half-time to end an entertaining first period and set up an intriguing second. The one-goal lead carried the tension into the second half, and despite having nothing to play for, South Adelaide seemed intent on giving Adelaide Olympic a helping hand.
As Daniel Faulkner blew his full-time whistle, Para Hills did not yield their lead, and Adelaide City defeated Adelaide Olympic to guarantee the Knights a second consecutive season in the NPL.
READ MORE ON FPF
MORE NPL SA: The winners and losers from Round 21
Losers
Modbury lose top two spot
After leading the NPL SA for most of the season, Round 22 saw the Modbury Jets enter a precarious position. Having lost top spot and amid a three-game losing streak, including a mid-week Australia Cup trip to Melbourne, Maurice Natale's side faced Campbelltown City as both teams had a chance to finish the regular season in first.
That dream was swiftly dashed as league-leaders MetroStars put Adelaide Comets to the sword in the first half to consolidate their position. At the same time, Campbelltown and Modbury entered their half-time break in a stalemate.
Josh Barresi opened the scoring in the 69th minute, less than two minutes after being introduced to the game by Michael Matricciani. After the first blow, the Jets succumbed to their opponents, with Marc Marino and Josh Mori rounding off the scoring within the next seven minutes.
The 3-0 loss sees the Jets drop out of the top two for the first time since the season's early weeks. As a result, Natale's side will not have the advantage of a sorely needed week off in the Finals Series, instead being placed in a sudden-death situation against Adelaide United.
Campbelltown City scored three goals in the second half as they jumped Modbury to finish in the top two. (Image: Ken Carter)
Also-rans split the points late
FK Beograd and Croydon FC met at Frank Mitchell Park and faced the same scenario. Both teams found themselves only a point outside the finals spots and needed to win in Round 22 while hoping for a favour from the Adelaide Croatia Raiders against sixth-placed Adelaide United.
While the Young Reds taking an early lead did neither team any favours, Beograd and Croydon could not find the back of the net in a largely uneventful first half. Hope was inspired when, elsewhere, the Raiders found an equaliser.
It took until the 88th minute for the deadlock to break courtesy of Beograd substitute Craig Shearer, who smashed the ball home from close range when it was not cleared from a corner. Just two minutes later, Jaiden Diamantis was able to equalise for Croydon through a hopeful shot that fortuitously deflected in.
Neither team was able to benefit from their shared point, as Adelaide United found a late winner at the Croatian Sports Centre to claim the final play-off position and, in the meantime, end the seasons of both FK Beograd and Croydon.
No great escape for Olympic
The past few seasons have seen Adelaide Olympic struggle and flirt with relegation before fighting back to maintain their NPL status. Despite lifting themselves above the relegation zone in Round 21, their match against Adelaide City in the final round, while fellow strugglers Para Hills took on the relegated South Adelaide, meant that there was still a lot of work to do for Kristi Vangjeli's side to emulate past achievements in 2024.
While Olympic did their job by keeping a rampant City scoreless coming into half-time, the Knights' lead over South Adelaide meant they were back in the relegation zone, with the onus on Olympic to find a goal.
A goal was scored in the second half, but it was for Adelaide City when Nicholas Bucco picked out Gideon Arok from a corner routine. South Adelaide would not defeat Para Hills, and after a valiant fight, Olympic's relegation was confirmed when Daniel Bressan sealed his side's win in the 92nd minute.
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