Adelaide City retained its place atop the PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia ladder after cruising to a 3-0 success against MetroStars in Round 11 at Adelaide City Park on Saturday. 

Nicholas Bucco netted two goals in four first-half minutes, including one from the penalty spot, to put the home side clear. Anthony Costa saw a second half penalty saved, but then sealed the victory. 

The Black and Whites have won six of the last seven matches, but midfielder Shane Tobias says there is more to come. 

“It was a good performance, maybe not one of our best, but we worked hard,” he said. 

“We created enough chances and got the goals. There was good work-rate in attack and we forced them into errors. We played the game we wanted. 

“There’s definitely more to come. We have fixed the defensive problems from the start of the season, where we were leaking goals. Now that we have shored up the defence and are scoring at the other end, it is onwards and upwards from here.” 

MetroStars coach Rob Saraceno says his team still has belief it can make the top six, despite sitting in 10^th place. 

“We made some silly errors and overall we weren’t at our best. Adelaide City capitalised on that,” he stated. 

“We didn’t start well and weren’t ourselves until the second half. But by then the damage was done and we were playing catch-up. 

“There were elements which were good, but there is still a bit to work on. However, the team has got the belief that we can make a run to the finals.” 

Adelaide City opened the scoring in the 12^th minute. Goalkeeper Isaac Carmody bowled over Mamadi Kamara and Bucco sent him the wrong way from the resulting penalty.

City’s No 11 added a second goal shortly after. He found space on the edge of the penalty area, ghosted past a defender and drilled a shot into the bottom corner. 

MetroStars looked for a way back in a positive start to the second half, but Doni Pollock’s shot from Terry Theodorou’s cross was well saved by Ryan Veitch. 

The home side went down the other end and Costa found Nikola Mileusnic, who saw his shot well tipped over by Carmody. 

Joel Allwright’s superb 62^nd minute run ended when he was upended inside the penalty area. Costa had the chance to put the result beyond doubt from the spot, but Carmody redeemed himself by guessing the right way. 

MetroStars substitute Travis Dodd was denied by another excellent Veitch save, following Theodorou’s centre. 

Costa won the ball off a static MetroStars defence and charged at goal, only to curl his shot wide of the far post. 

Yet the striker was not to be denied, netting in the 72^nd minute after Carmody dwelled on the ball inside the penalty area. Costa’s challenge on the goalkeeper saw the ball go into the empty net.

Michael D’Aloisio had a free header from Liam Wooding’s corner, but his attempt was saved by Veitch, as City enjoyed a comprehensive success. 

Written by Luca Cetta - @l_cetta