Adelaide City v Adelaide  Blue Eagles
South Australia PlayStation4 National Premier League Round 1

When: Friday, February 13th. Kick-off 8:15pm
Where: Adelaide City Park, Cnr Fosters Road & Hilltop Drive, OAKDEN

Teams:

Adelaide City: 1 R. Veitch, 2 M. Acton, 15 S. Day, 5 M. Halliday, 6 M. Mullen, 7 J. Allwright, 11 N. Bucco, 3 A. Sunasky, 4 S. Tobias, 12 M. Mullen, 14 F. Suzuki, 13 N. Mauriello, 17 M. Mittiga, 18 J. Mori, 20 J. O'Donnell

Adelaide Blue Eagles: 1. Michael Catford (GK) 2. Adam Harris 3. Stephen Annicchiarico, 4. Christopher Atsikbasis 5. Christopher Annicchiarico (C), 6. Pietro Piantedosi 7. Yvan Boyokino 8. Damien Crettenden 9. Fortunato Filletti 10. Sheku Hutton-Addy 11. Johnny Giannitto 14. Stavros Grafyadel (RGK) 16. Matthew Charalambous 17. Matthew Dawber 18. Kym Harris 19. Marco Balsamo 20. Anthony Dimas 21. Sam Viola 22. Andrej Rastovac 23. Hirofumi Kochi

Form:
Adelaide City: N/A
Adelaide Blue Eagles: N/A

Preview:

Round one of the 2015 South Australian PlayStation4 National Premier League is set to kick off in style as heavyweights Adelaide City and Adelaide Blue Eagles go head to head on Friday night.

The two sides met twice in the League last season with Blue Eagles walking away victorious, putting three past Adelaide City’s keeper on both occasions.

City and Blue Eagles have been neck and neck on the table in previous seasons, and as a result, captains Matthew Halliday and Chris Annicchiarico are gearing up for a tight and thrilling contest.

“I think it is going to be a real tough encounter as usual,” said Halliday.

“Our matches between us in recent times, some have been close but some have been all over the place.

“But usually the matches between the two teams is quite competitive and quite hard to pick who can win those tight games.”

Annicchiarico reiterated the sentiments made by his counterpart at City.

“We know what to expect from Adelaide City, they are a top class unit,” he said.

“It is always a challenge when you come up against them.

“They will be tough as they always are and we are looking forward to a good tussle on Friday night.”

Blue Eagles fell agonisingly short of a finals appearance last season, going down to eventual champions Croydon in the second week of the knockout stages.

But Annicchiarico believes that they have the talent to go all the way this season with a new coach in Gianluca Lagatti at the helm.

“We know his philosophy and the way he likes to play” he said.

“It is a little bit different to past seasons, but I think we are gearing up for a good season and we are starting to play to his specific tactics and philosophies.

“We set out to win the championship every year, but we don’t want to cast our eye too far forward,” he said.

“It is definitely one our goals to win the Championship, not just make finals.

“I believe we have got the team and the technical staff to do that, so that is what we are going to look forward to.”

Adelaide City has already claimed their first piece of silverware this season, after downing Croydon 2-1 in the Charity Cup last Friday night.

Halliday said that the win was a good indication of the way the team wants to play, and gives them something to build on heading into the season opener.

“Last night was a platform of the standard we want to produce week in, week out.

“I think last night shows what we are capable of what we want to achieve throughout out the year.”

City garnered national attention last year with their historic Westfield FFA Cup run, which saw them upset Asian Champions League holders Western Sydney Wanderers.

Halliday believes that their impressive form in the cup competition will translate over into the Premier League this season.

“What we produced in the FFA Cup was not only inspirational by some of us.

“It has come through all the players not just the older, experienced players but the younger players as well.

“I think some of them are benefiting from the experience we have had and have taken that into the New Year.”

City coach Damian Mori has managed to keep the majority of last season’s side intact, but club champion Nick Buddin has departed after an illustrious career with the Black and Whites.

A veteran presence has also departed from Adelaide Blue Eagles, as another club champion in Gino De Lucia has gone into retirement. A further three players have also left Azzuri.

Despite the losses, both captains believe they have enough talent in the ranks to fill the voids that have been left behind.

Adelaide City and Adelaide Blue Eagles are scheduled to kick off at 8:15 at City Park this Friday.

Article by Brendan Simpkins