Finals Week 2 Preview: West Torrens Birkalla v Adelaide City
West Torrens Birkalla v Adelaide City
PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia Elimination Semi Final
When: Saturday, August 29th. Kick-off 2:30pm
Where: Jack Smith Park, Morphett Road, NOVAR GARDENS
Teams:
West Torrens Birkalla: 80 J. Cirillo, 14 L. D'Arrigo, 4 T. Dittmar, 24 T. Kawamura, 11 R. Kitto, 7 A. Miyayama, 2 S. Nagel, 8 T. Quaglia, 10 P. Radice, 3 K. Rowe, 12 C. Skull, 6 D. Solari, 20 N. Temby, 1 J. Torresan, 5 H. Vuckic, 18 J. Watson
Adelaide City: 2 M. Acton, 7 J. Allwright, 11 N. Bucco, 12 L. Farquhar, 5 M. Halliday, 13 N. Mauriello, 17 M. Mittiga, 6 M. Mullen, 3 A. Sunasky, 14 F. Suzuki, 4 S. Tobias, 1 R. Veitch
Form:
West Torrens Birkalla: L W W
Round 25: Adelaide City 3-0 West Torrens Birkalla, Adelaide City Park
Round 26: West Torrens Birkalla 4-2 White City, Jack Smith Park
Elimination Final: West Torrens Birkalla 0-0 Campbelltown City (West Torrens Birkalla wins 5-4 on penalties), Jack Smith Park
Adelaide City: W W W
Round 25: Adelaide City 3-0 West Torrens Birkalla, Adelaide City Park
Round 26: Raiders 1-3 Adelaide City, Croatian Sports Centre
Elimination Final: Croydon 1-1 Adelaide City (Adelaide City wins 3-1 on penalties), Polonia Reserve
Preview:
West Torrens Birkalla and Adelaide City will aim to continue their finals journey when they meet in the PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia Elimination Semi Final at Jack Smith Park on Saturday.
Birkalla opened the finals series with a 5-4 penalty shootout triumph over Campbelltown City after the match ended scoreless.
It was Birkalla’s first finals appearance since 2011 and coach Steve De Giovanniello was proud of his players.
“It was a typical finals game, very tight with limited chances. However, both sides had good ones and it could have gone either way,” he said.
“It was the club’s first finals game for a while and the first for this group. They haven’t experienced that sort of pressure and intensity before. Campbelltown had more experience in that area and so I was proud of how the players handled the occasion.”
On its last trip to the finals, Birkalla was immediately eliminated following a loss against Western Strikers. It finished third this term, but is the outsider to lift the trophy of the four remaining clubs.
De Giovanniello accepts the underdog tag and believes this will be different to the pair’s last meeting – a 3-0 win for Adelaide City just three weeks ago.
“We are the underdogs even if we finished higher. If you look at experience, City has far more in these games. It’s new territory for my players.
“We learnt a lot from the last game, but having a midweek game beforehand had a bearing on it. We’ll be better prepared this time.
“Defensively Adelaide City are sound, while our strength is our front three. It will come down to our attack against their defence.”
Adelaide City also advanced last weekend following a penalty shootout triumph, against Croydon. The Black and Whites were behind at the interval, but equalised through Lewis Farquhar. The shootout ended 3-1, Fumiya Suzuki converting the decisive spot-kick.
Coach Damian Mori said the match could have swung in any direction.
“Either team could have won the match. Both goalkeepers made great saves throughout the 120 minutes and it was an evenly fought game,” the former striker noted.
“Any positive result in the finals gives you confidence and we hope to build from here.”
City last tasted Premier League success in 2010 – their fourth title in five seasons. They can take a psychological edge into the clash given the most recent result between the sides.
After losing in the final of Westfield FFA Cup Qualifying, Mori says this is another chance to add to City’s glittering trophy cabinet.
“The Cup is a different competition, although we were disappointed we didn’t win it. The finals offer another opportunity for silverware.
“I don’t think the last match will have much of a bearing. The competition has been quite tight throughout the season. We beat them, but Birkalla beat us earlier in the year.
“Taking our opportunities will be vital. In finals matches you don’t get many chances.
“Birkalla finished third this season, so they are a great team. They are strong all over and it will be a close game.”
Article by Luca Cetta - @l_cetta
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