R12 Preview: Croydon Kings v Adelaide City

Croydon Kings v Adelaide City
PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia Round 12

When: Saturday, May 21st. Kick-off 3pm
Where: Polonia Reserve, South Road Croydon.

Teams:

Croydon Kings: Joshua Farrell, Jamie Taras, Aladin Irabona, Thomas Dichiera, 1. Nicholas Munro (GK), 2. John Panagaris, 3. Anthony Francesca, 5. James Skeffington, 6. Nathan Farrell, 7. Shaun Mcgreevy, 8. Rocco Visconte, 9. Elvis Kamsoba, 10. Luke Klimek (C), 11. Peter Mercurio, 12. Frank Marafioti, 13. Hosine Bility, 14. Steven Pepper, 15. Dion Gazettas, 16. Jesse Francesca, 17. Mohammed Sumaoro, 18. Jarrod Brazzale, 21. Jackson O'Donnell

Adelaide City: Luke Ostbye, 1. Ryan Veitch (GK), 2. Michael Acton, 3. Alexander Sunasky, 4. Shane Tobias, 5. Matthew Halliday, 6. Jordan Pudler, 7. Joel Allwright, 8. Paul Blefari, 9. Anthony Costa, 10. Nikola Mileusnic, 11. Nicholas Bucco, 12. Lewis Farquhar, 13. Daniel Filosi, 14. Andrew Orphanou, 15. Anthony Babb, 16. Thomas Love, 17. Mamadi Kamara, 18. Joshua Mori, 19. Gabriel Kolopelnyk, 22. Matthew Moore

Form

Croydon Kings: D L L 

Round 9:   Croydon 2 - 2 MetroStars - Polonia Reserve
Round 10: Croydon 2 - 4 Adelaide Olympic - Polonia Reserve
Round 11: Croydon 2 - 3 West Adelaide – Adelaide Shores Football Centre 

Adelaide City:   L W W 

Round 9:   Adelaide City 1- 3 WT Birkalla – Jack Smith Park
Round 10: Adelaide City 3 - 0 South Adelaide – OSullivans Beach Sports and Community Centre Round 11: Adelaide City 3 - 0 MetroStars – Adelaide City Park 

Preview: 

Like a movie scene made famous by Sylvester Stallone in “Rocky”, a battered, punch drunk Croydon Kings, will need to pull themselves off the canvas and go another round with the real heavy weights of the competition Adelaide City in their PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia round 12 clash at Polonia Reserve. 

Croydon come into this game against the league leader Adelaide City having had a horror month of football. In their last four games they have only been able to pick up one solitary point, which would be a big concern for coach Mark Brazzale as they languish close to the relegation zone. 

An exodus of players at the start of the season, compounded by injuries, Croydon have shown a lot of character to hang strong with all the adversities they have encountered. And Saturday’s match against City presents another challenge for Brazzale’s men. 

Adelaide City conversely, apart from being well beaten by the form side of the competition West Torrens Birkalla in Round 9, have been able to get a two-point break from their rivals at the top of the table, and would see this game as a great opportunity to extend their lead with a win. 

Leading goal scorer Anthony Costa has been in sterling form consistently finding the back of the net with the support from his hard working midfielders Nicholas Bucco and Joel Allwright. Croydon will need to keep these two play makers in check if they are to have any chance of salvaging points. 

Talented Croydon attacking midfielder Rocky Visconte knows the importance of this game, he said that the team had to be more disciplined and start playing for the full ninety minutes if they are to play finals. 

“We’re not looking for excuses we know we are down on form we just have to get back to basics and follow the game plan that has given us a lot of success. We have to keep playing to the final whistle,” Visconte said. 

“The boys have been training hard on the track but haven’t been able to transform their hard work on game day. When we drop our concentration during the game we get punished on the score board. 

“Everyone in the team believes we can still make the finals this year, but we have to start turning our form around soon and this week is a good opportunity for us.” 

Adelaide City midfield supremo Nicholas Bucco said that Croydon Kings were always dangerous at home, especially when they had their backs to the wall. 

“Our aim will be to get off to a good start and keep the pressure on them when they have the ball. We need this win to keep top spot,” Bucco said. 

“We know it is going to be a physical hard slog and we will be ready for them. 

“We have the team that can beat anyone on our day. The young boys that have come into the side have been playing good football, Jordan Pudler in particular, he has really settled in well and has become a real asset to the team.” 

Both teams will come out swinging hoping to get an early ascendancy on a game that promises to be an entertaining spectacle. If Croydon can hold up Adelaide City’s midfield and create enough chances of their own in front of goal they may surprise their visitors. 

But the form suggests City will have enough of the ball in their forward half to dominate proceedings, and send Croydon crashing to the canvas for the count for another week. 

Written by: Joe Pangallo - 5RTI Sports 531 AM
Twitter: @JoJo_ontheball




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