In a game that had more twists and turns than a Disneyland roller coaster, it was Sydney United who prevailed 5-4 to steal the game from a spirited Adelaide City side, in the PlayStation 4 National Premier League Finals Series meeting at the Sydney United Sports Centre.

It was a dominating performance by Sydney United, led by the hattrick brilliance of Panagiotis Nikas.

He was well supported by Glen Trifiro, Mathew Bilic and Yutaro Shin.

Joel Allwright was Adelaide City’s shining light along with Jordan Pudler, Paul Blefari and Mathew Halliday.

Under wet wintry conditions the game rained goals - nine in total, as the supporters on hand were entertained with some exciting football.

Sydney United were in total control in the first half as they pressed high forcing City to sit deep and defend.

Nikas, Shin and Trifiro had the ball on a string, their pin point passes were keeping the City defence under pressure.

Blefari and Halliday did their best to repel the attacking raids by the Sydney forwards.

Nikas had the opportunity in the 15th minute to open the scoring for Sydney when he found space at the edge of the penalty box but his attempt on goal was well saved by Ryan Veitch in the City goal.

City were finding it hard to find a clear path out of defence, as Sydney piled on the pressure.

Sydney were rewarded for their dominance in the 21st minute when Trifiro played a well-weighted through ball into the path of Shin who raced into the box and slotted the ball past a diving Vietch to open the scoring.

It was then all one-way traffic as Sydney searched for a second goal.

Nikas was looking dangerous every time he won possession of the ball.

His creativity was bringing his teammates into the game. But to their credit City were able to hold firm.

Frustration was creeping through City’s defence and in the 33rd minute paid the ultimate price when Bradley Corbo gave away a penalty after bringing down Christopher Payne off the ball.

Nikas stepped up to score Sydney’s second goal and stretch the lead.

Allwright and Pudler were working hard to get City back into the game, but the Black and Whites struggled to hold possession.

But against the run of play in the shades of half-time, Corbo sent the ball forward and found Allwright loose in the forward third, the talented attacking midfielder raced in and wrong footed Thomas Manos in the Sydney goal to open the scoring for the visitors.

Damian Mori would have been happy to go into the break with only a one goal deficit after watching his side being completely dominated by Mark Rudan’s men.

Sydney started the second half as they did the first, and it was that midfield dynamo Nikas who nearly added to the scoreline with great strike from twenty metres only to be denied by a great save by Veitch with his outstretched right hand.

Sydney were dealt a blow when they lost their centre back, Tomislav Uskok, to a calf injury which forced Rudan to reset his defence.

Yet Sydney continued to dominate through the middle third as they continued to press forward.

As the game opened up the goals began to flow, and it was the maestro Nikas who bobbed up in the box to produce one of the most spectacular goals of the season.

His 57th minute bicycle kick flew into the back of the net past a bewildered Veitch on the goal line.

City decided attack was the best form of defence, and pulled a goal back in the 59th minute when Sunasky’s long ball found Allwright on the right side of the eighteen-yard box.

The clever attacking midfielder cut back onto his left foot to shoot the ball past a stranded Manos for City’s second goal of the match.

City were working their way back into the contest and were having a good period.

Pudler had a good strike on goal only to be denied by a diving Manos.

But the Sydney 'keeper had no such luck in the 68th minute when City’s man of the moment Allwright executed a neat cross into the box that found Halliday who had drifted forward.

The defender connected with a well-timed header that hit the roof of the net to give the visitors their third goal and parity.

It was another touch of class by Nikas who gave Sydney their fourth goal and the lead in the 76th minute.

His long range free kick found the top corner for his hattrick.

The strike bought a loud resounding cheer from the water logged spectators.

To compound City’s woes, Corbo was shown the red card for his second yellow card. And it seemed Sydney would hold on to win the match.

But City continued to mount a last desperate challenge.

Mamadi Kamara, who was well held for most of the game, broke free on the left wing and sent a beautiful cross to an unmarked Costa who blasted home City’s fourth, and the equaliser in the 88th minute from close range.

As extra time loomed there would be another twist to this exciting encounter, and it was man of the match Nikas who would play his part to decide the outcome of this titanic contest.

The match winner attempted another overhead kick, but his miss timed strike found the hand of City’s defender Michael Acton.

Referee Ben Abraham had no hesitation to point to the penalty spot.

Payne stepped up to slot the ball past a diving Veitch to give Sydney the win and a place in the next round of the PlayStation 4 National Premier League Finals Series.

It was a classic encounter that delivered some spectacular goals and very entertaining football.

City after a slow start put in a real challenge, but in the end Sydney deserved their hard fought victory.

Written by: Joe Pangallo

Photo by: Brendan Esposito