MetroStars v Adelaide Olympic
PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia - Round 8

When: Saturday, April 23^rd. Kick-off 3pm
Where: T.K. Shutter Reserve, Fourth Avenue, Klemzig

Teams:

MetroStars: 1. Isaac Carmody, 4. Justin Davis, 5. Timothy Henderson, 6. Anthony Solagna, 7. Michael D Aloisio, 8. Rocky Callisto, 9. Jonathan Negus, 12. Terry Theodorou, 13. Bailey Truscott, 17. Doni Pollock, 18. Fabian Barbiero, 19. Joseph Polisena, 21. Adam Van Dommele, 22. Matthew Crooks, 24. Travis Dodd, 25. Callum Piantadosi (GK)

Adelaide Olympic: Manni Katopodis, Jordan Zerella, George Aslanidis, David Makridis, David Signore, Sean Brennan, Jairus Wyten (C), John Giannitto, Haris Vuckic, Shigeyuki Sogo, Tyler Waterhouse, Matthew Bouzalas, Gino De Lucia (GK), Fausto Erba, Christos Pounendis

Form:

MetroStars: L L W

Adelaide Olympic: L W W

Preview:

MetroStars will be looking to continue on their winning form when they entertain the emerging Adelaide Olympic at TK Shutter Reserve in the Round 8 fixture of the PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia.

Metro come into the game having had a confidence boosting win over South Adelaide in their last outing. The round seven game saw the return of Travis Dodd and Anthony Sologna for their first game of the season, the latter a welcome boost to Metro’s defence.

Metro coach Michael Pirone will be looking for his Influential playmakers, Fabian Barbiero, Bailey Truscott, Liam Wooding and Rocky Callisto to control proceedings through the midfield and give his forwards plenty of goal scoring opportunities.

Donni Pollock has been a revelation in the Metro forward half this season, his bullocking work and clinical finishing in front of goal will cause plenty of headaches for the Olympic defence.

Olympic after a slow start to the season, have hit some good form of late themselves, winning their last two matches and signalling to the rest of the competition that they have the playing personnel that will cause concerns for opposition sides.

Olympic coach Maurice Natale will be hoping his star striker Fausto Erba continues to find the back of the net, and in doing so put some pressure back on the opposition.

Metro and Olympic sitting 9^th and 10^th on the ladder respectively, will be eager to snare the three points as we nudge closer to the half way point of the season.

Metro’s attacking midfielder Liam Wooding said that with new players arriving at the club it has taken time for the playing group to understand each other’s playing style, which is reflected with their poor start to the season. But Saturday’s game is a crucial contest in the context of the season.

‘We have had an influx of players in the off season so it will take time for us to gel” he said

“Since arriving to the club Donni (Pollock) and Bailey (Truscott) have been great for us, they have needed time to adjust to our game style, but they have more than covered the void left by the players that exited the club”

“Saturday’s game against Olympic is going to be a real challenge, they have some talented players in their side, so we can’t afford to take them lightly, if we do we will pay a hefty price”

Olympic will be looking to set the tone of the contest early by trying to play the game on their terms. Natale’s men will try to exploit Metro through the wings with their speed, and hope Erba can put his name on the score card earlier than later to build the pressure.   

But Metro look a more settled line-up with a solid defence and hard running midfield, and will be a daunting proposition at home.

The game promises to be a tight encounter between two sides desperate to build on their current winning streak.

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