West Torrens Birkalla vs. MetroStars

PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia – Elimination Final “B”

When: Sunday, August 21st Kick-off 3pm
Where: Adelaide Shores Football Centre, West Beach

Teams:

West Torrens Birkalla:

Isaac Burnett, Alexander Metanomski, Michael Mangafakis, James Polli, Joe Gauci, 1. Julian Torresan (C) (GK), 4. Tom Dittmar, 5. Scott Nagel, 6. Lawrence D'Arrigo, 7. Fumiya Suzuki, 8. Christopher Skull, 10. Paul Radice, 11. Ryan Yates, 12. Taro Kawamura, 16. Peter Karakasilis, 18. William Plush, 20. Patrick Pietrosanti, 24. Ian Kamau, 28. Adam Le Cornu, 80. John-Paul Cirillo
Coaches: Steven De Giovanniello, Joe Verringer Team Staff: Anne Nagel, Aminreza Bashourzadeh, Ivan Piovesan

MetroStars: 

Callum Piantadosi, Terry Theodorou, Alexander Jakob, Christian Esposito, Matthew Crooks, Liam Wooding, Timothy Henderson, Bailey Truscott, Adam Van Dommele (C), Anthony Solagna, Justin Davis, Travis Dodd, Fabian Barbiero, Stefan Simic, Rocky Callisto, Michael D Aloisio
Coaches: ROBBIE SARACENO
Team Staff: GIORGIO CAPOCCIA, SCOTT TUNBRIDGE, EMILY PEUT, LEWIS PANFILO

Form:

West Torrens Birkalla: L W L

Round 20: Adelaide City 2 - 0 WT Birkalla, Adelaide City Park
Round 21: Adelaide Comets 1 - 2 WT Birkalla, Santos Stadium
Round 22: WT Birkalla 1 - 2 Raiders, Jack Smith Park

MetroStars: W L W

Round 20: MetroStars 2 - 1 Croydon Kings, T.K Shutter Reserve
Round 21: West Adelaide 3 - 1 MetroStars, Adelaide Shores Football Centre
Round 22: MetroStars 2 - 1 Adelaide City, T.K Shutter Reserve

Preview:

After an entertaining and competitive 2016 season we have arrived to the finals, where the top six sides will compete for the coveted FFSA Premiership Cup. And two of the form sides of the competition, West Torrens Birkalla and MetroStars go head to head in the Elimination Final of the PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia at the Adelaide Shores Football Centre on Sunday.

Birkalla have once again this season cruised under the radar to reach another NPL playoff series with some exemplary performances throughout the 2016 season. The Birks have had another consistent year, and will be a team to be respected in the finals.

Credit must go to Steve Giovaniello who has been able to cover the huge loss from their engine room of their midfield dynamo Ryan Kitto (signed for Adelaide United A-league) from last season’s line up with the injection of youth and experience. Ryan Yates has been a revelation in the middle of the park, while the signing of Fumiya Suzuki has given Birkalla some added speed through the wing channel. The nippy winger has netted fifteen goals this season. His partner in crime Ian Kamau has also caused concerns for opposing sides.

Birkalla’s opponent in Sunday’s Elimination Final will be their Eastern suburb rival MetroStars who, after a shaky start to the year and a change of coaches, have had a great back half to the season to force their way into a top six berth. Last week’s win over league leader Adelaide City was a testament to their will to win, and a notice to the other five teams that they are not there to make up the numbers.

MetroStars’ coach Robbie Saraceno has got his players cherry ripe at the business end of their campaign. Their hard work on the track has resulted with some impressive results on the park, and Birkalla will have to be on guard to stop Metro’s quick run and spread out of defence, a game style that has troubled a lot of sides this season.

The battle of the midfields will be an enthralling contest. MetroStars trio Fabian Barbiero, Anthony Solagna and Rocky Callisto will have to be up for the fight against the energetic Birkalla mids of Lawrence D’Arrigo, Christopher skull and Ryan Yates, if they are to give the visitors an advantage.

Birkalla welcome back their solid defender Adam LeCornu to bolster their defence, while Metro regain their creative winger Liam Wooding.

MetroStars’ solid defender and “Mr Reliable” Michael D’Alosio said that his side will field a full strength team for their cut throat match. He was quick to point out that anything less than a full team effort won’t be enough to progress through to the next round.

“We have to bring our “A” game on Sunday to compete with Birkalla who are a very good side.” D’Alosio said

“We are expecting a tough hard slog, and it will be up to the back four and the midfield to starve Birks of the ball to prevent Paul Radice, Kamau and Suzuki having any impact in their forward half.”

‘The boys will go into the match full of confidence after our solid win against the in-form Adelaide City last week, and we will be strengthened with the return of Liam (Wooding) up front.” He added

This match will have all the twists and turns that you would expect for an Elimination Final, with the
need of extra time and penalties a possibility to separate two talented sides of the competition.

Written by: Joe Pangallo

Photo by: Adam Butler