MetroStars v Adelaide City
Coca-Cola Federation Cup Quarter Final

When: Monday, April 21st, Kick-off 2:30pm
Where: TK Shutter Reserve, Fourth Avenue, KLEMZIG

Teams:

MetroStars: F. Barbiero, R. Callisto, A. Ciarla, M. D Aloisio, L. D'Arrigo, M. Deegan, D. Godley, S. Grelli, J. Groves, A. Ivanov, D. Menechella, P. Mitris, A. Orphanou, A. Polisena, J. Polisena, L. Robertson, A. Solagna, P. Terminello, S. Tunbridge, A. Van Dommele

Adelaide City: M. Acton, J. Allwright, P. Blefari, N. Bucco, N. Budin, A. Costa, S. Day, F. Garuccio, M. Halliday, T. Love, M. Mittiga, J. Mori, M. Mullen, L. Ostbye, P. Radice, A. Rideout, J. Rideout, A. Sunasky, V. Talladira, S. Tobias

Form:

MetroStars: W W W

Federation Cup Round 2: MetroStars 1-0 Campbelltown City (AET), TK Shutter Reserve
Round 8: MetroStars 1-0 Adelaide City, TK Shutter Reserve
Round 9: Raiders 1-3 MetroStars, Croatian Sports Centre

Adelaide City: L L W

Federation Cup Round 2: Adelaide City 4-1 Adelaide Blue Eagles, Adelaide City Park
Round 8: MetroStars 1-0 Adelaide City, TK Shutter Reserve
Round 9: Adelaide City 5-0 Cumberland United, Adelaide City Park

Preview:

A little over a week after battling in the Premier League, MetroStars and Adelaide City meet again in the Quarter Final of the Coca-Cola Federation Cup at TK Shutter Reserve on Monday.

Ivan Karlovic’s side claimed victory in that Round 8 League encounter thanks to Joseph Polisena’s lone goal. They added to that on Saturday with a come-from-behind 3-1 win against Raiders.

Goalkeeper Daniel Godley says after a slow start they recorded a deserved victory.

“We had a very slow start to the game and had to fight back. We did so and it was a comfortable win in the end,” Godley noted.

“We’ve got another game immediately and so Ivan will have to juggle the squad to get the best out of it that he can.”

MetroStars have scored the least amount of goals of any team in the top nine spots in the Premier League – all separated by just six points – as they go into a sudden-death clash with the black and whites.

Godley admits it’s an area of focus and is expecting a typically tough clash against City.

“Certainly scoring goals is not our major strength right now and is something that has been looked at.

“They will come out firing after a big win on Saturday. I don’t think our recent win against them will count for much, especially after what they did against Cumberland.

“They are a good, free-flowing team. It will be a tough one as usual.”

Adelaide City bounced back from successive League defeats to hammer Cumberland United 5-0 on Saturday.

Nicholas Bucco says it was the perfect preparation for a game they are eager to win.

“It was good to get a big win under our belt and with a clean sheet too,” the striker noted.

“We were happy to kill the game off early, which allowed the chance to rest our legs.

“There may be changes, but we do have a deep squad. We want to win this one – we haven’t beaten MetroStars for a while and want to go as far as possible in the Cup.”

City’s League form has been inconsistent, with Damian Mori’s side currently eighth on the table. Yet they are just a point outside the top six.

Bucco says their recent meeting with MetroStars can be of assistance for this Cup clash.

“I think we need to put in the hard work every week, not just in some matches. That, and the concentration needs to be up.

“That game last week does help. We now know what to expect from them.

“It’s important not to concede the first goal. Once MetroStars go ahead they can be very hard to break down. If we take our chances, get the first goal and cut out the errors then we can progress.”

Elsewhere, West Torrens Birkalla will be looking to bounce back against a buoyant Western Strikers at Jack Smith Park on Monday.

Birkalla looked to have turned the corner last week, but fell to White City. Strikers stopped a recent winless run, defeating Campbelltown City on Saturday, gaining confidence for this clash.

Para Hills and West Adelaide meet for the second time in three days, at The Paddocks on Monday.

The sides met on Saturday with League leaders West Adelaide winning at home. They quickly bounced back from their first loss, while the Knights have won just once – in the Cup – since early March.

The last remaining State League side The Cove takes on Croydon at Adelaide Shores Football Centre next Wednesday.

The Cove have struggled of late, going four games without a win in the League. Meanwhile, the Kings are part of the top-half Premier League logjam. They sit second, just two points off the lead.

Monday April 21

West Torrens Birkalla v Western Strikers
2:30pm - Jack Smith Park, Morphett Road, NOVAR GARDENS

Para Hills v West Adelaide
2:30pm - The Paddocks, Bridge Road, PARA HILLS

Wednesday April 30

The Cove v Croydon
7pm - Adelaide Shores Football Centre, West Beach Road, WEST BEACH