R18 Wrap: Adelaide Blue Eagles v South Adelaide Panthers
Adelaide Blue Eagles secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over South Adelaide in Round 18 of the PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia at Marden Sports Complex on Saturday.
Fortunato Filletti netted on the stroke of half-time, before Kym Harris sealed the points with a late free-kick.
Filletti came on just past the half hour mark as Blue Eagles struggled to break the Panthers down. He said the win was all that mattered.
“I thought we played an average game, but a win is a win. South Adelaide are always a hard team to play against, so getting that win was crucial for us,” he stated.
“We needed to get the points to stay in the top three – we didn’t want the others behind us to get too close. We also didn’t want the top two to get away.
“After the substitution we changed formation. That worked a lot better for us and we were able to get the all-important opening goal.”
South Adelaide coach Danny Graystone also pointed to the first goal as significant, as his side sits in relegation danger.
“We were unfortunate to go in at the break behind. We had the better of it and created chances, but we didn’t take them and they went up and scored,” he said.
“I think they were there for the taking in the first half. The goal they scored right on half time was crucial.
“We have to keep believing. We have to beat those around us, so it remains in our hands, but we have to stick together.”
Jonathon Rideout shot from a tight angle and forced a good save from goalkeeper Josef Shyti, replacing the injured Lucas Andreucci, before the half hour mark.
The Panthers kept it tight defensively for the first half, but in the first minute of injury time substitute Filletti found space and finished smartly past Addison Rodgers.
Joshua Hawker spurned South Adelaide’s best chance of the second half, directing a free header over the crossbar in the 63rd minute.
Less than 60 seconds later Rideout was again denied by Shyti.
Harris closed proceedings with a superb free-kick in the 78th minute, curling the ball around the wall and past Rodgers for his 16th goal of the season.
Substitute Anthony Dimas was denied a late goal by a fine save from Rodgers.
Article by Luca Cetta - @l_cetta
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