R3 Preview - South Adelaide vs. MetroStars

We preview Round 3 in the National Premier Leagues - SA competition as South Adelaide host North Eastern MetroStars at O'Sullivan Beach Sports and Community Centre on Friday night.

South Adelaide are without a point after losing 2-1 at home to Raiders last Sunday night. They will be expecting to bounce back with a good performance at home and prove that they are not relegation favourites.

On the other hand, MetroStars were disappointing in a 3-1 defeat to Adelaide Olympic at The Parks (highlights here) and will be desperate to get our season back on track with a win.

A poor opening ten minutes saw Adelaide Olympic take a two goal lead through Fausto Erba and Christos Pounendis. Tom Strain pegged one back for Metro with a well taken goal at the 20 minute mark. Left back Cohan Morris was forced off with a suspected concussion and was replaced by Stefan Cali, making his 100th competitive appearance in SA football. A brilliant Ricardo Da Silva strike restored the two goal buffer. The second half saw Olympic sit back and absorb pressure from Metro but the opening never came and the final score remained 3-1.

Adelaide Olympic: 3 (Fausto ERBA 6’, Christos POUNENDIS 7’, Ricardo DA SILVA 31’)

NE MetroStars: 1 (Thomas STRAIN 20’)

Venue: VALO Football Centre

Date: 3/03/2019 05:00

Adelaide Olympic Substitutes: Tito BONTOR on Fausto ERBA off (69’), Dimitri TOUMAZOS on Christos POUNENDIS off (85’)

NE MetroStars Substitutes: Stefan CALI on Cohan MORRIS off (37’), Matthew DAWBER on Hamish GOW off (55’), Alexander JAKOB on Thomas STRAIN off (78’)

Adelaide Olympic Yellow cards: Fausto ERBA 53’, Christos POUNENDIS 74’, Dimitri TOUMAZOS 86’

NE MetroStars Yellow cards: Rocky CALLISTO 40’, Lachlan BARR 45’

Adelaide Olympic Red cards: Nil

NE MetroStars Red cards: Nil

Coach Robbie Saraceno will be demanding a reaction from his players this Friday night and may be tempted to make a few changes. Captain Michael D'Aloisio faces a late fitness test as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Tim Henderson is still on the long term injury list. Rocky Callisto is set to make his 200th competitive appearance in SA, all games with MetroStars.

Come and join us tomorrow as we look to bounce back with a win. Alternatively, you can follow live updates on our Twitter @NE_MetroStars or by using the hashtag #MetroStars.

Referee Appointments:

Gary Mooney - Referee

Aaron Galanti - Assistant Referee 1

Jack Robinson- Assistant Referee 2

South Adelaide vs. MetroStars Friday 8th March - 7:00PM O'Sullivan Beach Sports and Community Centre, O'Sullivan Beach