R1 Preview - MetroStars vs. Adelaide Olympic

We preview Round 1 in the National Premier Leagues - SA competition as North Eastern MetroStars host Adelaide Olympic at T.K. Shutter Reserve on Saturday evening.

MetroStars will be going into this season with confidence after recording 7 wins out of 7 in pre-season. Coach Rob Saraceno will be happy with the form of the free-scoring duo Christian Esposito and new arrival Joshua Mori. A disappointing blow is the loss of striker Nahuel Bonada through suspension.

Meanwhile Adelaide Olympic have recruited heavily in the off-season with Cliff Maina (Southern Illinois University), Panagiotis Manidakis (AEEK SYNKA), Ioannis Simosis (Greece), Benkert Abdija (Italy), Kristin Konstandopoulos (Adelaide United Youth), Luca Megetto (Adelaide United Youth), Charlie Devereux (Para Hills), Brayden Micallef (South Adelaide), Nick Harpas (South Adelaide), Jason Kontstandopoulos (Adelaide United Youth) and Kimon Toumazos (Brisbane) all arriving at Ferryden Park. Coach George Tsonis will be hoping that this will offset the loss of Sergio Melta Medalist Ricardo da Silva who departed for West Adelaide in the summer.

MetroStars Squad: 1. Isaac Carmody, 3. Cohan Morris, 5: Tim Henderson, 7. Michael D'Aloisio (c), 8. Rocky Callisto, 9. Tom Strain, 10. Anthony Solagna, 11. Luis Benedetti, 12. Benjamin Head, 14. Dylan Smith, 16. Kyle Crout, 17. Matthew Dawber, 18. Fabian Barbiero, 19. Cooper O’Donnell, 20. Joshua Mori, 22. Hamish Gow, 23. Christian Esposito, 25. Jackson O’Donnell, 26. Stefan Cali

Injured: 4. Justin Davis

Suspended: 24. Nahuel Bonada

Adelaide Olympic Squad: 2. Jacob Butler-Bowdon, 4. Kristin Konstandopoulos, 5. David Makridis, 9. Christos Pounendis, 12. Dimitri Toumazos, 14. Jason Konstandopoulos, 15. John Tsimopoulos, 17 Kimon Toumazos, 19. Braden Micallef, 21. Nick Harpas (GK), 32. Charlie Devereux

Tim Henderson in action in a pre-season friendly against Fulham United . Photo credit: Adam Butler

Form (last 5 games):

MetroStars 1-2 Fulham United

MetroStars 5-4 Adelaide Comets

White City 1-2 MetroStars

MetroStars 7-0 West Adelaide

Campbelltown City 2-3 MetroStars

Modbury Jets 3-3 Adelaide Olympic

Playford 2-1 Adelaide Olympic

Campbelltown City 0-1 Adelaide Olympic

Adelaide Olympic 3-5 Adelaide Comets

Adelaide Olympic 0-2 Croydon Kings

Last 5 meetings:

31.8.19 - Adelaide Olympic 1-2 MetroStars

20.7.19 - MetroStars 1-2 Adelaide Olympic

3.3.19 - Adelaide Olympic 3-1 MetroStars

11.8.18 - MetroStars 1-0 Adelaide Olympic

23.6.18 - Adelaide Olympic 1-0 MetroStars

New arrival Joshua Mori has bagged 4 goals in pre-season . Photo credit: Adam Butler

Come and join us Saturday afternoon for a massive game of football! Alternatively, you can follow live updates on our Twitter @NE_MetroStars or by using the hashtag #MetroStars.

Referee Appointments:

Christian Verdicchio - Referee

TBA - Assistant Referee 1

Angus Macdonald - Assistant Referee 2

MetroStars vs. Adelaide Olympic Saturday 22nd February 2020 - 7:30PM

Reserves 5:00PM | Under 18 2:30PM

T.K. Shutter Reserve, Klemzig