Metro Hit Top Spot

Written by Antonis Pangonis

NPL SA: Round 6 wrap (theinnersanctum.com.au)

Night games at South Adela0ide are always a test and after having already beaten Champions Adelaide City on their home pitch, the Panthers were always going to give the high-flying MetroStars a challenge.

Despite the visitors starting better, it was the home side that opened the scoring, after Isaac Carmody’s errant distribution saw Alex Rideout dispossess Scott Nagel, before laying the ball off to his brother to open the scoring.

Conceding shocked Danny Graystone’s side into action, with Michael Cittadini converting Jackson Walls’ cross to bring the sides level minutes later. It did not take long for the scorer to become the provider, Cittadini’s lofted ball being tapped home by James Temelkovski who continued his record of scoring in every game of season 2023, sending his side into halftime with the lead.

The Panthers pushed hard for an equaliser after the break, even having a goal disallowed for a foul, but the defining moment came from the spot after Cam Woodfin’s foul on Jonathon Rideout saw the hosts earn a penalty.

Alex Rideout stepped up, but Metro’s keeper Isaac Carmody made up for his earlier error in his 200th game to save the forward’s effort which eventually saw the visitors rewarded with a hard-fought three points in one of the toughest trips in the NPL SA.

Panthers 1

MetroStars 2 (Cittadini, Temelkovski)