Devine Super League Final Five Week 1 Wrap

by Luca Cetta

Photo Chris Kelly

Adelaide City has earned a spot in the second week of the Finals after a 2-0 victory over Raiders in the Devine Super League Elimination Final at Adelaide City Park on Saturday.

City will meet Adelaide Blue Eagles in the second semi-final after they were defeated 2-0 by MetroStars in the Qualifying Final at Marden Sports Complex on Sunday.

MetroStars’ victory sees them book a meeting with minor premier Croydon in the first semi-final.

City’s win spelled the end of Raiders 2012 campaign and came after second half goals from the returning Nick Budin and Jonathan Negus.

Adelaide City captain Budin believes it was a good performance and was pleased to aid the team after fearing injury would not allow him the chance to feature.

“It was a good performance, after a few games without a win we got it together and managed to take home the result,” he said.

“Damian (Mori) was positive at half-time, he just said to keep pushing and to be more clinical in the final third. We did that and got the win, which gives us great confidence. We don’t want it to end next week.”

“For me personally just to come back was huge because I thought I would be out for the rest of the season. So to play and get the goal was great.”

Raiders captain Mimi Saric lamented Raiders missed chances but says they can be satisfied with their efforts throughout the year.

“We did everything we could, we had chances that we didn’t put away and in the second half Adelaide City did,” he said.

“We had two great chances, one when it was still goalless and one to equalise and who knows what could have happened from there, but unfortunately we couldn’t put either away.”

“All in all, the club deems it a successful year. We hadn’t been in the Finals for a few years so that was our aim and we achieved that. The supporters were happy we picked up some good wins at home. We can come back stronger.”

Neither goalkeeper was forced into a meaningful save early on, although Patrick DeRuvo and Paul Blefari fired wide for City, with former black and whites player Nicholas Orr sending a free kick over the crossbar at the other end.

Alex Sunasky connected with a Ricardo Da Silva cross, looping his header on to the roof of Daniel Atkins net.

Da Silva then blasted a free kick over the bar and at the other end Evan Metanomski headed wide from a Raiders corner.

Saric had a great opportunity early in the second half but saw his shot blocked by Luke Ostybe when through on goal.

Metanomski connected with another corner but his powerful effort whistled past the post, with Ostybe rooted to the spot.

Tom Guttormsen was afforded space on the edge of the penalty area and almost found the top corner. His shot was plucked out of the air by an acrobatic Atkins stop.

However, there was nothing the goalkeeper could do to keep out Budin on 70 minutes when the skipper connected with Da Silva’s near-post cross to nod home the opening goal.

Raiders somehow failed to claim an equaliser in the 79^th minute when Saric’s low effort beat Ostybe but not the post and on the rebound the goalkeeper did brilliantly to deny Matthew Muscroft.

A minute later Atkins reacted well to save Joel Allwright’s deflected shot, yet it fell straight to Negus who put the result beyond doubt.

For MetroStars, a goal in each half from Steven Grelli and Perry Mitris ensured they will face Croydon next week with a Grand Final spot on the line. 

Christopher Atsikbasis, Dean Kenrick and Christopher Annicchiarico were best on ground for Blue Eagles, while MetroStars top trio were Michael D'Aloisio, Mitris and Rocky Callisto.