In Round 24, MetroStars defeated West Adelaide 2-1 at TK Shutter Reserve to secure the South Australia National Premier League minor premiership.
The win was Metro’s 13th consecutive victory, meaning they have defeated all of their opponents this season on the way to clinching top spot.
The Klemzig-based club are premiers for the eighth time in their history, backing up their 2013 premiership success.
However, West Adelaide opened the scoring on Saturday night, with Ricardo Da Silva putting the away side ahead after 12 minutes.
But MetroStars were quick to respond, with Matthew Deegan getting the home team back on level terms just two minutes later.
League top scorer Perry Mitris put MetroStars ahead in the 20th minute, but he received his marching orders just six minutes later for a challenge on Kosta Mantis.
MetroStars had a chance to make it 3-1 from the penalty spot with 10 minutes remaining, but West Adelaide keeper Lewis Moss saved midfielder Fabian Barbiero’s spot kick.
Despite the penalty save, West Adelaide were unable to claw their way back into the game, allowing Metro to take all three points.
MetroStars goalkeeper Daniel Godley said his team kept trying to attack West Adelaide on Saturday night.
“Even when we were down to 10 men we didn’t sit back and try to defend, we kept going for the kill,” Godley said.
“We missed out on our first target of winning the Coca-Cola Federation Cup, but this was number two [winning the minor premiership], so we’re definitely happy.
“Ivan [Karlovic – MetroStars coach] is pretty calculated with everything he has done, so it’s always long term and he’s always got a point behind everything he does.”
Godley said MetroStars would be looking to keep the momentum when they travel to Marden Sports Complex in Round 25 to take on fourth-placed Adelaide Blue Eagles.
“We’re not looking to back off or anything like that, we want to keep that winning mentality,” he said.
Meanwhile, West Adelaide sit in third position, two points behind second-placed Croydon Kings and two ahead of Blue Eagles.
West Adelaide attacker Thomas Briscoe said the loss was disappointing.
“It’s a matter of taking chances, which Metro did and we didn’t, especially against 10 men,” Briscoe said.
“We still want second so we have the double chance, so it’s important now to try to win our last two games and hope Croydon slip up at some point.”
Despite the result, West Adelaide’s spot in the finals has been secured, which Briscoe said was one of the team’s main aims.
“We feel we’ve achieved one goal, now hopefully we can go further with a good finals run,” he said.
“Our form has been a bit up and down over the last few months, so hopefully we can find a bit of consistency heading into finals.”
West Adelaide host mid-table side Raiders in Round 25 at Adelaide Shores Football Centre.
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