NPL SA Round 16 Review

Sturt Lions rose to fourth on the NPL table with a resounding 4-1 victory over Adelaide Croatia Raiders, marked by a goal on debut for former Adelaide United defender Michael Marrone.

It took less than eight minutes for Marrone, whose departure from the Reds was only confirmed less than a week ago, to open his Sturt account, firing a left-footed strike from outside the box just inside the post.

Sturt doubled their lead when Gonzalo Rodriguez was clattered into inside the penalty area running onto a Marrone through-ball, confidently dispatching into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 after 25 minutes.

Marrone once again played a role in Sturt’s third goal just after half-time, laying off the assist for Alexander Sortini, who danced around the Raiders defence before curling his inch-perfect shot into the far corner.

Sortini netted his second goal on 62 minutes, coolly finishing over the keeper from close range after Rodriguez’s clever headed pass to take the margin out to 4-0.

James Temelkovski pulled one back for Raiders in the 76th minute with a smart tap-in, but it provided scant consolation for the Gepps Cross-based club, who sit just two points above the relegation zone.

South Adelaide were the biggest winners in a high-scoring round of football, comfortably accounting for Cumberland in a 4-0 win, while Adelaide Olympic and leaders Adelaide City also scored four past Adelaide Blue Eagles and Adelaide United, respectively.

MetroStars kept pace with the top of the table with a 3-0 triumph over Campbelltown City, while Adelaide Comets edged past Croydon FC with a late winner.

Every Goal: RAA NPLSA Round 16

RAA NPLSA Round 16
MetroStars 3-0 Campbelltown City
Sturt Lions 4-1 Adelaide Croatia Raiders
Adelaide Comets 1-0 Croydon FC
Cumberland United 0-4 South Adelaide
Adelaide Olympic 4-2 Adelaide Blue Eagles
Adelaide United 2-4 Adelaide City

Image: 80kms Photography