RAA NPLSA Round 20 Review

Adelaide United’s youth team snapped a seven-match winless run to record an impressive 3-2 victory over third-placed MetroStars in the NPL on Saturday.

Nestor Irankunda got the Young Reds off to a great start with the first goal of the contest in the 14th minute, finding himself the lucky recipient of a horror clearance by the keeper and dinking it back over his head.

United doubled their advantage just before the break, as Fergus Lynch laid the ball off to Binyam Kebede to fire home into the bottom corner from the edge of the box on 38 minutes.

MetroStars scored in the 52nd minute through Joshua Mori, who received the ball at his feet unmarked from a corner kick and dribbled his shot through a sea of legs to find the far bottom corner.

Bernardo Oliveira, son of United legend Cássio, restored his side’s two-goal advantage in the 70th minute after Irankunda pounced on an errant back-pass and squared for the young midfielder to slot into an empty net.

Mori pulled one back for MetroStars just a few minutes later with a cool finish over the keeper from close range, but it wasn’t enough to salvage a result for MetroStars.

Adelaide Blue Eagles’ relegation was confirmed as they fell to a 3-2 defeat to South Adelaide, while Adelaide Comets closed the gap on top spot further with a 4-0 thumping of Sturt Lions.

Adelaide Olympic and Croydon FC staked their claims for finals football with wins over Adelaide Croatia Raiders and Campbelltown City, respectively, and Cumberland United held ladder leaders Adelaide City to a 2-2 draw.

RAA NPLSA Goals Wrap | Round 20