Local football is back! And we’ve teamed up with our friends at Front Page Football to bring you a weekly look at how our Adelaide United NPL team is shaping up, who to watch out for, and the talking points from their RAA NPLSA match. First up, we faced Adelaide Croatia Raiders. Here’s how it played out…
There are few more challenging places to start an NPL season than the Croatian Sports Center. Before the two teams got their season underway, the healthy crowd in attendance observed a minute of silence for the passing of former Adelaide Croatia Raiders President Reno Martinovic, grandfather of Jay Barnett and Croatia player Manley Barnett.
Adelaide Croatia captain Anthony Costa and Adelaide United captain Sotiri Phillis with the referee in Round One (Pagonis Photography)
Supersub Mupandwana rewards Andrioli for his trust with first senior goal
A tense game saw the two teams enter the final 15 minutes of the game goalless. In the 77th minute, both sides looked to their benches for reinforcement, but Mutsa Mupandwana made all the difference.
Mupandwana wasted no time getting involved, being picked out by Feyzo Kasumovic and chesting to his feet mere seconds after the restart. The young winger played an incisive pass wide to Joey Garrucio before following his positive play with an equally positive run.
Garrucio disguised a pass before tucking it wide and past the Croatia defensive line to Mupandwana, who beat Vincent Barbaro at his near post an incredible 20 seconds after being introduced to the game. Mupandwana won’t be forgetting his first senior goal for a while, one that doubled as a match-winner, and coach Airton Andrioli will surely keep the confidence of his play in mind as the season progresses
Mutsa Mupandwana (left) celebrates his first senior goal with his teammates (Pagonis Photography)
Adaptability is the best ability
In a team with a developmental focus, the only certainty is uncertainty. Constant chopping and changing due to A-League and National Team commitments means players must be flexible.
In Round One of the RAA NPL SA season, regular central defender Vinko Stanisic featured in midfield, alongside Henry Lynch, who is making his name for his ability to play multiple roles across the park. The two provided a combative shield for the Young Reds’ backline while being assured on the ball throughout the evening.
Malual Nichola continued to show his flexibility by featuring on the right side of the defence, while Alex Battistella, usually a forward, was featured on the wing. In a tight victory, Andrioli would be pleased his young charges could adequately perform their various roles.
Vinko Stanisic starred in midfield against Adelaide Croatia Raiders(Pagonis Photography)
A solid defensive showing
Even a casual follower of the RAA NPL SA competition could tell you that the Adelaide United story is summed up as high-scoring and high-conceding; in 2024, the Young Reds topped both statistics.
While it can be understandable when you consider the players’ inexperience and the inconsistency in starting lineups, slip-ups get punished in an unforgiving competition such as the NPL SA. In a context where circumstances conspire to make clean sheets elusive, securing one away from home in Round One is commendable.
The Young Reds unit kept quality players such as Donatien Niyonkuru, Calum Campbell, Anthony Costa, and Oliver Trimboli relatively quiet. While that must be backed up against a strong Adelaide Comets side in Round Two, confidence is the name of the game when it comes to a developmental side and on that front, the defence ticked all the boxes.
Max Vartuli was well-protected as he kept a clean sheet in his first NPL SA game (Pagonis Photography)
