After a high-scoring draw earlier in the season, Adelaide United and Para Hills clashed again in Round 17 of the 2025 NPL SA season, with both sides looking to break their respective winless runs.
Brody Burkitt’s big day out
With Para Hills fighting to retain their NPL SA status, Adelaide United were always going to be up against a stubborn opposition at ServiceFM Stadium in Round 17. The Knights defended well in the first half, while looking dangerous on the counter, but a smashing Amlani Tatu shot undid their goal to keep the Young Reds scoreless at the break, by rebounding into the way of Brody Burkitt, who recorded the opener.
The visitors hit back in the opening minute of the second half with an impressive equaliser, which set the stage for another high-scoring encounter between two sides that tend to deliver fireworks when they clash. After scoring his first goal from open play in a month, Burkitt was full of confidence, and when a ball found him unmarked in the back post, he was able to control it before smoothly volleying home past a sea of players to score his second goal just after the hour mark.
As the match entered its final 10 minutes, Burkitt turned into the provider, with a teasing cross finding substitute Mohammed Hassan on the goalline to double his side’s lead. Burkitt put the match beyond any doubt two minutes later, after Harry Crawford found him metres away from Yanni Delengas’ goal with yet another pinpoint delivery, with the forward sealing his hat trick and recording his 11th goal of the season.
Brody Burkitt celebrates his third goal against Para Hills Knights (Image: Pagonis Photography)
Back on the winners list
It is no surprise that June is usually a tough month for Adelaide United’s NPL program. The month usually sees the club’s A-League players go on their annual break; it doesn’t take a deep dive into history to see results starkly plummeting.
2025 seemed different when the Young Reds had a big win against the Adelaide Comets early in the month. Unfortunately for the Young Reds, they were unable to overcome a high-flying FK Beograd the week after, before injuries hit an already light squad that succumbed to a heavy loss against another one of the competition’s form sides in Croydon FC.
Adelaide United were able to match up with the league-leading MetroStars to claim a vital point away from home in Round 16, but it did not change the fact that the Young Reds had only picked up one of the last available nine points. A strong second-half performance against Para Hills ensured that Elvis Markov was able to get his side back to winning ways in his first match after taking over from Airton Andrioli as interim Head Coach of the club’s NPL side.
Adelaide United broke a three-game winless run by defeating Para Hills Knights (Image: Pagonis Photography)
A trialist hits back
One of the features of every NPL pre-season is that some of the state’s brightest young talents get a chance to try out for Adelaide United’s NPL team, aiming to move through the ranks and make a living out of the game they love. While some earn the opportunity to impress, as seen in the cases of Frank Busasa and Alex Battistella in 2025, others are not as fortunate and return to their clubs before trying their luck again at a later date.
One of those players this year was Abu Hussein from Para Hills, who even scored for the Young Reds during his pre-season trial period in his bid to join his brother Amlani Tatu at Adelaide United. The young forward has been able to put disappointment aside and produce his best NPL season yet for the Knights.
Hussein entered Round 17 with confidence, having found the back of the net against Croydon the previous week. Against Adelaide United, Hussein was a threat throughout, holding the ball up well and dribbling past his marker to create dangerous situations on multiple occasions. He was rewarded for his effort in the first minute of the second half, placing a fantastic effort into Max Vartuli’s top corner to get his side back in the game.
Abu Hussein marking Amlani Tatu during a throw-in (Image: Pagonis Photography)
Full Time
Adelaide United 4 (Burkitt x3, Hassan)
Para Hills Knights 2 (Hussein, Lobo)
