The Front Page Football NPL Wrap - RD20

After claiming an unlikely victory against Campbelltown City in their previous game, Adelaide United visited Ramsay Park to take on Playford City in Round 20 of the NPL SA season.

Stanisic caps off a memorable week

After joining Adelaide United’s NPL team halfway through the 2024 NPL season, Vinko Stanisic has been an asset for the club on the pitch. The central defender has excelled in his natural position, and in 2025, he has also played a significant amount of minutes in the midfield.

Last week, Stanisic was one of the standout NPL players rewarded for his NPL performances with an A-League scholarship contract. The next day, he was on the plane with the Reds as they travelled to Newcastle for the Australia Cup Round of 32.

Despite the whirlwind couple of days, Stanisic was back in the Young Reds NPL lineup in Playford, finding himself in the heart of the midfield in what ended up being a scrappy game between two sides fighting to maintain their respective top six positions. Late in the first half, Amlani Tatu’s defensive work led to a move that ended with Frank Busasa assisting Stanisic, who opened his account for the NPL season, capping off a dream week for a player who just over 12 months ago was not in the club’s system.

Vinko Stanisic capped off a dream week with a goal against Playford (Image: Pagonis Photography)

Two goals, two points, and two minutes from hell

Just like in their last outing against Campbelltown City, Adelaide United found themselves comfortably in the driver’s seat in the second half, but typically, it wasn’t straightforward. Playford’s Melad Ahmad was sent off for a second bookable offence after the break, but the Patriots got level in the 67th minute when Daniel Ryan found the back of the net, as he did in the last clash between he two sides.

Despite the adversity, the Young Reds were able to steady the ship through goals by Amlani Tatu and substitute Ali Mohtashami. As the game approached injury time, it all seemed over, but Ben Moore and his men were not going to die wondering if a comeback was plausible.

In the first minute of injury time, Xavier Pratt was allowed too much space on the left-hand side and delivered a cross that caused chaos in the box, leading to substitute Christos Pounendis scoring what seemed to be a consolation goal. Just two minutes later, Joseph Dotson was alarmingly allowed to deliver the ball from a similar position, finding Pratt, whose shot was blocked by his own teammate. The ball fortuitously fell in Rhys Townsend’s path, with the substitute bringing the game level and setting off wild celebrations on the field and in the stands to contrast the abject Young Reds after squandering what seemed to be a done deal.

A troubling away record

Playford’s famous comeback makes them only the second side, after MetroStars, that Adelaide United have been unable to best in the 2025 NPL SA regular season. The spectacular nature of the draw and other results around the league almost overshadow the fact that albeit winning in the Barrossa Valley and Hindmarsh Stadium, where they were listed as the home team, the Young Reds have not been able to claim a win away from home since Round One, when Mutsa Mupandawana stole the three points at the death against Adelaide Croatia with his first senior goal.

While Adelaide United would have sealed another season of finals football with a victory, sharing points with Playford means that the Young Reds need to defend their position in the top six in the final two weeks of the season. Unfortunately for Elvis Markov’s side, this means dealing with two of those troubling away fixtures.

Next, Adelaide United take on the fourth-placed Adelaide City in Oakden, with an opportunity to jump ahead of their opponent with a win, before clashing with Modbury Jets at Smith Partners Stadium, where Maurice Natale’s side may need three points to remain in the NPL. Both fixtures promise to be troubling, but the Young Reds are in the driver’s seat when it comes to sealing their post-season fortunes with that elusive second away win.