Adelaide United ended Round Four of the 2025 RAA NPLSA season, by hosting Croydon FC at Coopers Stadium. An entertaining five-goal encounter kept fans entertained on a warm Adelaide afternoon.
The ins and outs of football
Entering Round Four, Adelaide United and Croydon FC both faced multiple lineup changes. While the Young Reds continued to give minutes to Harry Crawford and Ryan White, Polonia were troubled by the absence of key players Daniel Margush and Bol Mapor due to their red cards in Round Three.
Croydon covered for their absentees by dropping vice-captain Adam Martinello to the heart of defence and restoring wunderkind Tumbika Kalua between the sticks, the position he occupied for the majority of 2024.
While Croydon did an admirable job of replacing their absentees, with Martinello marshalling the backline well and Kalua making some crucial saves, the home side’s inclusions made a difference. Harry Crawford was important with two assists, while White’s composure on the ball, especially when the match was levelled, were both crucial for their side’s struggle for the three points.
Harry Crawford starred for Adelaide United against Croydon FC (Image: Pagonis Photography)
Croydon’s super sub changes the game
Finding his team two goals down at halftime, Croydon coach George Tsonis decided to act, introducing Pasia John and Luca Trimboli for Andre Carle and Santana Bartkowski. Despite that, the second half started well for the hosts, who retained their advantage despite early scares, but those threats quickly became a reality.
Searching for a way back, Polonia’s substitutes were given license to be aggressive, and Pasia John took advantage of that at the hour mark, receiving the ball on the edge of before catching Max Vartuli off in his near post to cut the Adelaide United’s advantage to one. Before the Young Reds even had the chance to settle down and re-assess the game, John received the ball in a similar area and launched a tracer bullet, giving Vartuli no chance to stop his second goal in three minutes.
While the Young Reds eventually escaped with all three points, it was a timely reminder for them about the importance of staying switched on throughout the 90 minutes of the game. Like they found out in the dying minutes of Round Two against the Adelaide Comets, even the smallest margins can make the most significant difference.
Pasia John’s quickfire brace levelled the match (Image: Pagonis Photography)
Burkitt wins the points in a second consecutive game
Confidence is important to any young player, but nowhere are the intangible benefits more evident than in a striker. Brody Burkitt entered Round Four feeling that confidence after his goal in the last round won Adelaide United the three points against FK Beograd.
At half time, it seemed like Burkitt’s goalscoring contributions would not be required, with teammates Alex Battistella and Joey Garrucio putting the Young Reds two goals up heading into the break. Pasia John’s quickfire double meant that all attacking talent was required in the dying efforts of the game, with Airton Andrioli backing Burkitt for the 90 minutes.
The coach was justified when an injury time corner, delivered by Harry Crawford, was met by Burkitt, who headered home the winner. Brody Burkitt has massively influenced Adelaide United’s last six points, and in a competition where every point counts, they may be decisive when the regular season wraps up.
Adelaide United players celebrate Brody Burkitt’s injury-time winner (Image: Pagonis Photography)(Image: Pagonis Photography)
Full time:
Adelaide United 3 (Battistella, Garrucio, Burkitt)
Croydon FC 2 (John)
