More costly late drama
While the season is still young, Adelaide United entered Round Six already having been dealt their share of unfavourable late drama. After falling to a late defeat thanks to a Jayden LoBasso penalty against the Adelaide Comets in Round Two, the Young Reds were picking the ball out of their net in injury time in Round Five, mere minutes after Fabian Talladira thought he had scored the winner against MetroStars.
In Round 6, after falling behind a goal early to Para Hills, thanks to an Abu Hussein goal, the Young Reds rallied to take a lead that they maintained until the game’s closing minutes. In a league as tight as the RAA NPL SA, every point is decisive, and having dropped points late on multiple occasions already, defending this slender lead was paramount.
A warm Saturday afternoon ensured there were plenty of stoppages for injury time to accrue, and the Young Reds once again found themselves in a spot of bother. In the game’s dying stages, Lansana Smith was afforded too much time and space on the edge of the box before curling the ball past an outstretched Oscar Page to inflict another late blow to Adelaide United.
Caption: Abu Hussein celebrates a Para Hills goal against Adelaide United (Image: Brock Pearson Photography)
A midfielder’s goal
With some of the state’s most exciting young talent, it is no surprise that Adelaide United has been one of the highest-scoring sides in the NPL SA competition. One thing that has stood out in 2025, though, is the source of the goals.
Coming into Round Six, only one goal had been scored by a player not positioned in the Young Red’s final third. That was Fabian Talladira, a midfielder turned fullback, who found the top corner from a free kick against MetroStars.
After falling behind against Para Hills, the Young Reds finally found their first open-play goal of the season from a player outside the final third. Frank Busasa’s skilful lung-busting run down the wing put him in a position to pass the ball to Joey Garrucio in the box, who then proceeded to cut it back to the late run of midfielder Fabian Grelli, who made the most of his starting opportunity to level the scoring with an intelligent run and well-executed finish.
Fabian Grelli (left) celebrates his first goal of the season with teammate Vinko Stanisic (Image: Brock Pearson Photography)
Crawford’s solo effort
Since returning to the NPL team, Harry Crawford’s impact has been evident, specifically through his consistent deliveries that his teammates have converted into goals. His connection with Brody Burkitt has led to the latter scoring goals against Croydon and MetroStars.
In his full A-League home debut, Crawford showed the average fan what followers of the NPL have known for a while: that he has an eye for goal. Taking on Para Hills Knights, Crawford did not pull out a top-corner strike on his less preferred foot, but his effort was just as impressive.
At the Paddocks, in the 59th minute, Crawford controlled a long ball before cutting infield, attacking the box, to shake off his marker. Crawford was then swarmed by a group of Knights, even shaking off a tackle in the process, before catching Yanni Delengas off at his far post to cap off an impressive solo effort.
Harry Crawford was once agains instrumental in Adelaide United’s attacking play (Image: Brock Pearson Photography)
Full match below
