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Lee Gagliardi Adelaide Blue Eagles booked their place in the Devine Top 5 Finals Series Grand Final with a dominant 3-1 victory over MetroStars on Saturday, while Adelaide City eliminated Western Strikers after a 2-1 win.
In the Major Semi Final at TK Shutter Reserve, Blue Eagles won convincingly for the second straight week, combining a rock-solid defence with lethal attacking forays into Metro's half.
First-half goals from Kym Harris and Dean Kenrick set Blue Eagles on their way with Evan Kounavelis sealing the result just before the hour mark. Lee Robertson scored a consolation for the hosts.
Blue Eagles full-back Damien Di Mella said his side was raring to go from the off and did not let Metro get into their stride.
“After last week the confidence grew and we took that into the match,” said the veteran.
“We didn’t give them time on the ball or let them play early on and that was crucial as it set the pattern for the rest of the match. We got the goal and didn’t look back.”
Di Mella warns the job is not yet complete but feels the team is in the right frame of mind.
“We are hitting form at the right time of year but even after two great wins I don’t think there is added pressure now. We will not go out there and expect to win. Nothing is won yet, we still need to show the same intensity in training and in the Grand Final," he said.
Blue Eagles were efficient in front of goal, with Harris carrying on from his four-goal performance last week to open the scoring in the 18th minute.
A Blue Eagles corner from Kounavelis was missed by Metro goalkeeper Dan Godley and Harris headed into an empty net.
Metro almost benefitted from a ricochet which fell kindly for striker Scott Tunbridge but veteran Blue Eagles custodian Gino De Lucia raced out to clear the danger.
A floated Stefan Barletta free kick had Godley backpedalling and the goalkeeper did just enough to keep it out on the line.
But there was little the Metro keeper could do when Kenrick was on hand to put Blue Eagles in a commanding position three minutes from the break.
The defender rose to meet a Johnny Giannitto cross with a powerful header which gave Godley no chance.
Kounavelis sealed the result in the 58th minute when he received a pass from the back and charged at the Metro defence, going around two players before firing low and hard from a tight angle across Godley.
Tunbridge saw two shots in quick succession sail high of De Lucia’s goal as Jackson Groves then fired an attempt straight at the shot-stopper.
Metro captain Robertson went forward and when a low cross from the right was dummied by Francesco Monterosso in the 75th minute, the defender made no mistake with a sweet finish that had De Lucia rooted to the spot.
Blue Eagles substitute Chad Bugeja dazzled three defenders late on but blazed his finish well over the bar.
Best on ground for Blue Eagles were Damien Crettenden, Kenrick and Chris Annicchiarico. For the defeated Metro Groves, Robertson and Joseph Polisena were the top three.
In the Second Semi Final at Adelaide City Park, the hosts booked a spot in the Preliminary Final against MetroStars next week thanks to first-half goals from Ricardo Da Silva and Jono Negus.
Strikers responded with 20 minutes remaining through Yas Sudic, but the Coca-Cola Federation Cup winners could not find a way back into the game.
City raced out of the blocks and with seven minutes on the clock opened the scoring.
Da Silva took full advantage of a sloppy pass in defence from Strikers and found himself one-on-one with Strikers goalkeeper Takumi Takahashi before slotting his shot into the top left corner.
It took only a further eight minutes for City to extend the lead as a Tom Maricic back-header fell short of Takahashi with Negus quick to pounce and put the black and whites in a comfortable position.
Strikers fought gallantly after the interval and gave themselves a chance when Sudic fired in a low volley from outside the box in the 70th minute that flashed past City shot-stopper Luke Ostbye, but City managed to hold on.
Best on ground for Adelaide City were Paul Pezos, Matthew Mullen and Ostbye. For Western Strikers, Daniele Lastella, Michele Lastella and Ermias Haile were the standouts.