Adelaide Croatia silenced the home crowd at Frank Mitchell Park with a resounding 3-1 victory over their arch-rivals. With over 1000 people at the game, there was an expectation with a big home crowd and prized recruits, that Beograd would be favourites for the game. Both sides headed into round 2 with losses. Beograd suffering a home loss to Adelaide City 2-0 and Croatia losing 1-0 to Adelaide United Youth at home.
Into Croatia’s line-up came in Jai King, with Rhys Thompson dropping to right back at the expense of Oliver Zafiridis. FK Beograd welcomed back captain Antonios Natsiopoulos to its line-up.
It was FK Beograd who dominated the opening proceedings with Croatia unable to generate any flow from their play. Vincent Barbaro was forced into a fantastic save after Lorenzo Boseli played through Riley Stam on the 21st minute. Barbaro’s outstretched arm the saving grace. Stam then missed a free header moments later, courtesy of a Kristin Konstandopoulos cross.With Croatia first genuine attack for the game they committed the ultimate sucker punch. Donatien Niyonkoru’s damaging run through Beograd’s defence broke down their defensive line, his pass out wide to Ollie Trimboli gave him ample time to drive his cross to Anthony Costa, who with the back of his heel flicked the ball passed Dakota Oschenham. 1-0 Croatia.
Beograd rattled by conceding the first goal, retreated into its shell as Croatia began to grow in confidence. With Antoni Trimboli of Beograd missing his half chance, it was Costa again who punished Beograd on the 42nd minute. Boseli disposed by Ikeda in his own half, lead do Calum Campbel playing through an unmarked Costa, who caressed his effort into the top left hand corner sending the Croatia fans into jubilation.
Jai King made amends for an earlier miss and made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute. Brad Corbo’s early crossed was controlled well by King, who then dinked his effort over the oncoming keeper to seal the game for Croatia.
Adelaide Croatia’s Jai King celebrates making it 3-0
Rhys Thompson was desperately unlucky to not make it 4-0 for Croatia on the hour mark, his effort inside the area after a surging run, hitting the post. Croatia in complete control of the 2nd half gave Beograd a lifeline after Ninko Beric capitalized on a misplaced pass from Ikeda. Beric intercepted the ball off Thompson and played the ball through to Boseli, who whipped his effort past Barbaro. Anthony Costa should have completed his hattrick in the 71st minute, Niyonkuru’s cut back to Costa saw him strike his effort straight at Oschenham. In the 81st minute, Croatia should have been awarded a penalty, Aleksander Bandjak fouled Niyonkuru inside the box. The referee unfortunately booked Niyonkuru for simulation. Replays clearly show that Niyonkuru was fouled inside the box.
The tough, resilient Croatia defence held firm. In the 85th minute a goal saving tackle from Yuto Ikeda on Konstandopolous prevented Beograd from clawing back to 3-2. Croatia would hold firm for the remaining 10 minutes of the game and become deserved 3-1 winners.
Croatia’s u18s & Reserves both won 4-1, rounding off a perfect week for the soccer club. Croatia next face Apollo SC away in Mt Gambier for the preliminary FFA Cup Round, Saturday 8th of March 4:30pm – Webb Street.