Adelaide United Youth recorded a commanding 5-1 rout of Para Hills in the final round of the National Premier League regular season at the Paddocks on Saturday.
It was the ideal preparation for the Young Reds ahead of the impending finals series which begins this weekend.
Pacifique Niyongabire was influential throughout as he scored a brace and assisted a further two, while Kristin Konstandopoulos, Lachlan Brook and Carlo Armiento grabbed a goal each.
Adelaide were lethal on the counter-attack and implemented their high-pressing game to great effect to regain possession quickly.
A quarter of an hour into the game United opened the scoring; Konstandopoulos converted Niyongabire’s low cross to tap-in from six yards out.
After orchestrating the first goal, the winger then chimed in with his own strike – taken in expert fashion to bury the ball into the bottom corner.
Two-nil soon became 3-0 as Brook fired a ferocious shot from distance to beat the Para Hills’ gloveman.
However, the Knights immediately replied from kick-off with a goal of their own.
And not long after Reds goalkeeper Isaac Richards was called into action with a reflex save off a corner to preserve their two-goal buffer.
Head Coach, Paul Pezos, made a double substitution at half-time with Jai King-Byrne and Armiento brought on.
Adelaide squandered a golden chance to make it 4-1 from the penalty spot but Aladin Irabona’s spot-kick was well-saved by Para’s shot-stopper.
The missed penalty had no bearing on the game with Armiento and Niyongabire scoring to complete the dominant display. The hosts also played out the dying minutes with 10 men.
Pezos’ side will face fourth-placed Adelaide Comets in an Elimination Final at SA Athletics Stadium. Match details to be confirmed.
https://twitter.com/aufc_YouthTeam/status/1025635409802317825
Key moments:
17’ | GOAL! A scintillating run from Niyongabire on the wing ends in his cut-back being steered home by Konstandopoulos from close range.
24’ | GOAL! The Youngs Reds are ruthless on the counter-attack with Niyongabire grabbing a goal of his own with a clinical finish.
29’ | GOAL! Brook slots one from the edge of the 18-yard box following another quick break.
30’ | GOAL: The Knights pull a goal back straight from kick-off through Mohammed Sumaoro.
61’ | GOAL! Armiento finds the back of the net with the aid of a deflection, courtesy of yet another assist from Niyongabire.
73’ | GOAL! Niyongabire dispossess his opponent in midfield and releases Brook whose shot is parried but straight into the path of the speedster who gets his second of the match.
84’ | Red Card! Luke Colalancia receives a second yellow card for a high foot on Irabona.
Reserves:
Earlier, Adelaide United’s Reserves team also dispatched the Knights 5-1, clinching the minor premiership for the second consecutive year.
