Adelaide United Youth suffered a 2-1 loss to Sturt Lions in Round 1 of the PlayStation4 National Premier League 2018 season at Adelaide Shores on Saturday.
Carlo Armiento’s late spot-kick was rendered inconsequential after goals from Samed Altundag and Alex Sortini either side of the break had given the hosts what eventually proved an unassailable lead.
Paul Pezos named a strong line-up which featured the likes of Lachlan Brook, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Pacifique Niyongabire and Kristin Konstandopoulos, all who have tasted Hyundai A-League experience.
Both teams made a cautious start to the match, testing each other out with the majority of the ball being confined to the centre of the park.
Altundag was a handful throughout the encounter and he opened the scoring with a header in the 36th minute.
The Lions doubled their advantage in the second-half through another headed goal this time from Sortini.
United ensured a dramatic finish when substitute Armiento won and dispatched a penalty with four minutes remaining, but despite a barrage of late pressure Sturt survived.
Key moments:
12’ | Kristin Konstandopoulos makes space for himself before shooting wide of the top corner.
18’ | Altundag’s free-kick smashes the underside of the crossbar and bounces out.
20’ | Isaac Richards is forced into a diving save following Altundag’s powerful strike from distance.
36’ | GOAL! Altundag heads in Akira Kobaishi’s corner at the front post.
63’ | GOAL! Sortini is left unmarked in the box and heads in Anthony Tropiano’s cross.
74’ | Apostolos Stamatelopoulos’ glancing header is astray following Armiento’s flat delivery.
86’ | GOAL! Armiento cuts the deficit, calmly finishing his penalty into the bottom left corner, sending the goalkeeper the other way.
89’ | Armiento almost finds an equaliser when his low shot flashes past the upright.
Match details:
Saturday, 17 February 2018
PlayStation4 National Premier League SA 2018 Season – Round 1
Sturt Lions 2 (Altundag 36’ Sortini 63’)
Adelaide United Youth 1 (Armiento 86’)
Venue: Adelaide Shores Football Centre
