18/05/2026
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With four teams sitting equal top after 5 matches, this week saw a top four shootout for early season bragging rights in the Div 2 Reserves battle. While Seaford took on Inter in Adelaideβs south, the Eagles travelled to Elizabeth Vale. Hereβs what went down:
Early goals have been a thing in Eagles games recently, but this time it was Vale who took an early lead. Kiir Achien got the home team off to a flyer scoring in the 2nd minute. But the Vale lead did not last long. Noel Koka, usually the scorer, was feeling generous this week and teed up Priit Proos who got the Eagles back on par in the 4th minute. Koka continued to look dangerous causing issues for the Vale back line on the counter. He linked up with Proos again via a lofty pass in the 21st minute for Proos to give the Eagles the lead. And to round out the half Proos took advantage of a poor clearance and placed a powerful low shot into the bottom left corner to bag his first hat-trick at the Eagles.
A knock to the ankle saw Proos replaced by Gjini in the second half, which started fast like the first β this time Koka turned scorer when he curled home a long-range effort minutes later to get the Eagles up 4-1 with plenty of time left.
As usual, Bjeshka was crucial to the Eagles structure, Haidari and Zeon were solid also, and Aleks Godija showed he is going from strength to strength with another standout performance before coming off early. Ardit Ibro was a prolific in the middle, settling into the squad after overcoming some long-term injury setbacks. Watch out for the rest of his season!
But the game took a sickening turn not long after Kokaβs goal, when Tim Crawford β a stalwart of the Vale β fell to the ground in a clash of players breaking his arm severely. Definitely not what anyone wishes on any player. I hear Crawford, son of Adelaide United star Harry, was eager to get to 50 years of age and still be playing, but those plans are now on hold momentarily.
The injury to Crawford seemed to spark the Vale into a will to win. And a comeback was being mounted when Achien scored his second. Just nine minutes later Moumen Al Amary scored a third for vale with 25 minutes to go. The game was on!
A raft of fresh legs for the Eagles, including the debut of Rafael Quintero, saw the Eagles fight desperately to keep the lead. Gjini had a late run into the box which could have seen the Eagles awarded a penalty, but nothing doing said the referee. Vale pressed late and had a last gasp opportunity with a free kick awarded on the edge of the box, but the Eagles held on!
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π’π§ππ₯ πππ¨π«π:
AESC 4 β 1 Vale
πππ¬π: Haidari, Ibro, Koka, Godija, Zeon, Proos
ππ¨ππ₯π¬: Proos (3), Koka
With Inter drawing 1-1 at Seaford, this win saw the Eaglesβ Killer Bs claim top spot on the ladder as the winter break looms.
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The Div 2 Senior battle is getting just as spicy, with four teams starting the round within a point of each other, all trying to chase down Parafield Gardens who had a 4-point buffer at the top.
Like the Reserves, the home side jumped ahead within just a few minutes of kick off through Sujan Ramdam who curled a right foot past the Eagles keeper. Both teams looked to maintain possession early but Vale settled into the match quicker.
Both teams were dynamic with ball at feet, but Vale did well to close-up the middle of the pitch β despite leaving little space and time for Nikolla and Jaku, they both still had a heap of influence on the match. The Eagles began to work their wingers into the game and when Eduart Palushi made one of many dangerous right-side runs into the box the Vale defence hesitated and brought him down β Palushi winning a penalty for the Eagles and a chance to equalise in the 26th minute. Up stepped CJ Dadzie who β a fan favourite with the away crowd once again β smashed the ball passed the Vale keeper β 1-1!
It turned out to be one of many, as both teams got into dangerous spots in the box. Just minutes later the ref awarded a dubious penalty, this time for Vale, for a challenge outside the box. But Eagles keeper Karpoleh anticipated well, moved left early, the Vale striker didnβt adjust, and Karpoleh made a strong save, the follow up cleared in a hurry. 1-1 it stayed, but not for long β another penalty was awarded to Vale in the 34th minute and this time Karpoleh couldnβt repeat his heroics β Iranzi Nzabakiza slotted it home to restore Valeβs lead. 2-1 it stayed until the break.
Leopardi introduced some changes to the fullback roles at the half, with Aurrel Gjoni and Klaudio Jeshnica coming on for Kris Bacaj and Vincent Barno. Both teams settled into the second half, with a real back and forth game and both teams playing well out of defence. The Eagles began to match the early Vale pressure and gain ascendance. But Vale were dynamic and quick going forward and when Michael Francis scored in the 60th minute the Eagles were staring down a second loss in three weeks.
Juan Quintero, back from suspension, was brought into the game for the last 30 minutes and had an impact. And shortly after the Vale goal Nikolla linked up with Palushi, who played a wide ball out to Dadzie who then rocketed him from an unlikely angle β the away crowd erupted! 3-2 and still alive.
The last 20 minutes of the game was frantic and the physicality went up a notch. Vecchi and Pjetri had their hands full in defence again but constantly stood up to keep the Eagles within a goal, a last stitch clearance from Vecchi saved the Eagles some blushes. Jeshnicaβs two-way running opened up the game on the left in the dying stages. Nikolla became diabolical in the middle as the game went on and created a raft of chances, while Palushi and Dadzie ran amock up front, and Markaj proved to be a handful up forward drawing foul after foul from the Vale β he was denied yet another penalty when brought down poorly in the box late in the piece. This one was heading for a loss until a fourth (thatβs right!) penalty of the match was awarded.
Up stepped Dadzie β cool as you like β to finish off that hard gut-running effort of all his teammates to bring the Eagles level in the dying minutes. Not holding back and without a sign of nerves, he belted his second penalty past the Vale keeper to land his hat-trick β yessir!
It was almost the last play of the match with the ref blowing the final whistle moments later. The Eagles fought hard to earn a point and it very well could have been more.
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π’π§ππ₯ πππ¨π«π:
AESC 3 β 3 Elizabeth Vale
πππ¬π:Pjetri, Dadzie, Vecchi, Palushi, Nikolla, Markaj
ππ¨ππ₯π¬: Dadzie (3)
With that draw, the Eagles sit 3rd on the ladder 7 points behind Parafield Gardens who took advantage of results elsewhere. Keep tuned for what could be a season long chase to make up for lost ground if the Eagles can still dream of taking out the Div 2 title in 2026.
Again, huge thanks to the Vale mob for hosting us and their hospitality at the end of the match (sorry more of us couldnβt stay back like in 2024). Also wishing Crawford well for a speedy recovery.
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