Magic, mayhem and a Mexican menace
There’s a magic wand being waived for Northern NSW football at the moment.
Broadmeadow has moved a step closer to the Australian Championship quarter-finals after victory over Adelaide City.
Though it didn’t end up being as straightforward as it could’ve been for Jim Cresnar’s side.
There’s reasons why City almost staged an epic comeback, and reasons why Magic had a 3-0 lead in the first place.
So let’s get into my three key observations from the action at Magic Park.
Delgado’s a demon
So I had never seen Luis Lara Delgado play until this evening.
And far out, what a handful he is.
City discovered this pretty early on, particularly young Oli Western.
The fullback was fended off (legally) by the Mexican for a good few metres in the lead up to Magic’s first goal.
Once Delgado spotted the run of Ezra Palombini, he showed he’s not just about brute force.
He also has the technical quality to match.
Delgado’s little outside of the foot flick, perfectly weighted into Palombini’s path so he could simply hit the ball first time, was absolutely delightful.
Then he made it 2-0 in the 74th minute — the goal being a microcosm of the way Magic physically imposed themselves all match.
A deep corner to the back post was perhaps a little misjudged by City’s John Hall.
But Delgado’s roaring rise above the keeper was still impressive as he headed in with ease.
And also made it what, 30 goals in all competitions this year? Something like that; I heard 29 in the commentary.
Figures which, and I mean this with no disrespect at all to Broadmeadow, make you wonder how they got him, and how long they can keep him.
Assuming more well-established NPL clubs are paying attention, or even a club overseas.
City's tactical teething
City seemed — at least in the first half — intent on overloading the right side of the pitch tonight.
Brad Corbo would push a bit higher down the right, vacating space for Patrick Caraccia to rotate out of midfield and essentially become a temporary right-back in build-up.
I can’t really explain why exactly this was part of the strategy.
One aim could’ve been to lure Magic into overcovering City’s right, leaving Josh Mori isolated on left against the fullback.
Which did occur on a few occasions in the first period, without Mori being able to take full advantage in the final third.
But as the game progressed, there seemed a more straightforward way for City to play through what was a quite intense Magic press.
Bailey O’Neil’s passing prowess allows him to play those line breaking passes into midfield coaches love.
There was a moment in the 41st minute when Caraccia, didn’t rotate, the midfield pivot stayed central, and O’Neil simply started driving before finding Daniel Bressan between the lines.
Then Bressan could use one of the pivot players underneath to keep the lay progressing forward.
His starting position was often like a second striker, and there was potential for him to be more of a threat in the game if found a bit more as this link player.
Dom Costanzo later played this role when he was subbed on, and this exact move started City’s first goal.
Costanzo’s drops deeper with his back to goal to receive from O’Neil, simply laying it off to a supporting Caraccia, who was unmarked and facing forward.
Caraccia still had to play what was an excellent pass in behind for Francesco Schimizzi to finish.
But the foundation of the move gave him the opportunity.
And, without knowing all the ins and outs like Vas Parhas, executing the pattern more often may have provided more opportunities throughout.
Why the magic could fade
There’s a real 2025 Bayswater City vibe to this Magic team watching them — at least to me.
They’re super physical, thrive on set-pieces, and largely prefer to get the ball forward at the earliest opportunity.
None of this playing through the thirds nonsense.
It was very interesting to watch Noah James’ distribution.
On almost every occasion, whether via a goal-kick or from his hands, it was long, aerial, and central into one of the strikers — often Delgado.
It was undoubtedly an instruction.
And although it worked — this action starting the first goal — it’s also a touch simplistic, and some variation could be required moving forward.
Particularly with how the team began to tire in the game’s dying stages.
It’s in those periods where it would be handy for Magic to have the ability to retain some possession and make the opponent chase them.
But we’re nitpicking now, which probably isn’t fair to a side few expected to have this points tally three games in.
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