The top two fell. Suddenly, NPL SA has a title race again

Round 11 in NPL SA flipped the script at the top of the table.

For the first time in weeks, the league’s leading pair both stumbled, opening the door for the title race to tighten heading into the second half of the season.

League leaders WT Birkalla were swept aside 3-0 by Adelaide United, who produced one of their sharpest performances of the campaign. An own goal opened the scoring before Joey Garuccio and Harry Crawford converted from the spot to complete a dominant night for the Reds.

Despite the defeat, Birkalla remain top but only by a single point.

And they now have company breathing down their neck.

MetroStars climbed into second after edging Croydon FC 3-2 in a chaotic five-goal contest. Donatien Niyonkuru starred with a first-half brace as MetroStars surged into a two-goal lead before Binyam Kebede added a third with under 20 minutes remaining.

It should have been over.

Instead, Croydon struck twice in two frantic minutes to set up a nervy finish before MetroStars finally held on to extend their unbeaten run to nine matches.

Meanwhile, Playford City slipped from second to third after a heavy 4-1 home defeat to West Adelaide. Maksim Ivanic scored twice against the 10-man hosts in a result that further compressed the race at the summit.

At Campbelltown City, another familiar football surname continues to rise.

Joshua Mori, son of Australian football great Damian Mori, scored his 10th goal of the season in a 2-0 win over Sturt Lions. He is level in the Golden Boot race.

Elsewhere, Adelaide Comets blew away bottom side Para Hills Knights inside 13 ruthless first-half minutes during a 4-0 victory, while Adelaide City and FK Beograd shared the points in a 2-2 draw inspired by a Lorenzo Boselli brace.