A day after sacking their coach, Adelaide Comets won for the first time. This is the goal that snapped the drought

Chaos. Late drama. And finally, relief for Adelaide Comets.

Round 9 of NPL SA delivered one of the wildest weekends of the season.

Just 24 hours after parting ways with head coach Tom Overall, bottom side Adelaide Comets broke through for their first win of 2026 thanks to captain Aladin Irabona’s stunning 82nd-minute free-kick against Sturt Lions.

That set-piece moment, capped by an even better celebration, secured a 2-1 victory and saw the Comets climb off the foot of the table following seven losses and a draw to begin the campaign.

At the top, there was absolute madness between WT Birkalla and Playford City.

Isaac Mullen’s 92nd-minute strike appeared to hand league leaders Playford a statement win in the top-of-the-table blockbuster, until Allan Welsh buried a 96th-minute penalty to rescue a point in a breathless 3-3 draw.

They remain level on 20 points at the summit.

MetroStars, meanwhile, continue to loom dangerously.

After conceding early to Adelaide United’s academy side, the third-placed visitors exploded for six unanswered goals, including four in the first half, to move within two points of top spot.

And Adelaide City left it even later.

Francesco Schimizzi’s 98th-minute winner sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Campbelltown City as the chasing pack closed in.

Elsewhere, Jason Konstandopoulos scored twice in three minutes as FK Beograd defeated Croydon FC 2-0, while Para Hills Knights remain winless after a 1-1 draw with West Adelaide.