High flying Eagles reach the Grand-Final

After the opening exchanges Campbelltown Quake took a 1-0 lead early in the first half when an innocuous looking shot from the half way line from Tim Simpson caught the defence and the keeper unawares. 

The Eagles came storming back into the game when Chris Zeballos ran at the heart of the Quake defence only to be hauled down by keeper Shane Borg when through on goal.  The referee issued a straight red card to the Quake keeper. Leo Carle dispatched the resulting spot kick to make it 1-1.
The Eagles then took the lead when Chris Zeballos fed a ball to Leo Carle who controlled it  then back flicked the return to Zeballos who slammed the ball home for an excellent goal.

The Quake levelled from a counter attacking raid when Tuan Cao controlled the ball upfront then slipped the ball to Daniel Martinez who lashed the ball home from the right wing.
Chris Zeballos then grabbed his second goal when he carried the ball out of defence and as the Quake defenders retracted this opened up the space in front him and he shot past Azzopardi deputising in goal.

The Quake pulled a goal back when a miss-directed cross from the right wing from Tim Simpson struck Thiago Santos and went into the net.
Both sides attacked relentlessly toward the end of the first half with the Quake trying to pressurise the Eagles defence bringing the ball up-court but to no avail with the Eagles going into the break leading 4-3. 
The second half saw the Quake having to chase the game with the Campbelltown side applying most of the pressure.

The Eagles with the mercurial Leo Carle at the back did not want to risk their lead preferring to counter attack dangerously whenever possible. Tuan Cao went very close for the Quake as did Shane Hammond with a header for the Eagles after a nice chip from Leo Carle. 
The Eagles were disrupting the Quakes passing rhythm and containing goal machine Tuan Cao and this left the Quakes attacking options looking a little blunt with the Campbelltown side going long spells without any serious threats on goal. 

Toward the end of the game the Eagles went close with Chris Zeballos and then Brian Zeballos twice almost putting the game totally of reach of their opponents.
In the end the Eagles ran out deserved winners with the game somehow remaining goalless in the second period in contrast to a frantic first half that threatened a score line in doubles figures.

The Eagles will play the winner of the Quake and Sydney Magic PCYC in the Grand Final next Saturday.
Roy Perre of Sydney City Eagles was delighted with the development of his young guns from the Youth and 16 teams that stepped up to the senior team and performed well on every occasion.

Despite lamenting the loss of influential Isaac Waddick coach Ralph Capasso was very happy with his sides performance. The Eagles effort today should instal them as favourites for the Grand-Final this weekend.
-By Peter Davies