TeleChoice Premier League round 22 Review

In the eagerly anticipated encounter featuring the Top-Two sides on the League ladder ? split only on goal difference ? the Sharks rose to the occasion and ground out what has been a tremendous 2008 to-date.
David Huxley had the Sharks ahead before the break after some fine intertwining play with striker Brad Boardman, though despite dominating the Wolves, the second goal was not coming.
Tragedy struck for the Sharks midway through the second-half as captain George Souris was forced to leave the field in excruciating pain. The Sharks defender was taken to hospital for x-rays with a potentially serious ankle-injury almost certainly ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign.
With the Sharks defence missing one of their key elements, the Wolves made the most of the situation and found an equalising goal via the boot of Mitchell Long with a powerful drive from the edge of the penalty-area.
The 1-1 draw was not enough for the Wolves, leaving the Sharks ? who undoubtedly deserved the Premiership after an emphatic season ? to celebrate in-front of a healthy turn-out at Seymour Shaw.
At Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney Olympic and Sydney United played out a 0-0 draw in another ?complicated? fixture for both sides ? above all, Sydney United.
Sydney Olympic still had a chance to pinch second-spot on the ladder had they sealed three-points against the Reds, though Sydney United needed a win to ensure their place amongst the Top-Five.
With reports of an A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers victory at Penrith?s CUA Stadium, Sydney United could ill-afford to lose.
The 0-0 final result for Sydney United required the Tigers to win by three clear goals, something John Romeo?s men failed to do.
The result though, in-favour of Sydney Olympic, clinched the Club Championship for the former NSL Club, testament to the great work being carried out through the ranks at the Belmore club.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt?s 4-3 win against Penrith-Nepean United counted for little in the end as the Tigers? inconsistent run in the early part of the season cost them a Top-Five spot.
Robert Younis had a first-half hat-trick to his name as the Tigers took a 3-2 lead to the break ? Erick Anabalon and Panagiotis Nikas the scorers for the home-side. Younis added his fourth goal in the second-half, to cancel out a late Jason Brown goal for Penrith-Nepean.
Younis? 21-goal haul this season clinched the Adelaide United bound striker the Top Goalscorer Award for 2008.
Manly United missed their chance to seal second-spot on the League ladder after ?coughing up? a 2-0 lead against Macarthur Rams at Cromer Park.
Dusan Mihajlovic and Craig Midgley had Phil Moss? men two-goals to the good inside of the first 10? minutes, though a Steven Baveas strike just before the break re-opened the encounter.
The talented Glen Trifiro then sealed a point for the Rams after the break, sealing an impressive equal-ninth spot on the ladder in the first season back in the top-flight for Macarthur.
At Marconi Stadium, Bankstown City took an important step in preparation for next weekend?s Tiger Turf Cup Final.
Goals to Phillip Makrys, Stefce Soleski and substitute Akili Hussein sealed the deal for Bankstown, as Vuko Tomasevic found the back of the net for the Stallions.
In the end it was a tale of the Stallions? season, one that the players and supporters will want to erase from their memories as quickly as possible.
At the Sydney Olympic Athletic Centre, West Sydney Berries finished their season on a high with a ?workman-like? performance against Blacktown City Demons.
John Tsironis had the Berries ahead before the 20? minute mark as Kosta Lagoudakis doubled that lead soon after. Despite Paul Karbon pulling a goal back for the Demons, Michael Cunico and Giosue Sama condemned Blacktown City to the wooden-spoon and confirmed eighth-spot on the ladder for West Sydney Berries.
The pairings for the first week of Finals Series football is as follows:
TeleChoice Premier League Finals Series
Wollongong FC v Sydney Olympic
Elimination Semi-Final
Manly United v Sydney United
*Sutherland through to the next phase for finishing Premiers  
-By Joseph Carlucci