Conference League Finals Series Review
Major Semi Final
The major semi final of the Conference Leagues on Sunday produced a clash between the competition heavyweights and minor premiers, Balmain SC, and Camden Tigers.
It was the Tigers that snatched a win at Lambert Park, beating Balmain by 2-0 with a goal in each half, becoming the first team into the grand final in a fortnight?s time.
Camden got off to a great start, Mutters putting them in front as early as the 5th minute.
Morgan made it 2-0 for Camden with a goal on 63 minutes, and they held on to record a famous victory.
They now have the luxury of a week?s rest, before playing the winner of next week?s preliminary final between Northern Conference combatants, Balmain SC and Roosters FC.
Reserve Grade Major Semi Final
Gladesville Ryde Magic won the early game at Lambert Park, winning the major semi final in Reserve Grade by thumping Lilli Pilli 4-1.
Magic will take a week off, and wait in the grand final to play the winner of next week?s preliminary semi final between Hawkesbury City and Lilli Pilli.
Match of the Round
HAKOAH SUCCUMB TO LATE ROOSTERS EXTRA TIME GOAL
Saturday afternoon at Seymour Shaw Park provided an ideal setting for an elimination semi final between the two highest goalscoring teams in the Conference Leagues, Hakoah and Roosters FC. Sparkling sunshine with no humidity, little or no breeze, and a splendid artificial pitch, allowing the teams the perfect venue to display their wares.
An elimination semi final usually takes a while to open up, and especially so in this case, given these teams were unaccustomed to each other having played in different leagues during 2008.
But apart from the sparring in the opening minutes, the latter half hour before the break produced some wonderful football and numerous goalscoring opportunities once the game opened up.
The Roosters fans had come to sing themselves hoarse, and the cheering got underway as early as the 10th minute with the first goal of the afternoon.
A long ball played downfield was expertly shielded by Roosters striker, Sevgin, who was strong as he shrugged off the attention of Hakoah skipper, Dinte.
Sevgin allowed the ball to run into the penalty area, cutting in towards goal and drawing the Hakoah keeper, Sherman. The speedy Roosters striker then cut the ball back for Topal, who calmly tapped it into the open net to give the Roosters the lead, sparking the usual passionate celebrations the Roosters have become well known for.
But Hakoah were almost on level terms within three minutes, and it came out of nothing when a ball was played high into the penalty area. Hakoah?s big striker, Aschner, challenged Roosters keeper, Gunalp, knocking him to the ground in a fair challenge, with the ball dropping to Pozniak just outside the six yard box. The nippy striker hit a snapshot on target, but alas, Roosters defender, Semerci, had positioned himself perfectly on the goal-line to clear the danger.
An advantage of the synthetic surface to teams on the attack is that the ball doesn?t have a true bounce, slowly up slightly, and through balls that would usually end up over the goal line all of a sudden can be caught and produce scoring opportunities.
This was evident on 16 minutes, when Sevgin should?ve extended the lead for the Roosters. Guven threaded a pass behind the Hakoah defence, and Sevgin hit his shot low and into the side netting as the Roosters fans jumped out of their chairs.
On 28 minutes, the Roosters produced a brilliant move on the edge of the penalty area. Topal picked up a loose ball, and chipped into Girgin, who, with his back to goal, laid the ball back to Sevgin. The striker let fly with a firm shot that was deflected over for a corner.
Hakoah wouldn?t lie down, and on the half hour mark, forceful midfielder, Bloch, hit a left foot half volley over the bar from 20 yards after a swift one-two with Aschner.
Minutes later and Bloch was at it again, a Hakoah corner dropping invitingly for him, and his well hit snapshot from an angle was blocked by a desperate defender.
Hakoah?s pressure finally paid dividends on 34 minutes with a well taken equalizer. Bloch was involved once more, heading a clearance by the Roosters back into the penalty area, where Aschner rose to flick it on past the Roosters defensive line. Roosters keeper, Gunalp, was slow to respond, and Pozniak was quickest to react, slipping the ball under the keeper for the equalizer.
Referee, Mr A Soliman, was keeping things well under control, and duly blew his whistle for half time with all things square, both teams looking to re-energise before coming out for the second stanza.
Roosters were looking to take it to Hakoah early on, hoping their opponents from the Eastern Suburbs would start to tire, playing their fourth game in eleven days.
On 52 minutes, Roosters striker, Serdal, did well to turn a defender after a throw in on the edge of the box, smacking a low shot that hit the side netting.
The first 20 minutes of the second half seemed to be played in the middle third of the pitch, with neither team taking total control, and neither team being able to play that decisive through ball that would create a goal scoring chance.
Hakoah, who had made a change at the break by taking off captain Dinte, were forced into another substitution when fleet-footed Pozniak strained his hamstring, the evergreen Pillemer coming on. Coach Andrew Prentice would have been hoping his veteran would show some ascendancy on the midfield, and he did in fact display some much needed composure whenever he had possession of the ball.
Roosters player-coach, Hulisi Orhan, did likewise by putting himself on around the same time. A tough anchor in the midfield, he was likewise, looking to also create some stability in the middle of the park for the Turkish backed club.
Roosters playmaker, Topal, who had a quiet game by his standards due to a bout of flu during the week, had a chance to grab his second goal of the game on 79 minutes. Guven put him through with a delightfully chipped ball, but Topal lobbed his shot over Hakoah keeper Sherman and wide of the mark.
As the match steered predictably towards extra time, Hakoah almost grabbed the winner in injury time from the most unlikeliest of sources. A clearance towards the corner flag was retrieved and gathered by Hakoah striker, Aschner, and he sent in a straightforward cross towards the near post. Roosters keeper Gunalp stumbled, allowing the ball to bounce over him, and it richocheted off startled defender, Karaman, before scrambling wide of the post for a corner.
So Mr Soliman blew his whistle once more, and after a few minutes rest, it was off to extra time as the lights at Seymour Shaw were turned on.
Roosters FC had to back themselves, knowing their opponents were running out of legs, whilst Hakoah would have been hoping to snag a goal on the break and avoid the dreaded penalty shootout decider.
I must mention at this point that as both teams worked tirelessly and searched for the elusive breakthrough, the Roosters fans were doing everything in their power to help their team to victory. They broke into song regularly, and their loud cheering no doubt played a part in lifting the Roosters players heading into extra time.
Guven had the first shot on goal for Roosters in the 4th minute of the extra time period, hitting over from 20 yards after Orhan had done well to win possession near the left side of the box and cutting the ball back.
Hakoah?s brilliant midfielder, Mundell, also missing for most of the match, had a great chance in the 102nd minute, racing onto a brilliant chipped pass to lob Roosters keeper, Gunalp from the edge of the box, the ball bouncing inches wide of the post.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 109th minute. A long cross into the box was met by substitute Ors near the back end of the penalty area, and he took a touch before hitting his shot into the roof of the net, the ball deflecting off a defender on its way in.
As Hakoah heads dropped and the gaps started to appear late on, Roosters midfielder Celik had two great chances in as many minutes to put them out of their misery.
Topal played a great cross field pass that put Celik in on goal, but his shot was high and wide from an angle with only the keeper in front of him. A minute later Orhan broke down the left, switching to Topal on the right who switched back again, playing Celik into the box, this time on the left side of the penalty area. Alas, Celik took his shot early and again it went wide of the mark.
On 113 minutes, Pillemer raced away down the right wing, Rimmer heading wide after meeting his pinpoint cross.
A minute later and Roosters substitute, Orhan, started a counter attack before unleashing a cheeky lob from inside his own half, spotting Hakoah keeper Sherman off his line, the ball not too far away from embarrassing the Hakoah custodian.
There was one last chance in the final minute of extra time, with Topal?s free kick brilliantly tipped over by Sherman in the Hakoah goal, after the keeper himself was lucky to remain on the park after a foul outside the box.
Full time blew as the Roosters fans exploded into song and cheer, the players slumping to the ground after a gruelling 120 minutes, both teams having worked hard to keep their season alive.
Hakoah coach, Andrew Prentice, thought the strenuous match schedule of the previous week may have taken it?s toll ?. ?They dominated at the back end of the first half, and beginning of the second, and we spent alot of energy during this time because we didn?t hold possession. I think fatigue started to set in, especially given we had to go to extra time,? said Prentice.
Reflecting on the season overall, Prentice added ? ?Seven weeks ago we had 13 players missing, but we came home strong to make the finals, so I am very proud of all my boys?.
Roosters FC player-coach, Hulisi Orhan, paid tribute to his players desire ? ?Once again, we wanted it more, ?said Orhan, still pumped up from his team?s victory song.
?We have wanted to win this competition since the start, and we manage to lift when we have to lift. We will do so again next week, when we play Balmain, because even though we haven?t beaten them this year, this time will be our turn,? added a confident Orhan.
Hakoah?s best in a tough performance were ; tough midfielder Bloch, who didn?t take a backward step in the tackle, trying valiantly to win the midfield battles for his team ; central defender Martin, whose anticipation in defence won him many balls and kept the Roosters attackers at bay ; attacking midfielder Rimmer, skilful on the ball and often involved in many of Hakoah?s attacks.
For the victors, Roosters FC ; defenders Semerci and Karaman, were always well positioned in the backline, and fierce in the tackle ; midfielder Celik, who was his usual busy self as he covered the area from box to box ; substitute Rashid, who came on in the 53rd minute, and instantly provided the spark and speed to trouble the Hakoah backline.
Match Stats
Minor Semi Final
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
1st Grade
Referee ? Mr.A.Soliman
Referee?s Assistants ? Mr.T.Kwan & Mr.A.Hale
HAKOAH 1 (Pozniak 34?)
ROOSTERS FC 2 (Topal 10?, Ors 109?)
*after extra time
HAKOAH ?1. Sherman, 2. Bloch, 6. D.Joseph, 3. Dinte ? (46? 8. Rabie), 14. Martin, 4. M.Kacen(109? 16. A.Joseph), 5. J.Kacen, 11. Rimmer, 9. Pozniak (71? 7.Pillemer), 10. Aschner, 23. Mundell.
Subs not used :15. Tow, RGK. Sonnabend.
ROOSTERS FC ? 1. Gunalp, 11. Avsar ? (26? 3. Ors), 10. Topal, 15. Celik, 23. Semerci, 7. Gogebakan, 20. Serdal (53? 22. Rashid), 12. Guven, 44. Sevgin (69? 55. Orhan), 6. Karaman, 13. Girgin.
Subs not used :16. Kokten, RGK. Gurbuz.
Reserve Grade Minor Semi Final
Hawkesbury City continued where they left off last week, beating the stubborn Colo Colo Wanderers 1-0 in the elimination semi final, Gray scoring the all important winner just minutes before the half time whistle.
-By Frank Speranza
