TeleChoice Championship Series Grand Final Preview
Sutherland Sharks and Wollongong FC; the two sides that occupied first and second spot on the League ladder at the conclusion of the regular season ? split only by goal difference ? meet for the fourth time this season.
Very little separates these two sides with 2008 head-to-head encounters producing one win each and a draw, though the Wolves drew the heaviest blow on their rival two-weeks ago in the Major semi-final at Seymour Shaw.
On that afternoon, John Turner?s men stunned the Seymour Shaw crowd with a late extra-time winner arriving via the boot of experienced striker Ilija Prenzoski.
Despite the loss, and a slight slump in terms of results, the Sharks bounced back to secure their spot in the Grand Final with a morale boosting, yet exhausting, victory against Sydney Olympic.
The Wolves week off allowed their players carrying injuries into the defeat of Sutherland Sharks in the Major semi-final to recover, as John Turner has, almost, a full squad at his disposal.
Michael Hawrysiuk, Alfredo Esteves and Matthew Bailey proved to be immense in the win, though huge doubts hovered around these men leading up to kick-off.
John Turner?s gamble paid off, and with the extra week to recover, the Wolves are fit and ready for a big showdown:
?The week following the win against Sutherland gave a number of the boys carrying injuries a chance to recover and prepare for the week leading into the Grand Final.
?I am happy to have everyone available, obviously minus Osagie (Ederaro) and Michael (West) who will be both out for some time still,? commented Turner.
?Against Sutherland in a Grand Final match, it will come down to which team settles first and plays to their strengths. My boys have been great this season, they are a tremendous group and it has been a privilege to work with them ? I believe that we can win the match if play to our strengths.?
Sutherland Sharks? boss Brian Brown was one relieved man following the defeat of Sydney Olympic; a win that will certainly boost the morale of a Sutherland side that lacked some confidence following a ?lean spell? at the end of the regular season:
?I am ecstatic to get into the Grand Final and the boys are all very very happy to have overcome a huge fight against Sydney Olympic.
?We struggled against a very good side fighting to stay in the competition, yet we held on and showed that we can grind out a result. In recent weeks we have been hurt by injuries and suspensions, though with a win like the one against Sydney Olympic the boys will certainly be up for a big encounter against Wollongong on Sunday,? concluded Brown.
The Sharks boss, who is already without Pedj Bojic following his move to A-League side Central Coast Mariners, will also need to ?make do? without the services of speedster Shane Lyons who picked up two yellow cards against Sydney Olympic, signalling a Grand Final suspension.
The TeleChoice Premier League showcase kicks off at 3:00 PM at Penrith?s CUA Stadium, an afternoon that will also feature some well-known faces in Australian football.
With the A-League observing a one-week break for the World Cup Qualifiers over the next week, Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners? representatives will be keen observers on Sunday.
Former Socceroo and ex-Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa goalkeeper Mark Bosnich will be present alongside team-mates Danny Vukovic, Pedj Bojic and Mariners? U-20s coach Alex Tobin.
Meanwhile, Sydney FC will be represented by striker Alex Brosque, defenders Iain Fyfe and Nikolas Tsattalios and goalkeeper Ivan Necevski, illustrating the interest generated by the TeleChoice Premier League in 2008.
-By Joseph Carlucci
