Division 1 Preliminary Final Review
Despite perfect weather on Saturday with plenty of sunshine, overnight, as well as Sunday morning, produced an unlikely downpour of rain that turned the surface at Hajduk Stadium into somewhat of an ice rink. The slippery surface played havoc all afternoon with the fluency of the game, with many a player hitting the deck without notice as they turned and twisted during proceedings.
Both teams were backing up after their midweek semi finals just four days earlier. Inter Lions were smarting from their 0-4 reverse against competition premiers Spirit FC, and were hoping to regroup and renew their determination in this grand final qualifier.
Dulwich Hill on the other hand had knocked over Stanmore Hawks by 4-1, and were hoping they could carry the momentum into this game and upset their opponents.
The game had barely started, and the fans were still trying to find a dry seat, when the opening goal surprised everyone.
On 5 minutes, a stray pass in the Inter defence was seized upon Dully skipper, James, and he raced down the right flank before sending over a beautifully weighted cross. Dulwich Hill?s experienced striker Tome was unmarked in the middle of the box, and he made the Lions pay dearly as he got up and expertly knocked his header downwards and past the hapless Papaianni in the Inter goal.
Inter reacted by instantly pushing men forward, but often the last pass was ineffective and potential opportunities went astray.
Dully were playing a very dangerous offside trap, high in their half with their backline close to the halfway line. I say ?dangerous? because it only takes the trap not to function just the once and Inter would be presented with a real goal scoring opportunity.
Inter?s Bugallo had such a chance on 18 minutes, racing through to receive a great square pass by Wright, but his tap in was ruled out as he was marginally offside.
On 31 minutes it was a case of dejavu, as Bugallo again raced into space, picking up a great through ball by Kyrazopoulos, to clip the ball over Dully keeper, Frost, but again he was marginally offside and his goal was ruled out.
In between these efforts, Bugallo was this time the provider, slipping a pass into Storey?s path, and he raced into the box but his shot was brilliantly parried by Frost, the Dully keeper reducing the angle as he sped off his line.
Referee Mr.J.Nicolaou blew his half time whistle with Dully in front, and both teams looking for some tactical direction from their coaches to try and snatch the game from their opposition.
Inter?s star player and captain, Wright, was trying valiantly to spark his team, but tight double marking and the slippery conditions were proving difficult obstacles to overcome for the playmaker. Kyrazopoulos, Inter?s centre midfielder, was showing some deft touches and spraying some great passes to his strikers, and was looking to continue his impact on the game.
Dulwich Hill were stubborn in defence as a unit, and were being brilliantly encouraged by their captain, James, whose energies abound, and who continued to show great vision in his distribution.
Inter Lions expectedly showed a little more ascendancy during the second period, whilst Dulwich Hill were happy to soak up the pressure and try a grab a goal on the counter attack.
Tome almost scored his second for Dully on 56 minutes, having received a pass on the edge of the corner of the box from Spresian, before cracking a low cross shot that eluded everyone as it raced past the far upright.
Five minutes later and James sent Paradisis away into the box with a great low pass, but Inter?s defender Skufries effected a great sliding tackle just as the young striker was about to pull the trigger.
On 72 minutes, and once again Dully hit Inter on a swift counter attack, Inter keeper Papaianni saving at the feet of Biviano after Tome had slipped his striker partner a through ball behind the Lion?s defence.
The play continued to sway from end to end, and the game had two glaring chances within seconds of each other, one to each side, both failing to find the net.
The action happened on 78 minutes, as firstly, Biviano blasted well over from an acute angle after he beat the offside trap to gather yet another great pass from James.
Inter Lions countered, and a lobbed ball reached Storey, alone on the right side of the box. He steadied himself, before smacking his volley centimetres wide of Frost?s right hand post, giving the Inter fans in the stands serious palpitations.
Inter Lions persisted, and Cole played Storey into a gap down the right, with the Inter striker whipping over a dangerous cross that was superbly headed clear by the backtracking Burrows.
With Inter pushing forward desperately, looking for that elusive equalizer that just never came, Dulwich Hill put the game out of their reach with two clinical strikes within minutes.
On 84 minutes, as Inter pressed during a corner, Dulwich Hill cleared the ball upfield towards the middle of the park. Dully?s Biviano reacted with a typically predatory instinct of a striker, firstly bumping off Di Mento on the halfway line, and then taking on and beating Toscano with a neat dribble in a one-on-one.
As Inter?s goalkeeper Papaianni raced out, Biviano neatly slipped the ball past him to send the Dully fans into raptures, racing towards the sideline in jubilation.
Two minutes later and Dully raced forward in numbers during yet another counter attack, with Paradisis picking up the ball from Hammond towards the middle of the half. The young attacker realized the potential of the opportunity, conducting a short one-two with James to easily race past a static Inter defence. He then calmly drew Papaianni as he went into the box, before sneaking the ball in at the near post for an expert finish, proceeding to take his shirt off in celebration as he was swamped by his team mates.
As the skies darkened, the full time whistle blew, and Dulwich Hill had taken the spoils in an effective display, with their reward being a spot in next week?s grand final.
Inter made all effort to try and salvage something from the game, especially at 0-1 for over an hour, but with Wright being subdued they lacked the creativity needed to win this football match.
Dulwich Hill, on the other hand, took the upper hand by scoring so early, and with the firepower in Tome, Biviano, and Paradisis, were always odds-on to score more goals on the counter attack.
For Inter Lions, best on a disappointing day for the club were; central midfielder Kyrazopoulos, who displayed composure on the ball, and great accuracy with his passes as he tried to start many of Inter?s attacks; central defenders Toscano and Skufries worked well together against a barrage of Dulwich Hill attacks, often thwarting many of Dully?s raids with timely tackles; attacking midfielder Bugallo, who tried valiantly to make an impact in the attacking third.
For Dulwich Hill, plaudits go to; striker Tome, who showed all of his repertoire and experience in a polished display, holding the ball up well, setting up his team mates with well weighted passes, and scoring a great early goal to get his team on the way; captain James, operating in the centre of the park, was always effective with his distribution, one of the few on ground who never wasted a ball, and had a hand, as always, in two of his team?s goals with telling passes; central defender Rao, who was a towering figure in the centre of the backline, winning everything in the air and keeping the Inter attack at bay.
Match Stats
DIVISION ONE
Preliminary Final ? 1st Grade
Sunday, September 14
Hajduk Stadium – Edensor Road, St Johns Park
Referee ? Mr.J.Nicolaou
INTER LIONS 0
DULWICH HILL 3 (Tome 5?, Biviano 84?, Paradisis 86?)
INTER LIONS 1. Papaianni, 2. Burgess, 3. Vizzari, 4. Toscano, 5. Skufries, 6. Bugallo, 7. Cole, 8. Di Mento, 9. Storey, 10. Wright ? , 11. Kyrazopoulos (14. Donato 71?).
Subs not used ; 12. Pace, 13. Puglisi, 15. Caradonna, RGK. Radin.
DULWICH HILL 1. Frost, 2. Corte, 3. Joaquim, 6. Cahine (24. Hammond 66?), 23. Rao, 15. Burrows, 11. James ?, 7. Tome (14. Celini 75?), 8. Biviano (16. Askaro 85?), 19. Paradisis, 17. Spresian.
Subs not used ; 10. Calcagno, RGK. Perestrelo.
Preliminary Final ? U/20s
Sunday, September 14
Hajduk Stadium – Edensor Road, St Johns Park
INTER LIONS 0
SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS 1
In the U/20s Preliminary Final, the young Scorpions continued their momentous run to the Grand Final with a 1-0 victory over Inter Lions.
Schofields had beaten Inter twice already this season, and took advantage of Inter being reduced to ten men by making it three victories in 2008, earning a spot in the grand final next week.
Schofields have come from fifth spot to qualify for the grand final, winning three successive sudden death semi finals, including a penalty shoot out, whilst Inter Lions would be disappointed with their season ending so abruptly.
-By Frank Speranza
