State League Division 1 Review
Match of the Round
Inter Lions kick off 2009 with a bang after smashing victory over
Fairfield City Lions
The opening round of the 2009 season brought together the battle of the ?lions? at Norford Park.
Recently relegated Fairfield City Lions were keen to get their season off to a winning start in front of their home fans, whilst Inter Lions were eager to improve on their 2008 performance, and have recruited with an aim for promotion to the Super League.
And it was the visitors, Inter Lions, that came out of the blocks absolutely firing with a blistering opening half an hour or so.
Their new recruits for this season were all keen to show their wares, and it was D.Dimento that cut inside his defender on 5 minutes to blast over from 20 yards.
Minutes later big target man Antar received the ball at his feet with his back to goal, and a quick turn and low snapshot almost produced a goal but the ball skimmed the outside of the goal post.
Fairfield City were having real trouble getting out of their half, and the incessant raids from Inter Lions produced the first goal in the 10th minute.
Picking up the ball on the halfway line, Cevenini produced a great diagonal ball towards the corner flag, finding De Jesus in space. The ex-Olympic striker took control, and slipped an inside pass to the onrushing Jacob Dimento, who had made inroads in support.
Dimento then steadied before hitting a shot across the face of goal that was guided into the net by Cevenini, who had continued his run into the box after playing the initial pass that started the move.
Just a couple of minutes later and Inter Lions made it 2-0 with a straightforward, text book goal. De Jesus hit a firm corner across the face of the goal, and big burly Antar had made a perfect run into the box to smack his header downwards and into the net to double their lead.
The match was as good as over as early as the 16th minute when Inter Lions remarkably made it 3-0, with that man De Jesus once again the architect. A free kick out on the right touchline was sent high towards the far post by De Jesus, and as Fairfield?s keeper Webb came out and flapped at the ball, Cevenini was on hand to calmly steer his header into an unguarded net and put the visitors well on the way to three points.
It took Fairfield City a good 20 minutes before they had a strike on goal, skipper Issa cracking a low free kick from 20 yards past the upright after Cetinay had laid the ball off for him.
Then Fairfeld?s tall striker, Dulleh, escaped the shackles of the Inter defence on 24 minutes, twisting and turning before hitting a shot wide from the corner of the box.
But Inter re-asserted their ascendancy once more, with Antar beating two defenders to win a brave header, hurting himself in the process. He knocked the ball down to De Jesus who hit a great snap volley from 15 yards that flashed inches outside the post.
Fairfield made inroads once again just after the half hour mark, with Ongel?s low shot from an indirect free kick being tipped around the post by Inter?s custodian, Napoleone, who had very little to do until this stage.
The ensuing corner kick by Oncu was flicked on dangerously and raced across the face of the Inter goal, a touch all that was needed to divert it towards goal.
But Inter bounced back on 35 minutes, when De Jesus (who else?!) saw Candelori free metres outside the far side of the penalty box, and found him with a precise corner.
The unmarked Candelori controlled the ball on his thigh, and hit a perfect volley that dipped and dropped into the top corner of the net to score the goal of the match, and put Inter 4-0 up.
Like a boxer cowering in the corner amidst a flurry of blows, half time couldn?t come quick enough for Fairfield City as Inter Lions blew away the match with close to a complete half of football.
The experienced Vizzari and Pettenon were winning everything in the centre of the Inter defence, and Toscano was equally fierce in his defending out on the left, all three often starting many forays into the Fairfeld half with their tackling and distribution.
The Dimento brothers were covering every blade of grass on each flank, and midfelders Cevenini and Candelori were amongst the goals.
But the star of the half was undoubtedly Inter?s silky striker, Ivo De Jesus, whose technical prowess was something to be marveled at.
He had a hand in each and every goal, and was constantly beating players at will with his skill, often setting up his team mates in the opposition half.
Inter Lions could?ve been forgiven for taking the foot off the pedal in the second half, but they continued where they left off when they made it 5-0 just minutes after the recommencement.
Vizzari?s long free kick was expertly protected by Antar as a defender leaned into him. He allowed it to drop before smacking a volley over the advancing Webb and into the Fairfield goal for his second, and his team?s fifth, to continue the home team?s misery.
On the hour mark the fans were treated to an exquisite piece of play by De Jesus. The silky striker weaved into the box from the sideline, leaving two defenders in his wake, before chipping his cross over the advancing keeper with by crossing his right foot behind his left, ?Cristiano Ronaldo? style. Big striker Antar got his head to the ball but his header towards an unguarded net was deflected wide by the desperate Ongel, stopping an otherwise brilliant goal.
Fairfield City began to come into the game more as Inter Lions expectedly relinquished the intensity, and the home side pulled a goal back on 63 minutes after numerous attempts at goal. A quick counter attack saw Issa play Codmani into a gap and his shot as he entered the box was parried by Inter?s keeper, Napoleone.
The ball fell into the path of Issa near the penalty spot, and as he rounded Napoleone and seemed to be fouled, Codmani cracked the ball home from a few yards to make it 5-1.
Then on 79 minutes, the home side made it two when a high, up-and-under clearance in the middle of the half was met by both Inter?s keeper, Napoleone, and Fairfield striker Dulleh.
Napoleone?s headed clearance bounced invitingly for Fairfield?s midfielder Codmani, who made it two for him and two for his team with a delicate lob from fully 30-35 yards.
A minute later and Issa latched onto a long pass into the corner, cutting the ball back for Gaeta who smashed his shot well over the bar from inside the box, as Fairfeld continued a late flurry.
Just when everyone was looking at the man in the middle, Mr Tedone – who incidentally added to the entertainment by allowing the game to flow – for the final whistle, Inter popped up with one last goal to complete the scoring.
Inter?s second half substitute, Tachi, found D.Dimento with a beautifully chipped pass over the Fairfield defence, and the wing back cut inside to coolly slip the ball over the advancing Webb and complete the rout.
Inter Lion?s coaching staff of Mike Urukalo (head coach) and Justin Bucciarelli (assistant coach) must be congratulated on a splendid first up performance from their troops. Inter came out of the blocks firing, looking sharp in attack, firm in defence, and collectively intense in their approach.
As for Fairfield, captain Robbie Issa lamented their loss.
?Even though we had a good preparation in pre-season, conceding those goals so early made it so hard for us to come back.?
?We have some young players in our squad, and our inexperience told in the end,? said Issa.
For the home side, Codmani was the pick, working hard to combat the onslaught and grabbing two goals as his reward for his efforts. Captain Issa kept trying to spark his team until the end, and Cetinay also worked hard in midfield.
For the victors, Inter Lions, there were plenty of solid performers.
Pettenon and captain Vizzari were solid in the centre of the back line, strong in the tackle, and precise with their distribution out of defence.
The Dimento brothers worked very hard all day, quick to support in attack but equally committed in defence. Cevenini scored two goals and won a heap of possession in the midfield.
But the day?s plaudits go to Inter striker De Jesus, who despite not getting on the scoresheet, was instrumental in almost all of his team?s attacking moves. De Jesus skills were sublime to watch for all the spectators, beating defenders for fun as he created many opportunities for his team mates.
I am looking forward to seeing how Ivo De Jesus teams up with a fully fit Lachlan Wright (Wright played a cameo role in the last 14 minutes as he is returning from injury) ? opposition defences you have been warned!
Match Stats
DIVISION ONE
Round One
Match of the Round
Sunday, March 15, 2009
FAIRFIELD CITY LIONS 2 (Codmani 63?, 79?)
INTER LIONS 6 (Cevenini 10?/16?, Antar 12?/49?, Candelore 35?, Dimento D. 90?+2)
at Norford Park No.2, Sefton
FAIRFIELD CITY LIONS ;1. Webb, 2. Mandas, 3. Mourad, 4. Ongel, 5. Cetinay, 6. Gabriel (16.Hidalgo 55?), 7. Oncu, 8. Codmani, 10. Issa ?, 11. Dulleh, 15. Mitwali(13.Gaeta 46?).
Subs not used ? 9.Aligiannis, RGK.Bogdan.
INTER LIONS ;1. Napoleone, 2. Luland, 3. Candelore(12.Tachi 71?), 4. Toscano, 5. Pettenon, 6. Cevenini, 7. Dimento D., 8. Dimento J. (14.Sansone 81?), 9. De Jesus, 10. Antar (13.Wright 76?), 11. Vizzari ?.
Subs not used ? 15. Tsattalios, RGK. Higgins.
DIVISION ONE REVIEW ? Round One
The players of clubs in Division One would?ve have awoken Saturday morning, pulled up the blinds at home, and seen a beautiful sunny day about to unfold as the eagerly anticipated kick off to the season loomed that evening.
Little did they know that Mother Nature was intent on playing a part in proceedings, and she produced one heck of a thunderstorm Saturday evening, complete with thunder and lightning, which had an effect on all the scheduled games.
Worst affected were the Mounties FC ? UNSW and Sydney Wanderers ? Balmain SC matches, which have been postponed until a later date to be advised by Football NSW.
The remaining two matches scheduled for Saturday evening went ahead, with Dulwich Hill winning the battle against Stanmore Hawks in their inner west derby at Arlington Oval.
Dulwich Hill prevailed by 1-0 on the night, with Philippou being the lone goalscorer in a game dominated by Dully, who held possession and frustrated the Hawks for long periods. They could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty from the experienced Bove near the end of the match.
A deluge at half time actually threatened to call off the match as part of the ground became flooded, but some crafty work by club officials drained the water away and the match continued.
In the other match at Francis Park, home side Blacktown Spartans overcame a stubborn Hills Brumbies side 2-1 to kick start their season on a bright note.
Cornett got the Spartans off to a fantastic start with a goal as early as the 6th minute, but Shrimpton equalised for Hills just five minutes into the second period.
Browne put Blacktown in front for a second time on 65 minutes, and despite numerous other opportunities, that?s the way it stayed till the end to give new coach Ben de Haan a winning start.
On Sunday at Bensons Lane, Schofield Scorpions got their season off to a winning start wth a 4-2 triumph against Hurstville ZFC.
New signing from Balcktown Spartans, McPherson, picked up where he left off from last season by opening the scoring for the Scorpions on just 19 minutes.
Zoric equalized for the visitors a couple of minutes before the break, but McPherson restored the Scorpions lead in the 64th minute.
Zoric continued his one-on-one dual with McPherson by equalizing for a second time in the 67th minute.
But Schofields were determined to win the points, and two more goals rounded off the scoring for the home side, with Tyrrell making it 3-2 on 73 minutes and McPherson grabbing his hatrick with just four minutes remaining.
GOALSCORERS ? Week One
3 – McPherson (Schofield Scorpions)
2 – Cevenini (Inter Lions), Antar (Inter Lions), Codmani (Fairfield City), Zoric (Hurstville ZSC)
1 – Tyrrell (Schofield Scorpions), Candelori (Inter Lions), Dimento (Inter Lions), Cornett (Blacktown Spartans), Browne (Blacktown Spartans), Shrimpton (Hills Brumbies),Philippou (Stanmore Hawks)
