Simpson stunner snatches last ditch point for Demons
Played in wet conditions, the Tigers were denied victory at the death for the umpteenth time this season, leaving their players dejected following the final whistle. The Demons on the other hand can return home satisfied with their efforts; the side played the last 20? minutes of the match with nine-men, the 40? minutes prior with ten.
Simpson?s sensational strike on goal, with his back to goal outside the penalty-area, had everyone present on their feet, arguably a very serious contender for goal of the season.
The match opened with the Tigers holding a monopoly on possession and it was Franco Parisi that created the first goalscoring opportunity with a shot from distance following an early Sydney Tigers corner; the Tigers? playmaker was denied by a heavy deflection by the a Demons defender.
The Tigers maintained the early pressure with another corner moments later. Jason Trifiro?s whipped in effort was met by Carlo Musumeci at the near post; the midfielder?s glancing header finished inches over the crossbar.
At the other end the visitors should really have taken the lead on 7? minutes following an exceptional exchange of short passes between Chris Bedzo, Matthew Lewis and Ante Deur in the attacking third. With only the goalkeeper to beat, the latter toe-poked his effort to the side of the advancing Phillip Zabaks only to see his effort finish wide of the mark.
The Tigers players had the home supporters on their feet on 13? minutes as some fine vision by Michael Hawrysiuk down the left-flank provided Marino Musumeci with a look-in on goal. Hawrysiuk?s elegant through ball with the outside of his right boot met Musumeci?s diagonal run; the Tiger?s number 8 cleverly chested the ball down into his path though failed to hit the target with his first-time effort.
A physical battle ensued in the middle of the park with Tigers trio Nick Rizzo, Jason Trifiro and Bishara Stephan in fine touch for the home-side. Despite conceding much of the possession to their opponent though, the Demons still looked dangerous on the counter-attack; mainly via experienced campaigner Adam Kwasnik.
The Tigers nearly took the lead on 23? minutes as Carlo Musumeci?s perfectly timed run into the penalty-area provided him a free header. Rizzo?s pin-point floated cross from the left picked out Musumeci, though again the midfielder?s effort failed to hit the target.
Hawrysiuk then chimed in for the home-side with a free-kick from distance on 26? minutes. His effort packed a punch though lacked the precision as Herbert watched the effort sky-rocket over the crossbar.
The visitors were again dangerous on the counter-attack on 28? minutes, and once more the chance developed via the feet of Bedzo and Deur. The latter this time picked out Kwasnik in a wider position on the right, though his effort from distance was easily dealt with by Zabaks.
The Tigers shot-stopper was called into action again moments later to deny Bedzo from close-range; The Demons broke quickly from their own half and released Kwasnik down the right-flank before picking out Bedzo in the middle, though Zabaks would not be caught wanting.
Bedzo did have the Tigers? goalkeeper beaten 1? minute later, though his effort from the edge of the penalty-area skidded wide of the left-hand post much to the relief of the home-side.
The Demons task at hand took a turn for the worst when Kain Rastall was shown a straight red card on 36? minutes. The Demons midfielder was late, with his studs up, as he challenged Marino Musumeci in the middle of the park, leaving the referee with no choice but to show the red card.
After the break, the Demons created the opening chance of the half via a set-piece. Luke Casserly?s floated effort from the left picked out the glancing header of Paul Karbon, though the effort finished wide of the mark.
The Tigers responded with a set-piece of their own on 53? minutes via the left-boot of Rizzo. The Tigers crafty midfielder curled his free-kick around the wall, and despite the goalkeeper was seemingly beaten, the ball finished inches wide of the mark.
The Demons again were threatening via a set-piece. On 59? minutes it was the Luka Dukic and Kwasnik tandem that combined, though again the final header from Kwasnik failed to test Zabaks.
Sydney Tigers created their best chance of the match via the quick feet of Marino Musumeci. The former Sydney Olympic player timed his run down the right flank to perfection before cutting the ball back into the path of Rizzo. The midfielder?s first-time effort forced Herbert into a fine diving save, as the Tigers chance went begging.
At the other end, Kwasnik?s acrobatic effort on the turn forced Zabaks into a difficult save on the wet surface down to his left. Luke Casserly had Zabaks down to his left again 1? minute later as the Demons? captain forced the Tigers keeper into a save from his curling free-kick.
The Demons second-half approach was admirable despite the numerical disadvantage, though on 73? minutes their difficult task at hand became unbearable as Adam Kwasnik picked up his second yellow card of the afternoon to leave the Demons with nine-men.
The Tigers immediately took the initiative at this point as Rizzo?s forward foray down the left allowed the Tigers number 22 to pick out Franco Parisi inside the penalty-area. Parisi?s first-time effort on his left foot from close-range was well-parried by Michael Herbert who stood tall in the Demons goal.
Rizzo again orchestrated a Tigers attack with another pin-point cross picking out Marino Musumeci; the final header was well-parried by Herbert.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Demons were unyielding as Joel Chianese set-off on a solo run up-field. With pressure from Shane Lyons, the youngster tried his luck from distance though his effort finished well-wide of the intended target.
The Tigers finally found their break-through on 86? minutes as a poorly timed Daniel Wilkinson challenge saw the referee award a penalty. Nick Rizzo stepped up for the spot-kick and coolly slotted the ball past Herbert for the lead.
In what will go down as one of the greatest goals of TeleChoice Premier League history ? a certain candidate for greatest goal in any League, really ? Tyler Simpson latched onto a poorly cleared ball outside of the penalty-area with a powerfully hit bicycle-kick. From a slightly decentralised position, to the left of the goal, Simpson caught goalkeeper Zabaks out at the near post sending the Demons bench and small contingent of supporters into raptures.
Following the match, coach Blacktown City Demons coach Ken Schembri could speak praise of his players? efforts:
?I could not ask anymore from my players today, even if we lost the match.?Things just don?t seem to be going for us; we looked to play our own game, though with the first send-off we needed to re-organise and then again after the second it was practically impossible,? commented Schembri.
?In saying that, where many players? heads would go down after conceding a very soft penalty, my players kept their heads up and went searching for the goal; And I think we deserved that in the end,? Schembri ended.
Sydney Tigers boss Luke McGuire was far from content with the final result:
?It really is difficult to explain; It?s happened five times now that we have lost matches, or missed out on three-points due to a late goal ? I am really disappointed.
?We have dominated matches and outplayed our opponents for large spells, yet we come away with only a point.
?Their goal was a bomb ? exceptionally well-taken, though it is really frustrating for us as we should have done more in-front of goal earlier on,? concluded McGuire.
In the Grade 20 division, table-topping Blacktown City Demons continued their impressive run of form with a hard-fought 2-0 win against the Tigers. Goals to Adam Woodbine and Nick Fitzgerald sealed the points for the Demons who hold a commanding lead at the top of the Grade-20 League ladder.
Match Stats
Sydney Tigers 1 (Nick Rizzo 87?)
Blacktown City Demons 1 (Tyler Simpson 90?+3?)
Sunday, 21st of June, 2009
Leichhardt Oval, Leichhardt
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referees: Nick Backo and David Lockeridge
Fourth Official: Adam Dayeian
Crowd: 300 Approx.
Sydney Tigers: 99.Phillip Zabaks; 3.John Kelso (C), 6.Shane Lyons, 7.Stephen Kayes, 8.Marino Musumeci, 10.Franco Parisi, 11.Carlo Musumeci,16.Michael Hawrysiuk, 18.Bishara Stephan (23.Sebastian Petralito 71?), 22.Nick Rizzo, 24.Jason Trifiro
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Giancarlo Papaianni, 17.Joseph Cartisano, 21.Thomas Taylor, 5.Daniel Ramirez
Yellow Cards: Stephen Kayes 64?, Bishara Stephan 66?, Sebastian Petralito 90?+1?
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City Demons: 1.Michael Herbert; 2.Tyler Simpson, 3.Paul Karbon, 4.Luka Dukic (18. Akawasi Agyei 82?) , 6.Luke Casserly (C), 8.Chris Bedzo (15.Ray Miller 84?), 9.Kain Rastall, 16.Ante Deur, 17.Joel Chianese, 19.Adam Kwasnik, 29.Matthew Lewis (5.Daniel Wilkinson 70?)
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Brody Crane, 10.Luke Austin
Yellow Cards: Paul Karbon 9?, Adam Kwasnik 62?, 73?
Red Cards: Kain Rastall 36?, Adam Kwasnik 73?
-By Joseph Carlucci
