Penrith-Nepean reach TigerTurf Cup Final Four
With the game locked at 1-1 at full-time, Penrith-Nepean finally converted one of the many chances, presented to both sides, with a minute remaining in first-half extra-time.
It had not started well for Penrith-Nepean as WCFC started the stronger in the match. Their early dominance was rewarded in the 7? minute with a goal from Kieran Deane. Corey Gamiero shot towards goal, the ball deflected off Ilija Prenzoski and fell directly at the feet of Deane who shot across the face of goal with the ball settling into the back of the net.
WCFC continued to press their claims but failed to really put Matthew Nash in the Penrith goal under too much pressure.
Momentum suddenly swung as Penrith-Nepean started pushing men up-field, although they too were guilty of squandering some strong chances.
In the 33? minute though, Penrith-Nepean did find their equaliser courtesy of Devrim Huseyin?s shot. The midfielder?s effort deflected off a Wollongong defender and eluded goalkeeper Alex Augusto?s best attempts in goal. Some credit must go to Michael Dowling who stole the ball off the defence in the attacking third and played a neat short pass Huseyin.
After finding their equaliser, Penrith-Nepean fell back into their shell and it was WCFC who had the major chances up until the break. A goal though was not forthcoming.
The first-half was entertaining but the second was dour. In the 53? minute WCFC almost caught Penrith-Nepean napping when Balla Conda put a long ball over the top to Deane who headed it past the advancing Nash. The effort lacked the force required to see the ball cross the goal-line.
On 58? minutes Nic McInerney made a direct run, the length of the field, and cut the ball back into the goal area only for Tayfun Buyukkopru to just miss touching the ball home for a goal.
In the 78? minute Wollongong?s Corey Gamiero stepped back across the defence and fired a low shot which bounced awkwardly for Nash, but the shot-stopper managed to save it well.
Then with 3? minutes remaining, Gamiero should have scored as he went one-on-one with Nash on the angle, but slid his shot centimetres the wrong side of the far post.
The last chance of normal time should have been the winning goal. Ben Gough played a precise in from the left and Michael Dowling found himself free with an empty net in-front of him; Dowling though failed to get to the low cross in time and the danger for WCFC was gone.
As the mist rolled in and the cold set in, an extra half hour of football was played out.
For WCFC it would be more of the same, half chances went begging as the final ball simply did not fall their way. Penrith-Nepean too had their chances but could not find the net.
Then finally, with 1? minute remaining in the first-half of extra time, Michael Dowling turned on the ball at the near post and a combination of his shot and confusion in the defence saw the ball deflect off WCFC player and sneak into the back of the net.
Penrith-Nepean was able to hold on for the last period of time, countering when they could a WCFC side that through all caution to the wind in search an equaliser. Ben Bronnenberg came closest for the south coast team but his shot on goal was charged down by Alex Mansueto.
Penrith-Nepean player/coach Ante Juric was pleased his side got through to the semi-final:
?It was an even contest out there tonight as both teams wanted to get through.
?I am pleased it was us that got through. It was typical hard, tough cup football played tonight.?
WCFC?s Bob Stallard was left to reflect on what might have been:
?We were unlucky tonight, the luck just did not fall our way. The boys battled hard, as did Penrith?s, but in the end it was not enough.?
Tiger Turf Cup Quarter-Final Match Stats
Penrith-Nepean United 2 (Huseyin 33?, Dowling104?)
Wollongong Community FC 1 (Deane 7?)
After extra time (1-1 at full time)
Tuesday, 7th July 2009
Gabbie Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Sandro Perticarini
Crowd: 200
Penrith-Nepean United: 1.Matthew Nash; 2.Mark Bariamis, 4.Evangelos Petratos, 8.Paul Crisp, 12.Nic McInerney, 14.Greg Kondek, 15.Sean Mitchell (37.Trent Barton 105?), 23.Devrim Huseyin (11.Dmitrios Petratos 99?), 19.Michael Dowling, 24.Tayfun Buyukkopru, (10.Ben Gough 63?), 31.Alex Mansueto
Substitutes Not Used: 21.Nik Jelic, 38 James O?Rourke
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Wollongong Community FC: 1.Alex Augusto, 2.Kieran Deane, 4.Alfredo Esteves, 6.Ilija Prenzoski, 8.Aden Wade (14.Daniel Cortez 67?), 12.Brendan Kearns (7.Josh Price 90?), 10.Balla Conda, 13.Ben Bronnenberg, 19.Corey Gamiero, 17.Chris Nathaniel, 15.Jimmy Lawrence (3.Corey Horner 90?)
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Mat Brandalise
Yellow Cards: Kearns 56?, Gamiero 67?, Esteves 119?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Nic McInerney (PNU)
2 – Corey Gamiero (WC)
1 – Matthew Nash (PNU)
-By Stuart Jones
