State League Division 1 Round 22 Review
State League 1 Match of the Round
Blacktown Spartans v Inter Lions
Stalemate not enough for Spartans
Blacktown Spartans dropped out of the top five finals series on the last day of the season, despite dominating territorially, in a scoreless stalemate against Inter Lions at Francis Park on Sunday afternoon.
With three teams equal on 37 points after the completion of the final round, Inter Lions ended up in fourth position, whilst UNSW?s thumping victory against Schofields meant the ?students? grabbed that final fifth spot, albeit on goal difference.
The Spartans had the wind at their back during a tough first half, and were up for it on the day given their intensity in the early exchanges.
The unorthodox heat, and swirling breezes, played havoc with the consistency of the game, with players from both sides finding it difficult to control the leather.
Inter had the opening chance of the game in the seventh minute, with Paul Candalori shooting low and straight at Spartans? keeper, Carlos Saliadarre, after good work in the box by Domenic Dimento.
The Spartans responded just five minutes later with a shot that struck the side netting, Jason Brown pulling the trigger from an angle after shrugging off the challenge of Perri.
The Dimento brothers then combined superbly on 14 minutes to threaten the Blacktown goal. Jacob raced away down the right wing before whipping over a firm cross towards the penalty spot, brother Domenic?s header flying inches wide of the upright.
Inter skipper, Adrian Vizzari, had started the match in the centre of the park, but was called back in to marshal his defence with the injury and subsequent replacement of Perri on 18 minutes.
The Spartans were starting to flex their muscles at this point, often winning possession and pushing the Lions back into their half.
Strikers Simon Zahra and Jason Brown were proving difficult to contain early for the Inter defence, with Zahra almost scoring on 19 minutes, smacking his free kick off the cross bar and over from almost 25 yards.
Minutes later and Brown won a shoulder to shoulder challenge out wide against Leo Sansone, before squaring a beautiful ball across the face of the goal. Alas, Matt Hubbard just couldn?t get a touch as it rolled away to safety.
On 36 minutes Blacktown again were at it again, with Malouf?s far post shot brilliantly parried by Inter?s goalkeeper, Napoleone. The lead up work for the opportunity was done by Zahra and Wilson, with the latter crossing after an effective over lap.
One of the most experienced referees in the competition, Mr James Barnes, was put in charge of proceedings in this blockbuster with so much at stake, and he duly blew his whistle for the half time break with both teams unable to break the deadlock.
In what was proving a tight arm wrestle of a match, Blacktown were 4-1 up in corners during the opening 45 minutes, but were unable to capitalize on this, although they did go close on a couple of occasions.
The Spartans were on the front foot as early in the opening 30 seconds after half time, Todd bustling his way into the box and to the goal line before cutting the ball back for Malouf, whose point blank shot was blocked by Skufris.
A minute later and Brown should?ve done a lot better, skewing his header wide of the uprights from right in front following Zahra?s corner.
Given the relatively short pitch length, Spartans goalkeeper Saliadarre resorted to long kicks forward from outside his penalty area, hoping the punts may find a team mate in the attacking third.
The Lions were therefore starting to put plenty of numbers behind the ball, and rely on a quick counter attack, with James Kovas the lone figure up front working tirelessly.
One such counter attack almost produced a goal for Inter on 68 minutes, Domenic Dimento pinching the ball off Semenikow, before his low, angled shot trickled across the face of goal and wide of the far upright.
It was Blacktown?s turn in the 75th, Todd overlapping down the right after Brown had put him through, eventually cutting back and curling his effort over the far post.
Inter flanker, Domenic Dimento had proved a thorn on the counter all afternoon, on this occasion beating Spartans? defender, Fitzgerald, for speed, before shooting against the woodwork from an acute angle in the 82nd minute.
As the minutes ticked away, Inter Lions had all but one behind the ball, and Blacktown threw everything but the kitchen sink at them as they searched and searched for that elusive goal.
In the second minute of injury time, a high punt near the Inter goal posts was spilt by their goalkeeper, Robert Napoleone, under pressure from Simon Zahra, and Joe Awola?s back heel hit the side netting from a tight angle.
There was still time for one last throw of the dice, and it came agonizingly in the fifth minute of injury time.
Zahra controlled the ball just outside the corner of the penalty area, and sent over a teasing cross behind the Inter defence.
Spartans midfielder, Matt Hubbard, launched himself at the ball, hitting his point blank shot straight at the bottom corner.
Inter?s young custodian, Napoleone, produced an absolutely world class save, falling backwards and diving low to his right to tip the ball around the post to safety.
If the ball had gone in, the Spartans would?ve finished fourth at Inter?s expense, but it?s Inter who progress instead ? it was that close!
For all their effort, Blacktown just couldn?t crack it for that elusive goal that would?ve kept their season alive. Best on the day for the home side were ; central defender Falanga, who was tough and focused in the tackle all day ; strikers Brown and Zahra provided great targets for the Spartans, with the technical ability to hold the ball up and assist in the attacks ; young Wilson was industrious and energetic in the midfield.
Inter Lions carry on forward to meet UNSW in next week?s elimination semi final. Best for them in a strong defensive display were ; the entire backline held firm, with Jacob Dimento and Skufris especially fierce in their defensive duties ; Domenic Dimento was enthusiastic on the flank, and effective with the ball at his feet moving forward ; intensity ; striker Kovas didn?t have much to show for his efforts, but he played the lone man forward with vigor, chasing every ball, and closing down the Spartans defence relentlessly.
Match Stats
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 0
INTER LIONS 0
Sunday, August 16, at Francis Park No.2, Blacktown
Referee ? Mr.James Barnes
Referee?s Assistants ? Mr.Matthew Samson & Mr.Greg McLoughlin
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS: 1.C.Saliadarre (capt), 3.J.Awola, 5.S.Falanga, 7.M.Todd, 15.S.Zahra, 9.J.Brown, 11.B.Fitzgerald, 2.R.Wilson, 17.M.Malouf (16.B.Semenikow 63?),6.J.Canessa , 4.M.Hubbard.
Subs not used ? 20.N.Cordina, 8. J.Amankwalia,10.M.Nkrumah,18.A.Stevenson.
INTER LIONS: 1.R.Napoleone, 2.J.Dimento, 3.D.Toscano, 4.P.Candelori, 5.J.Skufris, 6.S.Perri (12.J.Kyrazopolous 18?), 7.L.Cole, 8.L.Sansone, 9.J.Kovas (13.J.Pace 95?),10.A.Vizzari (capt), 11.D.Dimento.
Subs not used ?RGK.J.Panay, 14.D.Puglisi, 15.O.Karabunt.
DIVISION ONE REVIEW ? Round Twenty Two
Schofield Scorpions ? UNSW 1-4
UNSW capped off a remarkable second half of the season by qualifying for the top five semi-final series with a last round, away victory against Schofields.
Going into the last match, nothing but a win would do for UNSW, and an own goal at CSI Sports Ground just before the break edged them in front.
Glenn McPherson equalized for Schofields on 69 minutes, a result that would mean elimination for the ?students? if it remained that way.
But top scorer Stuart Meney had other ideas, and he put UNSW in front in the 79th minute, before scoring his second, and his team?s third, on 85 minutes.
A fourth goal by Charlie Claridge a minute from time completed an emphatic performance, the 4-1 win putting UNSW into equal fourth spot on the ladder, but fifth on goal difference, ahead of Blacktown Spartans.
UNSW will now play Inter Lions in next week?s elimination semi final, whilst Schofields will play Mounties in the major semi final, courtesy of a third place finish.
Mounties FC ? Dulwich Hill 1-0
The top two sides in the division met at Cook Park in a game that had no bearing on the final make up of the ladder.
But pride was definitely at stake in what could be a rehearsal of the grand final in September, and Mounties took the hours in that regard with a close fought 1-0 victory.
Dully old boy, Steve Biviano, just had to be the scorer, grabbing the all important winner in the 88th minute to give Mounties the spoils.
Dully has the week off next weekend courtesy on their first place on the ladder, whilst Mounties FC take on Schofields in the major semi final.
Sydney Wanderers ? Hills Brumbies 0-2
Hills Brumbies finished the season on the highest possible note, winning their last two matches, ending with a 2-0 away triumph against the Wanderers in the final round of competition.
The goals arrived late indeed, with Brown (74?) and Marchant (93?) giving Hills a fantastic win.
The three points were not enough for the Brumbies to get off the bottom of the ladder, as Hurstville?s draw at Lambert means Hills occupy last position for 2009.
Balmain SC ? Hurstville ZSC 1-1
Balmain grabbed a late equalizer at Lambert Park to avoid defeat in a 1-1 draw against Hurstville ZSC.
Borges put the visitors in front as early as the 7th minute, and Hurstville thought they were ready to hang on for what would?ve been their fourth win of the year.
But Lorenzo Merlino had other ideas, and the experienced target man equalized for Balmain in the 87th minute to give them a share of the spoils.
The point in the end was sufficient enough for Hurstville to avoid the wooden spoon.
Fairfield City Lions ? Stanmore Hawks 1-5
Stanmore Hawks ended their 2009 campaign with a thumping 5-1 away victory over the hapless Fairfield City Lions.
Star striker Wissam Hijazi was back at it again, opening the scoring in the 18th minute for the Hawks. Ongel restored parity for the Lions on 23 minutes, but all that seemed to do was inject the Hawks into action, and they scored three goals before the break to all but end the match as a contest.
Skipper David James put Stanmore in front in the 28th minute, before Chris Theodosiou (36th) and Pieris (41st) added the extras before half time.
One final goal came via Al Bayati on 80 minutes, finishing Stanmore?s season on a bright note after they had promised so much more early on.
P.S. Top Scorers ? now that all rounds of the competition proper have been completed, the final list of goalscorers will be displayed in a special midweek feature article once all the goals have been tallied up.
-By Frank Speranza
