State League 1 Finals Series Preview Round 1
Elimination Semi Final
INTER LIONS ? UNSW
The Elimination Semi Final will take place on Sunday afternoon at David Phillips Field, Daceyville, kicking off at 3-00pm, with Inter Lions taking on UNSW.
Inter Lions finished the season in fourth position on the competition ladder, on 37 points, and were ahead of UNSW only by courtesy of goal difference, +17 to UNSW?s +15.
Inter have endured a number of challenges this season, including a change of coach early on in the piece, with prodigal son, Ernesto Meduri, coming in to take over the reins following the parting of ways between Inter and Michael Urukalo.
The Lions have had a number of solid performers this season, with skipper, Adrian Vizzari, holding the forte in defence, in front of agile goalkeeper, Robert Napoleone.
The Dimento boys, Jacob and Domenic, have been consistent week in, week out, whilst striker, James Kovas, did well to score 8 goals given he joined he club after the season started.
Much has been documented about UNSW?s dramatic second round performances, winning 11 out of the last 13 matches to scrape into the top five on the final day of the season.
Coach Luke Andrews has masterminded the turnaround, with Stuart Meney?s seventeen goals the outcome of a stringent attacking policy, assisted ably by Rocco Luca?s high work rate up front.
Captain Michael Janov has been an inspiration to his team mates in defence, partnering the consistent and solid Patrick Lloyd.
The clubs have clashed twice, of course, this season, with Inter Lions yet to taste victory.
Way back on April 19th at David Phillips Field, the match finished in a draw, with Lloyd equalizing for UNSW after Jacob Dimento had given Inter a 15th minute lead.
The return match was at Concord Oval on Sunday, July 5th, and UNSW took home the spoils in a 1-0 away victory, courtesy of a late, 82nd winner from Graca.
The match promises to be a real cracker, with all the thrills and spills of a typical, elimination semi final, so get out to Daceyville to see the action unfold.
U/20s ? Sydney Wanderers meets Inter Lions in the early game due to kick off at 12-30pm.
Preliminary Semi Final
MOUNTIES FC ? SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS
The Preliminary Semi Final will be played in the late afternoon on Sunday, kicking off at 5-00pm at Cook Park, Mt Pritchard.
Mounties FC finished second in the competition ladder, and will host third placed Schofields Scorpions for the right to play Dulwich Hill the following week.
Mounties FC have almost slipped under the radar in the latter part of the season, going about their business in a professional manner and picking up three points on a consistent basis.
Steve Biviano?s 16 goals have spearheaded the Mounties charge, with the experience of Christian Care guiding the team around the park.
Schofields, on the other hand, went through an inconsistent patch of form in the middle stages of the competition, eventually ending their chances of winning the premiership.
But the Scorpions picked up their act towards the latter part, and finished well to grab third spot on the standings.
The defence has been well marshalled by Harrington and Hubbard, whilst Glenn McPherson has been hitting the et again with regularity, his 17 goals evidence of this.
The points between the two clubs have been split in the two matches his season, both resulting in 1-0 victories.
McPherson grabbed the goal for Schofields in a 1-0 win against Mounties on April 25th, whilst Lloyd exacted revenge for Mounties on July 11 with the only goal of the game on 66 minutes.
The match promises to be a real thriller between two of the competition?s heavyweights, so make sure you make the trip out to Cook Park to see who finishes as victors.
U/20s ? the early game kicks off at 2-30pm, with Blacktown Spartans meeting Mounties FC.
-By Frank Speranza
