Colo Colo Wanderers clinch State League 2 Grand Final victory over Camden Tigers
The Wanderers played a sensational brand of football, though were forced to come from a goal behind to seal the deal; the triumph completely deserved following a brilliant 2009 campaign.
Both sides started strongly with the midfield battle creating a thrilling contest. Dean Mugridge was influential for the Tigers, as was Mauricio Sanchez for the Wanderers in the opening stages.
Up-front, Geoff Nortan and Joel Cook looked to inspire the Tigers however their best efforts were thwarted by a strong Colo Colo rearguard.
The Wanderers attempted to gain the upper hand in the middle of the park, though the physical battle ? exemplary from both sides ? proved too difficult for both sets of players.
Elias Navarrete played in a sensational ball for Colo Colo behind the Camden defence, though Camden Tigers goalkeeper Matthew Johnston was alert to the danger and quickly left his goal line to clinch the ball.
Mauricio Sanchez came closest in the opening half, on 32? minutes, with a long-range effort from 25-metres drifting inches to the right of goal.
Tony Judge had a chance of his own in the 39? minute after Grant Mackechnie placed a perfect through ball. Judge lined up his shot on goal, though was denied by a fine save by Roy Galiano.
The Wanderers created a yard of space down the right-flank before a pin-point cross picked out Navarrete in the last act of the opening half; Navarrete?s header sailed over the crossbar.
The second-half started as did the first, though this time Camden were forced onto the back foot with some good pressure applied by Colo Colo. Camden defender Mark Steck was outstanding as he pressured Mauricio Sanchez down the right-side to deny the Wanderers any clear chances.
In arguably Colo Colo?s best moment, Camden finally broke through for the opening goal of the match. Grant Mackechnie struck a quality header off a Geoff Nortan cross on 54? minutes to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead; A sensational flowing forward foray led to a spectacular finish by the in-form Mackechnie, who has been outstanding in 2009.
Ian Peti nearly drew Colo Colo level moments later though the Wanderers? player saw his 30-metre effort averted by a tremendous Matthew Johnson in the Camden goal.
Colo Colo continued to pressure Camden in search of an equaliser, and the task at hand was facilitated on 63? minutes as Camden?s Geoff Nortan was shown a red card, leaving the Tigers to defend their lead with ten-men.
Colo Colo took immediate advantage of the numerical advantage and struck the equaliser 2? minutes late via a superb Gerard Laws strike from 30-metres out; the low-driven effort curled into the bottom right-hand corner, much to the relief of the Wanderers bench.
The 300-strong crowd were on their feet and a perfect atmosphere was created for the final 25? minutes.
Colo Colo?s numerical advantage was short-lived, as Navarrete received his second yellow card of the afternoon, ensuring both sides would see out the match with ten-men.
Colo Colo remained undeterred, and in the 71? minute Mauricio Sanchez scored via a free- kick for a 2-1 lead. Sanchez?s effort took a big deflection off a Tigers player, leaving Camden shot-stopper Johnson defenceless.
The Tigers threw all caution to the wind in the closing stages, though the defensive ruthlessness of the Wanderers was unyielding.
The Wanderers held on in what was a courageous performance to take out the 2009 State League Division Two Grand Final.
Following the match, victorious coach Walter Alvarez expressed his delight at his side?s courageous come-from-behind victory:
?I am so happy that we can apply this kind of quality of football in a game, the boys have played well and I am happy with the passing game we produced today,
?I believe after we were behind it helped us to regroup and this is the stage when I knew that the boys would give everything to go on and win it within the 90? minutes.
?This club is brilliant and they deserve this title because they have showcased true South American football, which involves a unique passing game and the ability to hold good quality possession.
?This is a proud day for the Club and I couldn?t be any more happier, it was a great final and I thought Camden were outstanding today, full credit to them and I wish them all the luck for the future,? concluded Walter Alvarez.
Match Stats
Camden Tigers 1(Grant Mackechnie 54?)
Colo Colo Wanderers 2 (Gerard Laws 65?, Mauricio Sanchez 71?)
Sunday, 27th of September, 2009
Jensen Park, Sefton
Referee: Thomas Diakos
Assistant Referees: David Goldsmith and Darrin Richards
Fourth Official: Robert Klein
Crowd: 300 Approx.
Camden Tigers: 1.Matthew Johnson; 2.Lloyd Van Mierlo (7.Michael Hilt 73?), 3.Mark Steck, 5.Tony Judge, 6.Tom Bazadaric, 8.Joel Cook (15.Adam Smutek 79?), 9.Tim Spain, 11.Grant Mackechnie, 12.Ben Green, 13.Dean Mugridge, 14.Geoff Nortan
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Robbie Caldicott, 10.Daniel Semann, 4.Alec Fleming
Yellow Cards: Grant Mackechnie 58?, Geoff Nortan 63?
Red Cards: Geoff Nortan 63?
Coach: Ben Green
Manager: Peter Van Mierlo
Colo Colo Wanderers: 1.Roy Galiano; 2.Cristian Olivares, 3.Gerard Laws, 4.Ivan Sanhueza, 5. Rodrigo Brito, 6. Luis Escalante, 7.Ian Peti, 8.Mauricio Sanchez, 9.Elias Navarrete, 10.Alex Aravena (12.Bayar Dawood 78?), 11.Diego Dominguez (16.Oneal Harral 83?)
Substitutes Not Used: 14.Emmanuel Barrera, 15.Carlos De Araujo, 17.Pablo Mesa,
Yellow Cards: Elias Navarrete 39?, 67?, Diego Dominguez 75?,
Red Cards: Elias Navarrete 67?
Coach: Walter Alvarez
Assistant Coach: Eddie Simba
Team Managers: Pedro Gonzalez, Gerardo Araya, Carlos Aravena
Reserve Grade State League Division Two Grand Final
Gladesville Ryde Magic secured the Reserve Grade State League Division Two Grand Final win, defeating Camden Tigers 5-2 at Jensen Park.
Gladesville dominated the first-half with quality players Ahmed Kabbara and George Ganiatsas both scoring a double in what led to a sensational five-goal blitz in the opening 45? minutes.
It took Ahmed Kabbara 5? minutes to open the scoring and it wasn?t long before the Gladesville side added a second in the 10? minute through George Ganiatsas.
Camden was struggling to hold off the Gladesville attack and in the 25? minute George Ganiatsas added his second for the afternoon.
Kabbara added his second of the game in the 36? minute and 6? minutes later Ali McKie added the fifth goal in the 42? minute via a well-taken free-kick.
Gladesville went a man down just before the break, however with a 5-0 lead, Camden?s second-half task would prove too difficult.
Camden managed to pull back two goals through Sahligh Jappie in the 62? minute and Brad Caldicott in the 73? minute in what was a better display.
Gladesville held out and administered their lead with ease, securing the 2009 crown with an impressive 5-2 victory.
-By Johnny Casni
