Spartans silence Granville?s Rage to book semi-final spot

The State League One side, who had already knocked out NSW Premier League heavyweights Rockdale City and Sydney United, added the Super League club to their list of tournament triumphs on the way to booking a semi final berth.
Wednesday night?s victory at Garside Park created history for Blacktown, who had never ventured past the quarter final phase of the tournament in their previous attempts.
Despite the dream run, not even the most optimistic Spartan could have predicted the outcome of the opening minutes against Granville.
Blacktown stunned the home-side when they hit the lead after just 2? minutes courtesy of Reece Iredale. The number 9 capitalised on a loose ball and drilled his shot past Jason Holmes to give the visitors an early confidence boost.
The Spartans should have doubled their lead moments later when Glenn McPherson charged forward and worked his way around the keeper, but the number 11 failed to find the net from close-range.
Nenos Bobo had an opportunity to equalise for Granville when he went one-on-one with Spartans goalkeeper Carlos Salidarre, but the advancing keeper pulled off a brilliant save to deny the Rage their opener.
Frederick Graham was also causing havoc up front, but squandered a golden chance in front of goal after turning his defender.
The referees were under scrutiny from the home fans after several infringements were called against Granville, but a lack of discipline soon cost the Rage.
Joe Cartisano, who received his first yellow card for lashing out at the linesman in the 32? minute, was given an early mark after a mistimed challenge on Joseph Awola.
Restricted to just 10 men, the Rage continued to push forward, but Bobo failed to make the most of his opportunity, again firing off target.
After a forgettable first-half, the Rage were given a shot in the arm when they were awarded a penalty after 50? minutes.
A David Harding through ball sent Bobo into the penalty-area, but instead of thwarting the Granville raid, Salidarre was yellow carded for bringing down the striker in the box.
Pasqualino Cappucio was given the responsibility of equalising, and made no mistake from the spot to level at 1-1 after 50? minutes.
Despite playing with just 10-men, the Rage were dominating their opposition mid way through the second half, but Bobo wasn?t having a happy night in front of goal.
McPherson wasn?t having the same problem at the other end, converting his chance in the 71? minute.
The number 11 found some space down the left flank, and with his first touch, slotted his shot past Holmes at the near post to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead after 71? minutes.
The Spartans soon ended any hope of a Granville comeback, taking an insurmountable 3-1 lead when McPherson tapped home at the far post after Holmes deflected a shot from the opposite side of the field.
In unusual circumstances, the Spartans lost their keeper after he received his second yellow card, but it meant very little to the context of the match, as Blacktown held on to claim a memorable 3-1 victory.
Granville coach Nick Porrecca refused to talk to Football NSW after his side?s lost, but in the opposition sheds, Blacktown coach Ben de Haan was elated with his team?s performance.
?I?m very happy for the boys,? he said.
?I couldn?t be happier.?
While he was pleased to progress through to the semi finals, de Haan conceded his side still had room to improve:
?Our past games against Sydney United and Rockdale were good football games, but tonight we were a bit scrappy,? he said.
But can the Spartans go all the way?
?It all depends on what happens on the night,? de Haan said.
?We?ve just been taking it one match a time, enjoying it and trying to set up for the weekend.?
Match Stats
Granville Rage 1 (Cappuccio 50?)
Blacktown Spartans 3 (R.Iredale 3?, McPherson 71?, 78?)
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Garside Park
Referee: Andrew Best
Assistant Referees: Lance Morton and Steven Nguien
Crowd: 100
Granville Rage: 1.J.Holmes; 5.M.Islas (16.C.Hedge 74?), 6.J.Cartisano, 7.D.Harding, 9.K.Holbrook (21.K.Appiah-Kubi 84?), 10.F.Graham (8.P.Pyliotis 79?), 11.N.Bobo, 13.D.Carrozza, 14.C.Bottalico, 17.N.Rivera, 18.P.Cappuccio
Substitutes Not Used: 2.J.Ekehov, 22.C.Morley
Yellow Cards: Bottalico 23?, Cappuccio 25?, Islas 28?, Cartisano 32? + 35?, Graham 45?+2?, Holmes 65?
Red Cards: Cartisano 35?
Blacktown Spartans: 1.C.Saliadarre; 2.F.Omankoy (8.R.Wilson 70?), 3.J.Awola, 5.L.Wright, 6.M.Hubbard, 9.R.Iredale (10.M.McCaffery 70?), 11.G.McPherson (15.K.Romero 82?), 16.L.Infanti, 17.J.Canessa (7.M.Todd 54?), 18.A Vizzari, 4.S.Zahra
Substitutes Not Used: 14.K.Falanga
Yellow Cards: Vizzari 55?, Salidarre 50?+85?
Red Cards: Salidarre 85?
-By Michael Chammas