McDonald’s Cup Semi-Final: Extra time heartbreak for brave Spartans
The striker not only scored the winner for Marconi late into stoppage time, but also got himself late to the ground after being stuck in the cross harbour tunnel on the way to the match.
Blacktown took it to the Stallions from the start to make their intentions pretty clear and when the ball was chipped over the visitors defence in the 3? minute it took Jose Bello Amigo to rush from his line to quell the danger as the home-side utilised its pace in the slippery conditions.
Marconi set about putting things right and directly from a corner the ball was tipped over the crossbar by Spartans? goalkeeper Carlo Saliadarre when it looked to be creeping in.
Blacktown were soon back to old tricks when forcing Marconi custodian Jose Bello Amigo into a full stretch fingertip save before Simon Zahra hit a free-kick harmlessly into the Stallions wall from a good position.
At the other end, the visitors were back on the attack but Nahuel Arrarte was always leaning back when hitting a half-volley high, wide and not so very handsome.
Timothy McGowan was left clutching his head when sending a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar from just outside the box for Marconi but when they did get a shot on target they found Saliadarre in sparkling form; the shot-stopper determined not to be beaten as the so called underdogs fought hard and pressed Marconi, playing a high defence early on that almost saw their undoing when the ball was played in over the top, deeper into their defensive half.
Arrarte thought he had won a corner when Saliadarre tipped another effort over but the ball had already slipped over the line as the frustration began to show.
Erick Anabalon miss-hit his shot only to see the ball cleared off the line in stoppage time at the end of the first period the Stallions must have wondered where a goal was going to come from.
Blacktown were playing with their wits, determination and spirit whilst Marconi, in fairness, looked smoother in transition play and had the better of the chances but the final ball, and running off the ball, left a little to be desired for the Premier League side as their hopes of making the McDonalds Cup final looked in the balance.
From the second-half re-start, Arrarte went down when challenging for the ball and remained motionless for some moments but after treatment was able to retake the field as again his side needed to battle the determination of the Spartans team who showed no respect for their more fancied opponents.
Umut Tokdogan should have done better but was guilty of another Marconi miss-hit in the conditions when shooting from distance when clean through.
A spate of yellow cards for the home-side followed after Marconi made three substitutions when replacing Graziano Trimboli, Nathan Jagelman and Tokdogan with eventual match winner Canak, Chris Nunes and Giorgio Speranza respectively, that was quickly followed with the Spartans replacing Ryan Wilson and Lachlan Wright with Martin McCaffery and Jose Canessa.
Marconi were gaining the ascendancy and pressured Blacktown who were reduced to heavy defending and hitting on the break.
Blacktown produced a delightful move when Reece Iredale saw Amigo save almost point-blank in the Stallions goal before the same ?keeper was forced into a double save in a goalmouth scramble with little more than 2? minutes remaining on the clock.
At the final whistle it remained goal-less and extra-time was needed to separate two battling sides.
As is often the case no sooner did the first period of extra-time begin when the stalemate was broken after good lead up work for the Stallions saw a cross into the box met by the head of Mitchell Mallia, another sub on the night, who made no mistake in burying the ball in the back of the net.
If this was the signal for the Spartans to throw in the towel they hadn?t read the script as 2? minutes later they were level when a teasing through ball had Glenn McPherson running through to slide the ball past Amigo into the ?keepers bottom left-hand corner with aplomb.
The home-side could have taken the lead just 60?? seconds later but Kyle Romero pulled his shot wide before Marconi spurned yet another good opportunity when Laurence Braude curled a shot just beyond the angle of the post and bar.
The surface held up remarkably well in the almost constant drizzle and with both sides doing everything to find the winner the tempers frayed somewhat as the frustration, pressure and intensity increased, with another couple of Blacktown?s players finding themselves in Referee Kevin Peddie?s book.
With almost the last kick of the game the Cup dream turned into a nightmare for Blacktown when, with a penalty shoot-out beckoning, Canak looked almost to chip and hope as his attempt on goal looped over the impressive Saliadarre and into the net to give his side the win and a spot in the grand-final.
That, sadly for the sodden home crowd, is football and the heartbreak for the Spartan players was plain to see as they attempted to surmount the one last hurdle in their way to a silverware showdown with Spirit FC in a cruel twist to decide an enthralling match.
Stallions coach Lee Sterrey said afterwards:
?I thought we created the better clear cut chances tonight but in saying that we were poor in front of goal tonight.
?We knew Blacktown would scrap hard tonight, they didn?t get this far in the competition without doing so and it was a tough game but we kept fighting and got the result but in saying that we need to get back to some basics after this performance.
?I can?t be too hard on the guys as we are sitting second in the NSW Premier League Table and are into the final of the McDonalds Cup but we need to tighten up a few areas of our game and there is still a long way to go however, I am proud of the guys for their effort so far and would add that Blacktown Spartans did themselves proud tonight and their coach (Ben de Hann) is doing a magnificent job with the side.
?They deserve a lot of credit for what they have achieved and for the way they took it to us tonight.?
Spartans coach Ben de Haan added:
?We played well tonight and fought hard and have managed to push a top Premier League side for 120? minutes.
?The guys gave everything, they?ve got nothing left in the tank and should be proud of their efforts, as I am but we can?t feel sorry for ourselves as these things happen in football and we wish Marconi well for the final.?
Marconi Stallions now meet Super League side Spirit FC in the McDonald?s Cup Grand Final to be held at Lily Homes Stadium on Sunday 11th July 2010.
Match Stats
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Francis Park, Blacktown
Referee: Kevin Peddie
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Nick Backo
Fourth Official: Ian Dury
Blacktown Spartans FC: 1.Carlos Saliadarre; 3.Joseph Awola, 5.Lachlan Wright (17.Jose Canessa 66?), 6.Matt Hubbard, 7.Michael Todd (4.Jeffrey Bugallo 90?), 8.Ryan Wilson (10.Martin McCaffery 66?), 9.Reece Iredale (15.Kyle Romero 85?), 11.Glenn McPherson, 14.Simon Zahra, 16.Luke Infanti, 18.Adrian Vizzari
Substitutes Not Used: 2.Sam Falanga
Yellow Cards: Wilson 64?, Iredale 65?, Infanti 75?, McPherson 120?
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 21.Jose Bello Amigo; 2.Brenton Rhodes, 4.Umut Tokdogan (42.Giorgio Speranza 63?), 5.Adel Eljamal, 7.Timothy McGowan, 9.Erick Anabalon, 10.Graziano Trimboli (8.Alex Canak 63?), 17.Laurence Braude, 26.Nahuel Arrarte, 34.Nathan Jagelman (23.Chris Nunes 63?), 39.Sean O?Connell
Substitutes Not Used: 22.James Chronopoulos
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Saliadarre (BS)
2 ? McGowan (MS)
1 ? Zahra (BS)
–By Micky Brock
