Stallions seal McDonald?s Cup against courageous Spirit FC
The gallant Super League side overturned a rather nervy first-half to match their more fancied opponent until the very end. However, Stallions goalkeeper Jose Bello Amigo proved to be the difference, saving two Spirit FC penalties for the Stallions, as Christopher Nunes drove the winner into the top left-hand corner to seal the deal for the Bossley Park outfit.
The Stallions got forward first in the opening exchanges as Matthew Gordon and Erick Anabalon combined well down the left-flank to release the Stallions skipper towards goal, though the Spirit FC defence stood tall to thwart any danger.
Spirit FC responded with some quick ball movement out of midfield, though Adam Peatey?s searching ball over the Stallions defence failed to pick out Ben Gough.
Marconi conjured up the first shot at goal, though Gordon?s rifled effort, cutting in from the right-flank, failed to hit the target.
The Super League outfit?s brightest opening arrived on 16? minutes as Paul Nicolaou?s searching ball from deep picked out Gough. The Spirit FC striker cleverly turned his marker and closed in towards the penalty-area, driving his effort over the crossbar.
Marconi?s replies arrived via set-pieces, though Aleksander Canak?s delivery from a decentralised right position outside the penalty-area failed to deliver the Stallions an opener.
Despite conceding a great deal of possession to their Premier League rivals, Spirit FC very nearly caught the Stallions defence napping on 22? minutes. A fine floated effort by Brendan Griffin over the Stallions defensive line sent Gough free, though Jose Bello Amigo was quick off his line to thwart any danger.
At the other end, Christopher Nunes played a tantalising cross from the right-flank behind the Spirit FC defence, though Gordon?s lunging effort at the back post was diverted behind the goal-line by the Spirit FC defence.
In the 28? minute, a fine slalom effort by Gordon had the Stallions supporters on their feet as the Marconi captain beat three players before his attempted through ball towards Anabalon was well cut-out by Nicolaou.
Anabalon was called into action moments later as he forced Spirit FC goalkeeper Murray Nelson into a fine save down to his right ? the Stallions? number 9 hit a fine effort low and hard, though Nelson responded confidently, claiming the ball at the second attempt.
Spirit FC showed off some of their fine passing out of midfield as Josh De Kelly and Scott Wright played a fine interchange of passes before laying off to Adam Peatey who failed to test Jose Amigo Bello.
Marconi replied immediately with Anabalon laying off for Gordon on the edge of the penalty-area, though the Stallions player failed to get a shot off on target.
Two of the Stallions youngsters ? Mitchell Mallia and Jared Lum ? combined well in the 35? minute with the latter receiving a short pass cut-back from the right, though his first time effort lacked precision as the ball finished over the crossbar.
Against the run of play, with the Stallions in cruise control, a slight mix-up in the Marconi defence allowed Papanicolaou a look-in. The Spirit FC playmaker cut-in from the right-flank and, albeit from an acute angle, forced Amigo Bello into a fine save down to his right
Spirit FC finished the half on the front foot, though despite some good movement of the ball between Adam Peatey and Griffin in midfield, the final pass eluded the Super League side as the Marconi defence remained focused.
Spirit FC opened the second-half just as they finished the first ? on the front foot ? as Matt Peatey played a delightful pass through to Gough behind the Stallions defence. The former Penrith-Nepean player was through on goal, though the linesman?s flag was quickly raised to bring the raid to an end.
Giorgio Speranza sparked a Stallions attack down the left-flank moments later, though the final pass out of the Stallions midfield failed to pick out Gordon on the edge of the penalty-area.
Aleksander Canak nearly opened the scoring on 51? minutes following an exceptional Stallions build-up. Nahuel Arrarte?s clever flick-on released Canak on the edge of the penalty-area, though after turning his marker with an exquisite first touch, Canak blasted his effort wide of Murray Nelson?s goal.
Spirit FC created successive chances on the hour-mark, denied on both occasions by a red-hot Bello Amigo. The Super League outfit should have opened the scoring as Papanicolaou?s fine flick pass released Adam Peatey one-on-one with the Stallions goalkeeper. Peatey?s effort was well-parried by the Stallions? shot-stopper; Bello Amigo got down well to his right to Spirit FC.
Jose Bello Amigo was again called upon no less than 60?? seconds later as Papanicolaou managed to turn his marker and unleash an effort on target. The Stallions man between the sticks was again well-placed to deny Spirit FC an opener.
Despite Marconi?s best efforts to regain momentum in the attacking third, Spirit FC continued to cause their more fancied opponent grief. Paul Nicolaou?s powerful header from the penalty-spot following a corner from the right had Stallions? hearts in their throats as the ball finished agonisingly wide of the target.
Canak re-ignited the Stallions charge in the attacking third on 70? minutes as he tried his luck from distance, forcing Nelson into a difficult save down low, though Spirit FC again appeared the more likely to score as Griffin picked up a loose ball at the back post before unleashing a fierce drive into the side-netting ? much to the despair of the vocal contingent of Spirit FC supporters.
On 78? minutes, Mallia brought the Stallions faithful to life with a magnificent solo effort on the edge of the penalty-area. Mallia tip-toed his way past two defenders before having his powerful drive deflected away from danger.
Umut Tokdogan?s long-range free-kick in the 80? minute had Murray Nelson in the Spirit FC goal scrambling, though the shot-stopper did well to palm the ball away from goal. The Stallions kept the foot on the accelerator as Arrarte rose highest at the back post to head Mallia?s corner from the right-flank into the side-netting, much to the despair of the Stallions bench.
Despite late half-chances to both sides, neither team was able to breach their opposing defence as the referee called time with no goals to show after 90? minutes ? signaling the start of 30? minutes of extra-time.
The Super League outfit carved out the first chance of note in extra-time via a Tim Simpson set-piece. The burly striker?s swerving effort packed a real punch, though was well dealt with by Amigo Bello who parried down to his left.
Marconi?s reply arrived on the counter-attack via Nathan Jagelman. The second-half substitute took the ball to the right-side byline before cutting into the penalty-area, though no Stallions player was on hand to divert into the back of the net.
Spirit FC should have taken the lead in the second 15? minute period as Simpson received a square pass inside the penalty-area. With time on the ball, and only the goalkeeper ahead of him, Simpson?s weak effort was easy pickings for Amigo Bello, ensuring the score would remain level.
Spirit FC striker Simpson had Amigo Bello beaten with a powerful effort from close-range, though was denied by the upright, much to the disbelief of the Spirit FC supporters.
Marconi rallied late-on for a winner as Jagelman showed his strength inside the Spirit FC penalty-area to turn and get a shot on target. The striker?s low-driven effort carried some real power, though Nelson was on-hand to claim the ball, and ensure that a penalty shootout would be required to determine the outcome.
Penalty-shootout sequence:
SFC ? Daniel Cunningham (goal) bottom right-hand corner.
MS – Umut Tokdogan (goal) bottom left-hand corner.
SFC – Tim Simpson (goal) top left-hand corner.
MS – Sean O?Connell (goal) top left-hand corner.
SFC – Evan Daglis (goal) central effort, into the roof of the net.
MS – Aleksander Canak (save) goalkeeper save down to his left.
SFC – Josh De Kelly (save) goalkeeper down to his left.
MS – Abel Eljamal (goal) low bottom left-hand corner.
SFC – Paul Nicolaou (goal) top right-hand corner.
MS – Nahuel Arrarte (goal) bottom right-hand corner.
SFC – Leo Papanicolaou (goal) bottom right-hand corner.
MS – Erick Anabalon (goal) top left-hand corner.
SFC – Brendan Griffin (goal) middle right-hand corner.
MS – Jose Bello Amigo (goal) middle right-hand corner.
SFC – Tom Lovell (save) goalkeeper to his left.
MS – Christopher Nunes (goal) top left-hand corner.
Coaches comments:
Lee Sterrey ? ?Very happy to take out this trophy, it is a credit to all the boys for their efforts. We have dealt with a number of injuries this season, though the boys have all worked hard and I am happy with the result today.
?We?ve unearthed a number of young kids along the way as well, and their response has been magnificent.
?I also must pay credit to Spirit FC, as they were first class today. I said at the break that seeing we hadn?t taken any of our chances that they would continue coming at us, and full credit to them for not letting up. They are well organised with a really positive attitude, and I can only congratulate them on a fantastic run in the competition as they have been a great performing side.?
Tony Walmsley ? ?Proud of the efforts of the players today, though no doubt we did rise to the occasion. I thought we could have really taken something more from the match, we created a couple of really good chances too ? hitting the post in extra-time as well ? though if you are not clinical enough in-front of goal, then you won?t score goals.
?We were a little too careful in the first-half, though I was happy with the way we went out from the second-half onwards.
?Credit to Marconi, without really hurting us, they had a lot of possession, and we just didn?t make the most of the chances we managed to carve out.
?This group of players has been tremendous as I said, I take my hat off to all the boys. This side is a Premier League side, playing in the Super League? and we are now working behind the scenes to get the side ready to make the jump to the top flight as soon as the opportunity should come present itself.?
– Joe Carlucci
Spirit FC 0
Marconi Stallions 0 (7-6 winners on penalties)
Sunday, 11th June, 2010 Lily Homes
Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referees: Adam Gilbert and Steven Nguyen
Fourth Official: Kevin Peddie
Crowd: 300 Approx.
Spirit FC: 1.Murray Nelson; 16.Tom Lovell , 2.Daniel Cunningham, 4.Paul Nicolaou (C), 20.Scott Wright, 6.Matt Peatey, 8.Josh De Kelly (15.Akwasi Agyei 61?), 11.Brendan Griffin, 10.Leonardo Papanicolaou, 18.Adam Peatey (17.Evan Daglis 85?), 7.Ben Gough (9.Tim Simpson 97?)
Substitutes Not Used: 3.Lachlan Harte, 41.James Irwin (GK)
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 21.Jose Amigo Bello; 4.Umut Tokdogan, 5.Adel Eljamal, 8.Aleksandar Canak, 9.Erick Anabalon, 11.Matthew Gordon (39.Sean O?Connell 68?), 18.Jared Lum (34.Nathan Jagelman 79?), 23.Christopher Nunes, 26.Nahuel Arrarte, 31.Mitchell Mallia (10.Graziano Trimboli 105?), 42.Giorgio Speranza
Substitutes Not Used: 32.Anthony Avati, 22.James Chronopoulos (GK)
Yellow Cards: Mitchell Mallia 12?, Erick Anabalon 98?, Aleksandar Canak 118?, Jose Amigo Bello 120?
Red Cards: Nil
Match Statistics
By Christopher Georges
Shots (On Target)
Spirit F.C ? 9 (6)
Marconi Stallions ? 9 (4)
Fouls Against
Spirit F.C ? 14
Marconi Stallions ? 18
Offsides
Spirit F.C ? 2
Marconi Stallions ? nil
Corners
Spirit F.C ? 1
Marconi Stallions ? 5
Goal Kicks
Spirit F.C ? 6
Marconi Stallions ? 7
Yellow Cards
Spirit F.C ? nil
Marconi Stallions ? 3
Red Cards
Spirit F.C ? nil
Marconi Stallions ? nil
Player Ratings
1. Matthew Murray (gk) ? Had a solid game between the sticks, making a great save in the penalty shoot out but could not keep the winner out ? 6.5
2. Daniel Cunningham ? Had a great game in the centre of defence blocking several shots and breaking down Marconi play ? 7.5
4. Paul Nicolaou ? The Spirit F.C captain led by example and was best on field for his side ? 8.5
6. Matt Peatey ? Picked up his game immensely in the second half to thread several ball through to his strikers ? 8
7. Ben Gough ? Had a good presence up front but just could not get a shot on goal ? 7.5
8. Josh De Kelly ? Very quiet game by his standards and was substituted in the 61st minute ? 6
10. Leo Papanicolaou ? Another player which had a quiet game but scored a classy penalty in the shootout ? 6.5
11. Brendan Griffin ? Came in and out of the match ? 6.5
16. Tom Lovell ? Defended splendidly but missed a penalty ? 7
18. Adam Peatey ? Marked his spot in the middle of the park and took it to the Marconi midfield ? 7
20. Scott Wright ? Had a quiet game ? 6
Substitutes
9. Tom Simpson ? Hit the post in the dying minutes of extra time but provided a spark for the Spirit F.C attack ? 7.5
15. Akwasi Agyei ?Made an impact off the bench with his quick attacks down the flank ? 7
17. Evan Daglis ? Scored a great penalty ? 6
Marconi Stallions
21. Jose Bello Amigo (gk) ? Kept his team in the game with several classy saves throughout the match and thoroughly deserved the man of the match award ? 9.5
4. Umut Tokdogan ? Defended well, just missed the target from a free kick and scored in the penalty shoot out ? 7.5
5. Adel El Jamal ? Had a solid game leading the Marconi defence ? 6.5
8. Alex Canak ? Struggled to find the form needed in a cup final and missed a penalty ? 6.5
9. Erick Anabalon ? Came into the middle from up front to hold the ball up well but just could not score ? 7.5
11. Matt Gordon ? Man of the match in the first half but went off injured ? 7.5
18. Jared Lum ? Strong game in central midfield but withered off as the match wore on ? 7
23. Chris Nunes ? Another who had a great first half but a quiet second ? 7
26. Nahuel Arrarte ? Great performance by the Marconi stalwart, must have touched every blade of grass on the pitch ? 8.5
31. Mitchell Mallia ? Great technical performance but should have pulled the trigger earlier on many occasions ? 7.5
42. Giorgio Speranza ? Solid first half and picked up as the game wore on ? 7.5
Substitutes
10. Graz Trimboli ? Came on in extra time but could not make an impact ? 6
34. Nathan Jagelman ? Strong performance up front brought speed to the Marconi attack ? 7
39. Sean O?Connell ? Was quiet but scored a great penalty under pressure – 6
