Tigers secure finals football with defeat of Lions
The Tigers, in control of the match from the outset, took the lead on 17? minutes courtesy of Franco Parisi before Nick Rizzo converted a second-half penalty to secure the three-points and finals football.
The visiting Lions, without a large number of regulars due to suspension, were forced to field a relatively inexperienced side, though the young stars held their own against the finals bound Tigers.
A rather timid opening with both sides attempting to feel their way into the contest was brought to life on 5? minutes as Hussein Akil tried his luck from distance. The Lions striker hit the ball sweetly though failed to force Tigers goalkeeper Matthew Nash into a save with his effort finishing wide.
Despite the Tigers holding the greater share of possession in midfield, it was the visitors again moments later causing the Tigers? defence some concern. Chris Godoy Bascur showcased his fine touches with a mazy run from deep; denied on the edge of the penalty-area by a last ditch tackle.
The Tigers first forward foray almost produced the opener as Zlatko Joseski came to the Lions rescue with a fingertip save in the 9? minute. Nick Rizzo?s curling free-kick from deep picked out Mark Byrnes at the back post. The defender?s header had ?goal? written all over it, if not for the fine reflexes of Joseski.
Tigers captain Franco Parisi was next to test the Lions goalkeeper from a rather acute angle down the left-flank. With all his experience and composure, Joseski stood tall to claim the ball.
Bankstown City responded with a set-piece of their own in the 12? minute. Akil?s delivery from the left-flank carried a real punch, though narrowly missed the glancing header of Steven Krsteski as the ball finished behind the goalline.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers took the lead on 17? minutes via the left boot of Parisi. The Tigers number 10 struck nicely a loose ball in the penalty-area, into the bottom right-hand corner, past a hapless Joseski who had pulled off another fine reflex save off a Rizzo drive seconds earlier.
Bankstown City replied yet again via a set-piece, in almost identical fashion to their previous effort. Akil?s set-piece delivery from the left picked out Krsteski, though his header sailed over Nash?s crossbar.
The Tigers walked a tight-rope in the 25? minute as a last ditch tackle by David Dascal denied Akil an almost certain goal, before Matthew Nash produced two saves from point-blank range ? the second effort was offside ? to again deny Akil.
Nash was called upon again in the 27? minute, again denying Akil, with a fine diving save to his left ? the Lions? striker denied by a truly tremendous bit of goalkeeping.
Lions goalkeeper Zlatko Joseski kept the deficit at one on the half-hour mark, parrying Rizzo?s snap-shot from the edge of the penalty-area before thwarting Bishara Stephan?s follow-up effort with a brave save down at the striker?s feet.
Despite trailing by the single goal, and with little more than pride to play for in 2010, the Lions continued to push forward in search of a goal. Akil again played a big role with some fine movement on the ball, though Barton?s effort from the edge of the penalty-area following a loose Tigers? clearance in the area finished well-over the crossbar.
The Lions closed the half on the attack with Akil again calling the shots. His delicate pass in behind the Tigers defence sent Unike Maraiit one-on-one with Nash, though the linesman raised his flag to end the visitors hopes of finding an equaliser prior to the break.
After the break the Tigers extended their lead via the penalty-spot following a foul on Franco Parisi. Nick Rizzo stepped up to coolly slot the ball into the back of the net to add an additional goal buffer.
The Tigers turned on the style on 53? minutes as Bishara Stephan, Anthony Hartshorn and Andrew Vitucci played a fine triangle to release the latter ? though, as had in the case throughout the opening half, the Lions? goalkeeper was quick off his line to thwart the danger.
Hartshorn was the next player to be denied by Joseski. The Tigers? midfielder was sent through on goal following some exceptional touches on the ball from Parisi. The Tigers? captain expertly turned his marker, showing a great deal of strength and skill on the ball, before releasing Hartshorn ? Joseski got down well to block the effort with his left foot.
The Lions, out of contention for finals football, created little in-terms of clear-cut scoring opportunities in the second period, though the introduction of playmaker Robbie Mileski did provide some spark. Unfortunately for the visitors, the side?s other mobile man in the attacking third Hussein Akil was forced to leave the field shortly after the hour, preventing Mileski and Akil from forming a partnership to re-open the contest.
In a slow pace finale, the Tigers administered their two-goal lead with some fine passing across the park, limiting their opponent to efforts from distance.
In the 81? minute though, Ali Hussein did get a look-in for the Lions, though his shot on the turn from close-range was well-parried by Nash.
Parisi should have added a third for the Tigers in the 90? minute as he rounded Joseski after latching onto a tremendous through ball. Parisi, from a very acute angle, could only find the outside of the left-hand post, as the ball crossed the goalline and the chance went begging.
Following the match, Tigers captain Franco Parisi expressed his content with the Tigers fine achievement:
?We have officially made the finals and we are extremely happy about this.
?The boys have worked hard, though there is more work to come, and we are looking forward to it. We even have the chance to finish higher up the table, and we will be working to achieve that next weekend.
?Today, I thought we were well organised, we moved well and created chances, without conceding too much. It is great form to be carrying into the finals.
?On a personal note, I am disappointed with hitting the post in the closing minutes ? that?s the third time in three weeks, though am happy with the goal I did get, and more importantly the win.?
Despite the defeat, Bankstown Citycoach Peter Tsekenis was very pleased with his young side?s efforts:
?We were down on personnel, with so many players missing through suspension, so I was forced to play a number of younger players, and I am pleased with every single player that took to the field ? they did a great job.
?A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt played a great match, though I felt my boys matched them and it made for a fairly even match.?
The Lions player/coach, who was forced to watch this match from the grandstands due to a one-match suspension, hopes to take the field next weekend in what will be his last match as a football player:
?I hope to play next weekend, it wasn?t possible today due to the suspension, though it will be nice to close my playing career with this group of guys as we have been together for a long time now,? Tsekenis ended.
In the Grade-20 division, A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers secured the three points with a 2-1 defeat of Bankstown City.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers 2 (Franco Parisi 17?, Nick Rizzo 48? (pen))
Bankstown City 0
Sunday, 25th July, 2010
Leichhardt Oval, Leichhardt
Referee: Adam Weir
Assistant Referees: Paul Faithfull and Mike Robertson
Fourth Official: Tom Klein
Crowd: 200 Approx.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers: 1.Matthew Nash; 2.Mark Byrnes, 3.John Kelso, 4.Andrew Vitucci, 7.Stephen Kayes, 8.Anthony Hartshorn, 10.Franco Parisi (C), 11.Nick Rizzo, 15.David Dascal, 18.Bishara Stephan (17.Matt Fsadni 72?), 19.Danial Cummins
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Terry Dal Broi, 14.Paul O?Grady, 20.Liam McConaghy, 16.Thomas Taylor
Yellow Cards: Franco Parisi 36?
Red Cards: Nil
Bankstown City: 1.Zlatko Joseski; 99.Chris Godoy-Bascur, 80.Ali Haydar (87.Ali Hussein 21?), 86.Steve Tibbetts, 97.C. White, 94.Trent Barton, 4.Roy Waianabe, 85.Steven Krsteski, 82.Unike Maraiit, 23.Tallan Martin (C) (10.Robbie Mileski 58?), 9.Hussein Akil (89.Matt Bianchi 63?)
Substitutes Not Used: 91.Andrew Mercuri, 16.Damian Brosque
Yellow Cards: Tallan Martin 38?, Ali Hussein 70?
Red Cards: Nil
– Joseph Carlucci
