Brave Wolves sign off with defeat against A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers

The pitch was in perfect condition at the Sydney Olympic Athletic Centre, and produced a very fast pace and entertaining game between two very attacking sides. A win for the Wolves would end their season on a high meanwhile their opponents, who had secured finals football last weekend following the win over Bankstown City, needed a win and favourable results to go their way to potentially finish second on the League ladder.
The game started with both sides determined in creating space and moving the ball forward and in a fluent manner. The Wolves exploited the Tigers left side of defence while the Tigers controlled the midfield. The combinations of A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt players such as Robert Younis, Franco Parisi, and Nick Rizzo produced space and opportunity with the odd shot on the Wolves goal.
The South Coast Wolves, during the first 10? minutes, looked the most likely the team to score first when their player Andres Gomez broke free down the left hand side of the pitch before crossing the ball and finding Lisandro Berbis. The experienced Wolves player took aim and shot just wide of the intended target.
Although the Wolves looked determined and challenged every ball, their opponents at times seemed more composed and were willing to draw players to them. The opening goal of the afternoon arrived in the 12? minute when the Tigers were award a free-kick just outside the Wolves penalty-area. Nick Rizzo?s set play caused havoc for the Wolves defence as the ball floated long and high into the box, creating a mass scramble of players. Eventually, the wayward ball fell into the path of A.P.I.A.?s Anthony Hartshorn who had time and space to drive the ball low and across goal, landing the ball into the back of the net.
The Tigers were in the lead and in control, while their opponents looked to regroup and find an equaliser.
The Wolves had a number of shots on target with raids after raids pushing the ball into their opponent?s zone. The goalkeepers from both sides were busy all afternoon saving almost certain goals, more so from the A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt goalkeeper Matthew Nash whose acrobatic abilities in stretching and punching the ball from harm?s way was spectacular.
In the 22? minute, A.P.I.A. striker Robert Younis moved the ball in behind the Wolves backline to combine with team-mates Franco Parisi and Nick Rizzo. Younis drew the Wolves goalkeeper off his line, with the shot-stopper committing a foul on Younis inside the penalty-area. Younis took his own penalty with the upmost of ease and confidence slotting the ball in the bottom left-hand corner and giving the Tigers their second goal of the match.
Minutes later Younis was at it again displaying his confidence on the ball with a set piece outside the Wolves penalty-area. With some distance, Younis kicked the ball high over the wall beating the goalkeeper but striking the crossbar.
The South Coast Wolves also had many chances with good combinations from players such as Tynan Diaz, Chris Nathaniel and Mark Picciolini.
Eventually, their persistence paid off when an attack from the Wolves midfield created a chance for Chris Nathaniel in the 25? minute, having only the goalkeeper to beat, he took aim as the ball swerved past the Tigers goalkeeper and into the left side of the goal. The Wolves were back in the game and determined to find an equaliser.
The second-half continued as it did in the first with a lot of attacking plays from both sides, however the South Coast Wolves were determined to dominate the game and controlled the middle of the park. This allowed them to push forward and create opportunities as they had a number at shots on target as their confidence grew, however in injury time, and with both sides still moving the ball forward, A.P.I.A.?s Nick Rizzo pushed deep into the Wolves backline of defence, drawing both defender and goalkeeper, while taking aim at goal and managed to score A.P.I.A?s third goal.
After the game a disappointed South Coast Wolves coach Trevor Morgan said:
?I thought the Tigers goalkeeper Matthew Nash had an excellent day in goal for them today – as he was the difference between the two sides making three or four important saves late in the game.
?We were comfortably the better side for the entire 90? minutes and I think that if A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt are to progress in the finals they certainly have to play a lot better than how they did today, because for a team positioned tenth on the ladder (South Coast Wolves), we played them off the park today.?
Asked about the South Coast Wolves preparations for next season, Morgan said:
?Well we certainly have played good football this year and we will obviously try and see if we can score more goals next season as that will be the difference. We also just need to have a bit more experience in various areas on the pitch and if we play the same way with these improvements then that will be the way forward.?
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers defender Danial Cummins said after the game:
?Well I liked the way the South Coast Wolves played today against us,  we didn?t play that well in patches but to take a 3- 1 lead and three-points is good momentum going into the semi-finals week.
?I think their players in the centre of the park did a good job and played well for their side, but our back four were solid in defence and with Matthew Nash in goal, well it just gives you great confidence when you have a great keeper like that behind you.?
Asked about the finals series next week, Cummins added:
?It will be a tough game against Marconi Stallions we lost against them in the second round and we had a draw in the first round, we believe we can win and we are really looking forward playing against them.?
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers will now play Marconi Stallions in the finals series, two football dynasties clashing in which will be a fantastic derby and one which will  bring  excitement to all  NSW Premier league supporters.
Match Stats
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers 3 (Anthony Hartshorn 12?, Robert Younis 22?, Nick Rizzo 91?)
South Coast Wolves 1 (Chris Nathaniel 25?)
Sunday, August 1st, 2010
Sydney Olympic Athletic Centre, Homebush
Referee: Adam Weir
Crowd: 150 Approx.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers: 1.Matthew Nash; 2.Mark Byrnes, 3.John Kelso, 4.Andrew Vitucci 17.Matt Fsadni 86?), 5.Michael West, 7.Stephen Kayes (18.Bishara Stephan 90?), 8.Anthony Hartshorn, 9.Robert Younis,10.Franco Parisi, 11.Nick Rizzo, 19.Danial Cummins
Substitutes Not Used: 14.Paul O?Grady, 15.David Dascal, 40.Terry Delbroi
Yellow Cards: Stephen Kayes 37?
Red Cards: Nil
South Coast Wolves: 1.Brody Crane; 2.Alex Mansueto, 4.Dave Abel, 5.Nick McInerney, 6.Lisandro Berbis, 8.Tayfun Buyukkopru (19.Samet Kaynak 58?), 9.Mark Picciolini, 10.Jason Trifiro,14. Andres Gomez, 15.Chris Nathaniel (3.Nick Littler 90?), 17.Tynan Diaz
Substitutes Not Used: 11.Andy Paine, 13.Sean van Rooyen, 40.Hayden Durose
Yellow Cards: Dave Abel 62?, Lisandro Berbis 63?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Peter Chiodo