NSW Super League Finals Week 1 Review
Both matches featured high scores, late equalisers, extra time, send offs and, in the case of Northern Tigers v St George, a penalty shoot out.
That?s enough to keep anyone happy but the only winners in the end were St George, over the Tigers, and Spirit FC, who overcame Macarthur Rams very late on to progress to the minor semi final. St George will now travel to Parramatta Eagles in next week?s major semi final while the Northern Tigers welcome Spirit FC.
Feature Match
Northern Tigers v St George
St George, a goal down and playing the final twenty five minutes with ten men, overcame Northern Tigers in a suspense filled qualifying final to take the match on penalty kicks as the light began to fade at Mills Park.
It was an excellent game, keeping the good crowd in attendance keenly watching right to the final whistle, with goals and plenty of action.
St George welcomed back Michael Smith to the heart of defence, after suspension forced him to miss last week?s loss to Spirit, and Blake Ricciuto, rested last week, who was given the unenviable task of marking Max Glanville.
Northern Tigers were without Rhys Williams, injured at training on Thursday, but were otherwise at full strength.
The Tigers started best, enjoying an early dominance and having the greater chances. Paul Davies had an early opportunity but couldn?t quite connect while a free kick swung in tantalisingly, just evaded his team mates. Tom Spencer, too, had an early chance but his snapshot was collected comfortably by Daniel Nash.
But it was the visitors who were the first to get on the scoresheet. A succession of corners eventually saw David Smith rise superbly to head home, giving St George the lead in the 19th minute.
Northern Tigers rallied though, Glanville particularly dangerous down the left. And it was from a foul on Glanville, earning David Smith a yellow card, which set the Tigers up for the equaliser.
A well worked free kick, just outside the box saw Tom Geekie lightly touch the ball into Davies? path, and the captain made no mistake, although the ball did take a deflection on the way in.
But just three minutes later, St George had a glorious opportunity to regain the lead. Denis Cutura was fouled in the box by Lucas Dawson, and up stepped Juan Chavez. You could have put money on Chavez scoring from the spot, but Stuart Page guessed the right way, denying the goal.
As the action switched back, Glanville evaded three chasing defenders, swung in a cross but Sungyun Park sliced. The ball loitered dangerously in the Saints area, before being desperately cleared.
The opportunities for both sides continued in an eventful first half. Brad Gibson shot over the bar for St George, Chavez shot wide while Peter Crevani?s crosses from the left caused danger to the Tigers defence. Crevani made a great run just prior to half time, but the ball ran away from him in the final moments. Glanville, again, was over for the Tigers.
It might have only been 1-1 at the break, despite the chances, but it didn?t take long for a further goal to come. It went the way of the Tigers when Spencer got on the end of a Davies header into the box, and swept the ball away.
When St George went down to ten men, on 64 minutes, David Smith earning a second yellow after slicing away Glanville?s legs, it seemed that the Tigers were well on their way.
But despite being disadvantaged, St George took the game to the Tigers, and at times, it still seemed 11 v 11. But as the clock ticked down, it looked like time would run out.
But with just two minutes to go, a direct free kick awarded to the Saints just outside the box was to present the opportunity. Up stepped Ivo de Jesus, who took aim and slammed the ball past Page into the net. 2-2 and it was game on again.
As the floodlights were turned on, the game moved to extra time but the chances diminished as both sides became a little more cagey. The best chance went to Brendan Salameh whose long range shot, accurate but lacking power, was cleared off the line by Ricciuto.
Down to penalties then and the tension increased. Both sides missed their first shots, Davies and Crevani almost hitting an identical spot on the cross bar. But after both sides scored their next three, it was the Tigers who failed on their fifth. It was left to Saints captain Simon Verrender to coolly slot away and snatch the win.
St George were joyous, the players smothering Verrender while the Northern Tigers, as they trooped off the pitch, were no doubt ruing a missed opportunity.
?All credit to the boys? said Nick Orlic after the game. ?It was a tough game and it was hard chasing the match with ten men?.
?We were a little bit undisciplined, the send off was just silly. But even then we kept our shape. Denis did well, Simo (Verrender) did well and it was a great strike by Ivo. And who have thought Juan would miss a penalty. He hasn?t missed one for me in three years?.
?But we got the job done in the end and that?s we came for?.
Jason Eagar was clearly disappointed at the result.
?We gave a free kick away right at the end and it was the same as in the first round. They scored that time too?.
While the substitutions of Glanville and Park may have left the Tigers missing some firepower late in the game, Eagar still felt the game should have been there for the Tigers.
?In hindsight, it probably would have been better had they still been on, but it really shouldn?t have got to that stage. We still haven?t learnt to play against ten men and this isn?t the first time this has happened?.
?We did miss Rhys Williams, we lacked a bit of pace at the back but we will have to see if he is right for next week?.
Northern Tigers 2 (Paul Davies 25, Tom Spencer 52?) v St George 2 (David Smith 19?, Ivo de Jesus 88?) after extra time. St George win 4-3 on pens
22 August 2010
Mills Park, Asquith
Referee: Jason Blackwood
Assts: Steven Nguyen and Adam Coombes
Northern Tigers: 1. Stuart Page 2. Travis Oughtred 3. Tom Geekie 4. Michael Rolston 15. Lucas Dawson 6. Paul Davies (c) 14. Brendan Salameh (9. Sean Doran 110?) 16. Steven Baveas 8. Max Glanville (11. Danny Vuckovic 83?) 7. Tom Spencer 10. Sungyun Park (17. Luke Tomich 87?).
Subs not used: 36. Marc Messina 5. Nick Saunders
Coach: Jason Eagar
St George: 1. Daniel Nash 14.3 Blake Ricciuto 2. David Smith 23 Michael Smith 24. Aram Derakzala 8. Brad Gibson (13. Adrian Heath 46?) 5. Simon Verrender (c) 12. Hussein Rachid (Ivo de Jesus) 11. Peter Crevani 9. Juan Chavez (17. Christian Cevenini 67?) 10. Denis Cutura.
Subs not used: 4. Arthur Diles 40. Aaron Liddell
Coach: Nick Orlic
Spirit FC v Macarthur Rams
Spirit FC couldn?t have left it any later when they scored two goals in the final ten minutes to take the game to extra time against Macarthur Rams in the elimination final before overpowering their rivals 3-2.
An own goal had given the visitors the lead just before the half hour and when the Super League top scorer, Sam Messam, scored their second with just fourteen minutes left, it seemed like the Rams had the win safely wrapped up.
But substitute Scott Wright scored to bring the reigning champions back into it and then right on full time, Spirit were awarded a penalty after a handball in the area by Craig Cooley. Cooley earned himself a second yellow for his troubles, and an early visit to the changerooms.
Daniel Cunningham made no mistake and Spirit no doubt heaved a sigh of relief.
To make matters worse for the Rams, Tim Simpson put the home side in front for the first time in the game, scoring in the 107th minute. Any chance of a Rams comeback was snuffed out when Alan de la Cuadra was sent from the field right near the end.
The result means that Spirit will travel to their northern neighbours, Northern Tigers for the minor semi final next week.
Spirit FC 3 (Scott Wright 85?, Daniel Cunningham pen 93?, Tim Simpson 107?) v Macarthur Rams 2 (own goal 28?, Sam Messam 76?) after extra time.
22 August 2010
Christie Park, Marsfield
Referee: Kevin Peddie
Assts: Lance Greenshields and Christian Mehl
Spirit FC: 1. Murray Nelson 2. Daniel Cunningham 4. Paul Nicolau (c) 8. Josh de Kelly (Scott Wright) 9. Tim Simpson 10. Leo Papanicolaou (7. Ben Gough) 12. Brendan Griffin 13. Adam Peatey 6. Matthew Peatey (5. Nick Trimble) 15. Agyei Akwasi 18. Tom Lovell
Macarthur Rams: 1. Tom Romic 2. Craig Cooley (c) 7. Ronnie Miranda 9. Sam Messam 10. Chris Gomez (14. Lennox Twenebaa)11. Cole Tinkler 13. Mathias Kullstrom 18. Alvaro Malmierca (Mitchell O?Keefe) 19. Alan de la Cuadra 21. Callum Fleming 22. Matt Sadler (17. Daniel Cortez).
-By Peter Rowney
