State League One Round 1 Finals Series Review
?Schofields stung by old Scorpion?
The Division One Elimination Semi Final at CSI Sport Ground brought together two famous clubs of Italian origin, Schofields Scorpions and Inter Lions, both steeped in tradition, and fierce foes in recent seasons of competition.
Schofields had the home ground advantage due to their superior placing on the final competition ladder ? fourth compared to Inter?s fifth ? and were hoping that this would give them an edge in front of their home fans.
Inter Lions came into the match as slight underdogs, given they scraped into the semi finals, albeit with a young squad, but were quietly confident of producing an upset and progressing to the next round of the finals.
The early exchanges were restricted to the middle of the park, both teams well structured on the compact pitch and not allowing the opposition to settle on the ball.
The first chance arrived for the visitors, with Leo Carle going close on 15 minutes, his free kick from out wide on the left swerving towards the far post before it was cleared by a desperate Schofields defender.
Schofields cracked open the water-tight Inter defence on 18 minutes when Davis got away down the right flank, his low cross eluding everyone before it was cleared at the back stick by Inter defender, Arcella.
The young cubs were pushing the ball around impressively, and after one such movement of several passes in the 22nd minute, Ellis hit a snapshot from 20 yards that Akers gathered at the second attempt.
In the opening half hour, the centre of the park had been developing into a battle for supremacy between the silky skills of Inter?s Leo Carle, and the fierce competitiveness of Schofields? Tim Aitken.
But on 35 minutes, that all changed, when Aitken bizarrely managed to get himself sent off.
Trying desperately not to let Carle slip away, Aitken?s foul, and subsequent push and shove, rightfully earned him a caution. When he inexplicably handballed the ensuing free kick, he was duly cautioned once more, and was off for an early shower.
The send off hurt Schofields, partly because they went down to ten men, and partly because they lost an influential player, but they had no option but to regroup and get on with it ? after all, it wouldn?t be the first time ten men would beat eleven if they came up victorious.
Inter went about their business to make the extra man pay, and some fantastic build up in the 43rd minute between Ucchino, Carle and Jacob Dimento resulted in the overlapping Arcella cracking an angled volley over the cross bar.
Schofields had used their speed on the flanks to some effect during the first 45 minutes, with the Southern brothers doing a great job to keep Inter honest down the right and left channels.
But just before half time it was a foray down the middle that almost broke the deadlock.
Schofields? captain, Boyd, picked up a square pass some 35 metres out, and, with no pressure from Inter, took a couple of strides before hitting a real speculator, the shot dipping and hitting the crossbar on it?s way out of play, beating Inter goalkeeper, Sestak, all ends up.
Half time came via the whistle of veteran referee, Dave Finlay, who was showing all his experience to allow the game to flow where possible, but also being quick to snuff out any foul play in this typically furious battle.
The second period commenced tentatively, and settled down to a rather cautious approach from both sides.
The defences of both teams had ruled the roost at this stage, and the match had a real feeling of extra time about it.
On 72 minutes, Anthony Ucchino gave a subtle warning of what was to come with a snappy half volley from 20 yards that flew over the Schofields cross bar.
Then on 76 minutes, Inter Lions took the lead with a clinical piece of opportunism and finishing.
A square pass across the middle of the Schofields? half was allowed to bounce, and Inter?s Domenic Dimento nipped in to snatch possession by heading past Scorpions right back, Stuart.
Entering the penalty area with Stuart in hot pursuit, Dimento lay the ball back for the onrushing Anthony Ucchino, and the Schofields? old boy gratefully accepted the rare opportunity, expertly clipping the shot first time inside the far side netting to give Inter the lead.
With fifteen or so minutes remaining, there was no option for Schofields but to push men forward to try and salvage something from the match, and it was Boyd that left his post in the backline to try and give some impetus to his side?s attack.
It then became a game of opportunities, some spurned, some saved, with Inter?s Chiandotto the first to have a crack in the 83rd minute, his shot from twenty yards hit cleanly and straight at Akers.
Moments later it was Akers, himself, that almost blew his team?s diminishing chances, giving the ball away cheaply just outside his penalty box, but redeeming himself by brilliantly saving twice from Domenic Dimento in the ensuing frenzy.
Schofields should?ve equalized in the 89th minute, Tim Simpson stealing the ball from Inter defender, Mansuetto, but disappointingly, cracked his low shot wide of the mark as he raced in on goal.
Schofields had one last chance in injury time, with second half substitute, Watters, beating the Inter defence to a chipped ball into the penalty area, and lifting a shot over the advancing Sestak from a tight angle.
The Inter defenders showed remarkable determination to clear the ball off the line, almost bundling it in as a result of their collective desperation.
Mr Finlay?s whistle brought an end to proceedings, a rather tense affair, and, like most tense affairs, it had been resolved by a solitary clinical strike.
For Schofields, they are a club that performs competitively during every season, and is consistently there or thereabouts when semi finals are being played.
On a disappointing day for the team, best performers were; central defenders, Harrington and skipper, Boyd, were fierce competitors during the match, strong in the tackle, dominant in the air, and lead the team by example; the Southern brothers worked hard, both in defence and attack, down each of the flanks; pint sized striker, Lam, didn?t have many opportunities, but never stopped working, and chased everything in the attacking third.
For the victors, the win was a marvelous result for a team that tries to play football, and have confidence in each other?s ability.
Best on the day ; you cannot go past Leo Carle for his overall presence on the park, a true number 10, always available to receive the ball, his passing was superb, and he leads his young team around the park like a conductor ; Arcella had a strong game at right back, solid in his defensive duties, and supportive in his runs down the right flank ; Ellis had another effective match behind Carle, picking up passes from his defence, and covering wherever required when his team were short.
Match Stats
SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS (0) 0
INTER LIONS (0) 1 (Ucchino 76?)
Saturday, August 21, at CSI Sport Ground, Schofields
Referee ? Mr. David Finlay
Assistant Referees ? Mr.Mario Tedone & Mr Scott Robertson
Schofields Scorpions: 1.P.Akers, 5.L.Boyd (capt) , 8.T.Sullivan, 9.G.Davis, 10.T.Simpson, 11.B.Lam (13.Z.Watters 72?), 12.T.Harrington, 14.W.Stuart, 16.Dale Southern, 17.Dean Southern (7.D.Stivala 60?), 18.T.Aitken.
Subs not used- 2.P.Sharma, RGK.S.Johnson.
Yellow Cards- 18.T.Aitken 35? & 36?,17.Dean Southern 40?, 9.G.Davis 51?.
Red Cards- 18.T.Aitken 36?.
Inter Lions: 1.P.Sestak, 2.S.Perri, 3.A.Mansueto, 4. B.Ellis, 5.D.Arcella, 6.J.Dimento (capt), 7.D.Chiandotto, 8.M.Khouri (12.P.Young 72?), 9.A.Ucchino (13.J.Hall 79?), 10.L.Carle, 11.D.Dimento.
Subs not used ? 14.G.Kamara, 15.B.Davies, 16.A.Chiandotto.
Yellow Cards-NIL.
Red Cards-NIL.
Under 20s ? Elimination Final
Fairfield City Lions: Hills Brumbies 2-1
There was drama in the Under 20s Elimination Semi Final on Saturday afternoon, when Fairfield City Lions score very late indeed to end the season of the Hills Brumbies at CSI Sport Ground.
The Lions came roaring out of the blocks with an early goal to Sama, putting Fairfield ahead after just 13 minutes.
Hills toiled away and finally grabbed an equalizer in the 78th minute through Hatfield.
Just as the teams and respective supporters were preparing for extra time, up popped Mysawi to snatch a dramatic winner for Fairfield in the 93rd minute.
This result spells the end of the 2010 campaign for Hills Brumbies, whilst Fairfield will take on Mounties Wanderers next week in another do-or-die battle.
Division One
Qualifying Final
Blacktown Spartans ? Fairfield City Lions 0-4
3-00pm, Sunday, August 22 @ Francis Park No 2
Fairfield City Lions moved ominously into the Grand Final qualifier next week with a 4-0 thumping of Blacktown Spartans on Sunday at Francis Park.
The Qualifying Final was expected to be a much closer affair, but the Lions had other ideas, and dominated from the outset to score two goals in each half and win comprehensively.
Midfield maestro, and the league?s top scorer, Yavos Ekinci, was predictably at the centre of the action, and opened the scoring in the 38th minute, converting a penalty after Ozcan Cetinay had been brought down in the box.
Ekinci grabbed his and his team?s second moments before the break, curling a brilliant free kick over the wall and into the corner of the Blacktown net, sending his team into half time in a commanding position.
The Lions kept at it in the second stanza, with George Issa prominent, and young Ben Cronk made it 3-0 on 67 minutes, effectively ending the match as a contest.
Crowd favourite, Freddy Jeremiah, had missed much of the season with a long term injury, but came off the bench to score his side?s fourth goal in the 89th minute, much to the delight of the traveling supporters.
Blacktown Spartans live to fight another day, and will tackle Inter Lions in next week?s elimination semi, whilst Fairfield City Lions will have a crack at Hills Brumbies for a spot in the 2010 Grand Final.
Under 20s ? Qualifying Final
Schofields Scorpions: Mounties Wanderers 3-2
A five goal thriller unrolled at Francis Park in the Under 20s Qualifying Final on Sunday, as Schofields eventually overcame a stubborn Mounties Wanderers by three goals to two.
Kirby opened the scoring for the Scorpions a minute before the break, but Mounties responded early in the second stanza with an equalizer by Medhurst.
Kirby grabbed his second in the 67th minute to put Schofields back in front, converting a penalty, and when Schumann did likewise for the Scorpions, all seemed done and dusted.
But Mounties launched themselves at their opponents in the final ten minutes, eventually pulling a goal back via Andriano in the 87th, but it was all she wrote.
Mounties will now take their second bite at the cherry with an elimination final next week against Fairfield City Lions, whilst Schofields will take on minor premiers, Gladesville Ryde Magic, for a spot in the Under 20s Grand Final.
-By Frank Speranza
