Super League Semi-Final Round 2 Review
In a game riddled with cards of both colours, it was a goal from Ivo de Jesus which separated the two sides.
The Eagles will now meet Northern Tigers in the final next weekend to determine the Saints? opponents on Grand Final day. The Tigers came from behind to eliminate Spirit FC 3-2 to progress.
Parramatta Eagles v St George
A strike from Ivo de Jesus, direct from a free kick, was just enough to see St George overcome Parramatta Eagles and qualify for their first grand final in twenty three years.
Not since the heady days of the National Soccer League has St George made a Grand Final, and while they have qualified for the State League semis on a number of occasions, the big day has always eluded them.
It didn?t seem likely that this would be the case on Saturday. They certainly started the better and dominated the early proceedings, putting early pressure on the Eagles. But while they did take early control, good clear cut chances were really at a premium.
An excellent early run by Peter Crevani looked dangerous, but Denis Cutura could not quite pick up the pass. Christian Cevenini also had a decent chance after being set up by Juan Chavez but his shot was wide.
Parramatta were generally limited to freekick chances, with Ben Delicata putting over from one such opportunity just outside the box. But it was the Saints, perhaps battle-hardened after last week?s tough game against Northern Tigers, who looked the stronger.
Cutura had the best chance of the first half with just five minutes to go, when a superb touch by Simon Verrender put Cutura clear, but the striker blasted over.
The Eagles improved as the second half kicked off with an early free kick giving Kutaiba Elrich a prospect. But his long range strike evaded all but Daniel Nash.
St George responded with great work by Blake Ricciuto who battled his way forward, passing to Chavez and then onwards to Cutura, but Bouropoulos made the save.
As the centre of the pitch became something of a dustbowl, the game became a little scappy, certainly in the middle but the stop start nature of the match wasn?t helped by the number of cards given out. The yellow cards were coming thick and fast in a game which certainly wasn?t particularly dirty, nothing more than what would be expected from a major semi.
The best chance for Parramatta fell to Nick Tantalos. The Eagles almost took the lead when he rose from a corner and connected superbly but his thunderbolt header was well held by Nash. It was the Eagles? clearest chance to that point.
A free kick from Andrew Heath then surprised Bouropolous. Taken just inside the Parramatta half, Heath?s pump into the box got as far as the keeper who seemed to fumble onto bar before recollecting, a close call indeed.
Shayne Ardle made a great run down the left and went very close but only minutes later, disaster struck for the Eagles.
Patrick Gatt, already on a yellow, brought down Cevenini as he surged forward, just outside the penalty area. Gatt was sent from the field but the real damage was to follow. As he did last week against the Northern Tigers, Ivo de Jesus measured up the free kick, and hammered low into the bottom corner. With just thirteen minutes to go, it was a crucial goal, giving St George the advantage against a now weakened Eagles.
But Parramatta certainly weren?t down. A header was cleared off the line falling gratefully into Nash?s arms while substitute Chris Camilleri, brought on by Brian Dene in a final search for an equaliser, went very close with a free kick.
But as the seconds ticked down, the cards also continued. Verrender received a second yellow for an innocuous tackle, resulting in him being sent from the field. Camilleri earned a card for handball, which in turn earned the referee the wrath of Brian Dene, who was thus invited to leave the dugout.
It was tense finish, five minutes of added time only adding to the drama. But St George held out and they can now look forward to two weeks time.
?I am very proud of the boys?, said Nick Orlic after the game.
??We didn?t play too bad but it was a great squad effort. There is pressure on spots and it is a sign also of the professionalism of guys like Ivo who don?t complain, even when on the bench. Christian Cevenini played his first ninety minutes for something like ten weeks while for me, Blake Riciutto was our man of the match?.
?It is a good team and the grand final will be good for the club?.
Brian Dene was clearly angry after the match but maintained control, nonetheless.
?We didn?t play well and we had too many players off our game. But personally, I thought the ref destroyed the game. It was stop/start all game, stop/start. Verrender didn?t deserve a red card, Patrick Gatt has had two yellow cards all year.
?We just couldn?t get into the flow. The way the game went, it was not to our advantage. We like to keep the ball moving but we couldn?t do that today.?
When quizzed whether the week off was a disadvantage, Dene would have none of that.
?We had a good game against Blacktown last week, the week off is no excuse. If anything, we should have been fresher. We knew exactly how they would play, pumping the balls up to their number ten, but we just didn?t handle it?.
It will be a tough week for Parramatta Eagles, who lost Ben Delicata to injury after an hour and whether he will be fit for next week is yet to be determined. With seven yellow cards being issued to Eagles players on Saturday, there will also be some nervous players on the field in the final.
Parramatta Eagles 0 v St George 1 (Ivo de Jesus 71?)
28 August 2010
Melita Stadium
Referee: Chris Young
Assts: Paul Faithfull and Bachar Allam
Parramatta Eagles: 1. George Bouropoulos 3. Daniel Borg 5. Patrick Gatt 6. Nick Tantalos 8. Matthew Clowes 9. Brian Soane 15. Ben Delicata (c) (12. Thomas Wilson 60?) 19. James Stubbs-Mills 7. Shayne Ardle (10. Chris Camilleri 83?) 4. Daniel Fogarty 11. Kutaiba Elrich.
Subs not used: 14. Mitchell Duke 18. Louis Duchesne 40. Oliver Lovell
Yellow cards: Daniel Borg, Patrick Gatt, Nick Tantalos, Matthew Clowes, Chris Camilleri, Kutaiba Elrich, James Stubbs-Mills.
Red Card: Patrick Gatt
Coach: Brian Dene
St George: 1. Daniel Nash 14. Blake Ricciuto 23. Michael Smith 13. Andrew Heath 24. Aram Derakzala 17. Christian Cevenini 5. Simon Verrender (c) 12. Hussein Rachid 11. Peter Crevani 9. Juan Chavez (25. Ivo de Jesus 67?) 10. Denis Cutura.
Subs not used: 4. Arthur Diles 6. Reuben Lagos 7. Esala Ali 19. Daniel Fallico
Yellow cards: Simon Verrender, Juan Chavez, Peter Crevani, Aram Derakzala
Red Card: Simon Verrender
Coach: Nick Orlic
Northern Tigers v Spirit FC
It looked like it would be a nightmare for Northern Tigers in their elimination minor semi final against Spirit FC. They find themselves 2-0 down inside half an hour after a Daniel Cunningham penalty gave Spirit a very early lead and then captain Paul Nicolaou doubled the lead in the 27th minute.
But when Michael Rolston reduced the arrears just after the break, again from the spot, in was game on.
This time, though, it was the Spirit who succumbed. Like last week when they rolled the Rams with two late goals, this time it was their turn to be on the receiving end.
With just ten minutes left, the Tigers leading striker, Tom Spencer, brought the game level with his thirteenth goal of the season and then with just two minutes left on the clock, Sungyun Park snatched the winner.
The win keeps the Tigers? championship hopes alive, setting up a tasty final next week against Parramatta Eagles.
Northern Tigers 3 (Michael Rolston pen 50?, Tom Spencer 80?, Sungyun Park 88?) v Spirit FC 2 (Daniel Cunningham pen 7?, Paul Nicolau 27?)
28 August 2010
Mills Park
Referee: David Morris
Assts: Nick Backo and Christian Mehl
Northern Tigers: 1. Stuart Page 2. Travis Oughtred 3. Tom Geekie 4. Michael Rolston 6. Paul Davies 7. Tom Spencer 8. Max Glanville 10. Sungyun Park 12. Rhys Williams 14. Brendan Salameh (11.Danny Vuckovic) 16. Steven Baveas.
Subs: 15. Lucas Dawson 17. Luke Tomich 36. Marc Messina
Coach: Jason Eagar
Spirit FC: 1. Murray Nelson 2. Daniel Cunningham (5. Nick Trimble) 4. Paul Nicolau 6. Matthew Peatey 9. Tim Simpson 10. Leo Papanicolaou 12. Brendan Griffin (8. Josh de Kelly) 13. Adam Peatey 15. Agyei Akwasi (11. Stuart Meney) 18. Tom Lovell 20. Scott Wright.
Coach: Tony Walmsley
-By Peter Rowney
