State League Two Finals Series Round 2 Review
Bulls turn away Minotaurs
Fairfield Bulls booked themselves a grand final berth the hard way, staving off a determined Hurstville City Minotaurs via a gut-wrenching penalty shootout.
Sunday afternoon?s major semi-final billing lived up to all expectations as Hurstville hit back twice ? with goals in regular time and extra time ? to force a spot-kick lottery that would eventually decide the affair in Fairfield?s favour.
The Premiers defended their proud home record in gutsy style and remain unbeaten in 11 games at Knight Park. The Bulls will now wait for the winner of next week?s preliminary final between Hurstville and Luddenham to see who meets them in the 2010 championship decider at Lidcombe Oval on September 18.
Fairfield dynamo Alaa Ali Khan broke through after an even opening half-hour to put the Bulls in front, his neat carve up of the Minotaurs defence giving the home side a 1-0 halftime buffer. Hurstville came out in the second term minus star striker Michael Di Meglio (hamstring injury) knowing they have not won a game this year without his name on the scoresheet, but as the clock ticked towards fulltime it was Nick Goumis who came to their rescue, knocking in a goalmouth scramble to lock the scores up.
The Bulls came out firing in extra time and Ali Khan?s mesmerising dance down the right hand flank resulted in a superb individual goal ? his ninth of the year ? to restore Fairfield?s lead, but it was that man Goumis who again breathed life into Hurstville?s struggle, his second goal drawing plenty of applause and, more importantly, leveling the scores up a second time.
The penalty shootout started routine enough before Minotaurs stalwart Angelo Vagenas inexplicably popped one up for young Bulls keeper Luke Hermis to collect and put Fairfield?s nose in front a third time. And when Hurstville?s Emmanuel Papageorgiou hit the post with his effort the Bulls had secured their 10th win in 12 games and could now look forward to a well-deserved grand final place.
Fairfield coach Michael Mamoo knew it was close. ?I thought we dominated for long periods; their keeper [Josh Da Palma] was absolutely brilliant and pulled off 4-5 saves; but I also thought we were fitter and that showed as the game wore on,? he said. Mamoo praised 19-year-old Hermis, who stepped up into first grade in round seven and has held his spot since with some stellar performances in goal.
It will be a big day on September 18 for the Fairfield club with their grade-20 side also booking themselves a grand final berth following a thrilling 3-2 win over Wanderers in extra time on Sunday. The Bulls will play the winner of next week?s Wanderers versus Minotaurs preliminary final for the trophy.
Hurstville coach Peter Sarikakis called it a tough loss. ?It was very tight,? he said. ?I thought we had better chances than them but just couldn?t put them away. We got a bit frustrated because we were behind and then fell sleep when we finally got back level with them. It was a tough game but we are not finished.? And he is sure to have Di Meglio back at his disposal for the Luddenham crunch match.
Fairfield Bulls 2 (Alaa Ali Khan 27/92m) Hurstville City Minotaurs 2 (Nicholas Goumis 90/98m) ? Fairfield win 4-2 on penalties
Luddenham disperse Wanderers
Luddenham United soaked up the moment after an exhilarating 2-1 knockout semi-final win over Wanderers FC at Knight Park on Sunday afternoon. Wanderers were up against it from the outset after a midweek dispute between club and coach saw them go separate ways, but the players still gave their all and Ian Peti?s close-range half-volley forcing even more of the action into the middle of the park as the home side closed ranks behind a 1-0 lead on the quarter-hour mark.
A halftime lashing from coach Andrew Montgomery provided the spark Luddenham needed to fire up in the second half and they finally got on the board when Angelo Martino beat two players down the right hand side of the park, and his laser-guided cross was met by a rising Saula Matayola at the far post to make it 1-1 with 15 minutes to play.
With the match seemingly headed for extra time, John Paul Vella went on a canter for United and provided a flighted cross from the right that bounced over a Wanderers defender and into the path of Martino to finish off with a strong header. The goal, 2-1 lead and eventual win sent the Luddenham faithful into a frenzy as they advanced into unprecedented territory ? a preliminary final match-up with Hurstville next week.
?It was very tense and I gave them a bollocking at halftime,? Montgomery said. ?The effort wasn?t quite there, but we knew there was no tomorrow, and we did really well in that second half to come over the top of them. Their mistake was they tried to shut the game out and sat deep after scoring their goal.?
Fairfield Wanderers 1 (Ian Peti 15m) Luddenham United 2 (Saula Matayalo 75m Angelo Martino 95m)
Finals results
First grade
Major SF: Fairfield Bulls 4 (Alaa Ali Khan 27/92m) Hurstville City Minotaurs 2 (Nicholas Goumis 93/98m) – win on penalties (2-2 F/T 2-2 E/T)
Minor SF: Fairfield Wanderers 1 (Ian Peti 15m) Luddenham United 2 (Saula Matayalo 75m Angelo Martino 95m)
Grade-20
Major SF: Fairfield Bulls 3 Fairfield Wanderers 2
Minor SF: Hurstville City Minotaurs 3 Belmore Hercules 2 – win on penalties (2-2 F/T 2-2 E/T)
Next week?s games
First grade: Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Luddenham United (3pm)
Grade-20: Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Wanderers FC (1pm)
Preliminary final matches will probably be held at Belmore Sportsground on Sunday afternoon. Check footballnsw.com.au website for confirmation.
-By Daniel De Nardi
