Eastern Suburbs Association Under 11 Metropolitan Representative Champions

In an entertaining match, with both sides exhibiting some fine football well beyond their young years, the scores were level at full-time with neither side able to find a breakthrough in the 20? minutes of extra-time.
Liam Preston converted the final penalty to seal a 6-5 win for Eastern Suburbs, the result fitting for the dominant display of the Blues over the course of the match.
Daniel Arzani had the crowd on their feet in the opening minute as he powered down the right-flank with a fine solo effort from deep within his side?s half. Arzani cleverly reached the goalline before cutting a neat pass into the goalmouth, though was denied by some stringent St. George defending.
Arzani was in the thick of the action 2? minutes later as he released Oliver Puflett through on goal. The Eastern Suburbs striker was too quick for his marker, though failed to hit the target with his low-driven effort finishing wide of the mark.
On 5? minutes, against the run of play, St. George were given the chance to take the lead after the referee adjudged a foul inside the penalty-area. Jason Mazevski stepped up to the spot, though blasted his effort over the crossbar.
St. George kept their foot on the accelerator and found on opening down the right-flank via Peter Kim. Kim cut into the penalty-area with the ball onto his left foot, though saw his shot on target thwarted by the defence.
Jason Mazevski put aside his penalty miss with an exquisite flick pass with the outside of his right boot to release Ben Petrovski down the left-flank, though the St. George forward foray amounted to nothing.
Eastern Suburbs responded in the 17? minute with a well worked move through midfield. Michael Papatheodorakis, for the Blues, created a yard of space for himself down the left-flank and delivered a curling cross into the penalty-area, though St. George goalkeeper Angelo Parashis was well positioned to claim the ball.
After the break, St. George lifted the tempo with captain Mathew Alvarez marshalling his troops out of midfield. Alex Malfara created some space on the edge of the penalty-area though was quickly closed down by the Eastern Suburbs defence.
Eastern Suburbs got forward moments later with Jordan Makridopolus playing an exceptional through ball to release Zachary Smith. The Blues winger made his way into the penalty-area though was well shielded by Thomas Meier who came to St. George?s rescue.
Zachary Smith carved out an opening on the edge of the penalty-area on 32? minutes. Smith played for an opening on his left foot and forced goalkeeper Parashis into a fine save from his powerful effort.
Alfie Jones spurred Eastern Suburbs into action on 42? minutes in an incredible series of events. Jones was firstly the provider with a tantalising cross in behind the St. George defence to pick out Papatheodorakis. The Blues number 6 saw his first effort blocked by the defence before having his second attempt, from an acute angle, tremendously well saved by Parashis with a finger tip effort.
Jones was on the spot to pick up the scraps, though his fine effort ricocheted off the up-right, before Parashis was again forced into a save down to his left, keeping St. George in the contest.
With almost all the running in their favour, Eastern Suburbs threatened again as Papatheodorakis found some space down the left side to unleash a powerful effort on goal ? the attempt finishing inches over the crossbar.
Despite Eastern Suburbs possessional dominance, the second-half was brought to a close with the deadlock still to be broken, as both sets of players prepared for extra-time.
As was the case for much of the play in normal time, Eastern Suburbs continued to dominate possession in the opening exchanges of extra-time. Puflett dispossessed Meier to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Puflett?s exceptional chip over the shot-stopper was goal bound, though Meier?s tremendous recovery saw the St. George defender bravely clear the ball off the goalline before colliding against the post. Meier?s bravery was exemplary as the St. George number 10 soldiered on through the pain in the defensive line.
St. George did hit back with a reply of their own via the boot of Alex Malfara. The midfielder?s long-range attempt was no problem for Evan Davis in the Eastern Suburbs goal who got down well to claim the ball.
Smith had a final chance for Eastern Suburbs in the opening half of extra-time, though his effort from a very decentralised left position inside the penalty-area failed to hit the target.
Jordan Makridopolus created an opening in the first minute of second-half extra-time, though his first-time effort from Puflett?s lay-off was blasted over the crossbar from a promising position.
St. George pushed forward via James Psarros who released Peter Kim down the right-flank. Kim?s centre in behind the Eastern Suburbs defence was a penetrating one, though failed to pick out a player in white inside the penalty-area.
Jason Mazevski carved out one last opening for St. George with a long-range effort as St. George finished strongly. Mazevski?s attempt though was easy pickings for the very composed Evan Davis between the sticks for Eastern Suburbs.
Penalty shoot-out sequence:
Jason Mazevski (St. George) ? Shot over the crossbar.
Daniel Arzani (Eastern Suburbs) ? Goal to the goalkeeper?s right.
Angelo Parashis (St. George) ? Goal, bottom right-hand corner.
Michael Papatheodorakis (Eastern Suburbs) ? Goal, top right-hand corner.
Alex Malfara (St. George) ? Goal, top left-hand corner.
Jordan Swibel (Eastern Suburbs) ? Goal, down the centre of goal.
Thomas Meier (St. George) ? Goal, to the goalkeeper?s right.
Jordan Makridopolus (Eastern Suburbs) ? Goal, bottom left-hand corner.
Michael Panebianco (St. George) ? Goal, bottom left-hand corner.
Will Todd (Eastern Suburbs) ? Saved, goalkeeper down to his right.
Louie Zacharopoulos (St. George) ? Goal, the ball crept over the goalline after goalkeeper got a hand to the ball.
Cristian Suvak (Eastern Suburbs) ? Goal, bottom right-hand corner.
Kurt Stavrou (St. George) ? Saved ? central effort.
Liam Preston (Eastern Suburbs) ? Goal, bottom right-hand corner.
Match Stats
Under 11 Metropolitan Representative Grand-Final
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Lily Homes Stadium
Eastern Suburbs Association 0
St. George Association 0
Eastern Suburbs 6-5 winners via penalty shootout.
Eastern Suburbs Association: 1.Evan Davis; 2.Jordan Makridopolus, 3.Finn Lane, 4.Will Todd (C), 5.Jordan Kerry, 6.Michael Papatheodorakis, 7.Mitchell Knight, 8.Reuben McDonald, 9.Alfie Jones, 10.Liam Preston, 11.Cristian Suvak, 12.Zachary Smith, 13.Jordan Swibel, 14.Ran Marcovich, 15.Oliver Puflett, 16.Daniel Arzani
Coach: Ross O?Sullivan
Manager: Michael Swibel
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
St. George Association: 1.Angelo Parashis; 2.Kurt Stavrou, 3.Mathew Alvarez (C), 4.Emmanuel Koums, 5.Michael Panebianco, 6.Shaquil Ali, 7.Peter Kim, 8.Louie Zacharopoulos, 9.Jason Mazevski, 10.Thomas Meier, 11.Anthony Cerra, 12.Ben Petrovski, 14.Alex Malfara, 15.James Psarros, 16.Anthony Nizic
Coach: Chris Roche
Assistant Coach: Dean Michos
Yellow Cards: Louie Zacharopoulos 65?
Red Cards: Nil
  -By Joseph Carlucci