Minotaurs snatch 2010 Reserve Grade Championship
After a quiet opening the game exploded into life when Nicholas Andreou headed home a neat cross into the box to give Hurstville a 18th minute lead only to see Fairfield attack straight from the kickoff and have a shot whiz over the Minotaurs crossbar.
Hurstville almost added to their score seconds later when Stephen Takopoulos broke through and put the ball into the net only to turn and see the linesman?s flag up for offside.
Down the other end, Fairfield called the Minotaurs keeper into action a few times before Ibrahim Daniel performed a brilliant stop-touch-shoot, using placement to guide it into the far right of goal and level the scores up at 1-1 in the 24th minute.
The goal re-energised Fairfield and Steven Georgees had an audacious attempt from the left ricochet off the crossbar, while Joni Khaio blasted right and Stefan Mihajlovic had a weak shot held by the Minotaurs keeper.
Hurstville also attacked and Andreou held the ball up brilliantly at the top of the box, turned right and smashed his shot to the right of a diving Bulls keeper and into goal for a 2-1 lead just past the half-hour mark.
Fairfield, not used to trailing in a season that produced just the one loss, were clearly frustrated and the yellow cards started to mount for dissent and a clumsy challenge that resulted in a Minotaurs freekick that Haisam Morhi sniped over the bar.
As halftime approached Yousef Odisho had a good chance for Fairfield, tapping past the Minotaurs keeper, but a scrambling defender just got a toe on it in front of an open goal to send it out of bounds, and a timely James Youkhana header spoiled an ensuing Hurstville foray before the referee?s whistle ended a fiery first half.
The second half began far more subdued and Stephen Takopoulas did well to chase down a ball and send it back in front of goal, but the ball wasn?t met with the same conviction and the ball skewered out for a goalkick.
It wasn?t long before tensions rose again when the Hurstville keeper charged into Khaio to punch away a ball and was awarded a freekick as he crumpled to the floor clutching his ribs. The game was held up for eight minutes while he received treatment and referee Darrin Richards called for calm among the players.
This advice seemed to fall on deaf ears as players from both sides again came together in a push and shove following an innocuous challenge from Hurstville?s Andreou. Andreou would later hit the deck clutching his groin area, the referee and linesman clearing up the mess and the players finally got on with the game.
With Fairfield not capitalising on some solid defence and midfield build-up, Hurstville pulled players back to protect their lead leaving a sole striker on the halfway line. The Bulls almost beat the line when Ahmed Al Waeli headed narrowly over the bar following a great run from Georgees but had to rely on their keeper to stop a terrific try by Takopoulos as three Hurstville players lined up for the shot moments later.
The Minotaurs looked dangerous on the counter attack and could have scored several goals had Russell Parrish been more on his game. The Minotaurs striker was brilliant in the 36th minute when a deft touch to round James Youkhana opened up the target only for a desperate lunge from the Fairfield keeper pushing the ball just past the post.
The Bulls still had some steam left and Youkhana looked skyward as his shot sizzled over the bar while Al Waeli had his neat flick-on cleaned up by the Minotaurs custodian. What was on everyone?s mind, however, was how much injury time would be played after several second half stoppages.
At the other end, Cameron Smith almost put the result beyond doubt for Hurstville when his looping header was only just pushed against the crossbar by an outstretched Bulls number one, and substitute Sotiros butchered an open goal after some great work from Parrish to lay it back into his path.
In the 10th minute of add-on time Fairfield?s Maradona Youkhana fired in a bullet that took the Hurstville keeper three goes to control but by then the Bulls flames had simmered and fulltime was finally called to end one of the longest halves in football history.
The Minotaurs had snared an unlikely grand final victory but one that was well-deserved as they had held their nerve while Fairfield had lost their way after being so measured all season.
Fairfield captain Joseph Youkhana was clearly frustrated by the loss but might reflect on a post-game speech that queried Hurstville?s championship claims. ?We tried but couldn?t do it,? he said. ?I?m still proud of my boys. All that matters is we?re Premiers and that makes us champions.?
Hurstville captain Sotiros Panagakis was more diplomatic. ?I?d like to thank Football NSW for putting on this event,? he said. ?Fairfield Bulls were unlucky. They were the minor premiers but, today, we?re the champions. I?d like to thank the supporters, the Minotaurs family, the coach The General, and our sponsors.?
There was also clearly a rockstar-following for Minotaurs heartthrob John Manis, with high-pitched squeals of excitement piercing from the crowd whenever his name was called.
Match Stats
Fairfield Bulls 1 (Ibrahim Daniel 24m)
Hurstville City Minotaurs 2 (Nicholas Andreou 18/35m)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Jensen Park, Sefton
Referee: Darrin Richards
Assistant referees: Scott Robertson & Patricia Villagomez
Fourth Official: Lance Morton
Fairfield Bulls: 2. Joseph Youkhana, 4. Raymon Gando, 5. Nirary Kanoun, 6. Steven Georgees, 7. Joni Khaio, 8. Maradona Youkhana, 9. Andi Inbrahim, 10. Lazar Jovanovic, 11. Stefan Mihajlovic, 12. Yousef Odisho, 14. Ahmed Al Waeli, 16. Ramzi Kettule, 17. James Youkhana, 19. Mathew Gordon, 30. Ibrahim Daniel,
Coach Ray Zammit, manager Anthony Yawanis.
Yellow cards: Andi Ibrahim 15m, Nirary Kanoun 37m, James Youkhana 54m, Joni Khaio 83m, Steven Georgees 88m, Daniel Ibrahim 90m.
Hurstville City Minotaurs: 1. Shawn Malkic, 2. John Manis, 3. Ryan Wearne, 4. Stephen Takopoulos, 5. Cameron Smith, 8. Chris Filladitis, 9. Alexander Obeid, 11. Dragosav Draca, 12. Haisam Morhi, 14. Nicholas Andreou, 15. Russell Parrish, 19. Samer Nicola, 20. Sotiros Panagakis, 21. Emanuel Heretakis, 22. Timothy Danaskos, 40. Steven Tanusoski
Coach Peter Sarikakis, manager John Augustis.
Yellow cards: Nicholas Andreou 54m.
-By Daniel De Nardi
