Rockdale City Suns clinch 2011 Maso Cup
This year saw over 20 teams from all over Australia being invited and ten teams participate.
Over 6,000 people attended the games that were spread over the three days the tournament was played over.
The Cringilla Lions and Wollongong United played in the first semi final which ended in a 1-1 draw before going to penalties which saw Wollongong United win 4-3 and advance to the grand final.
Rockdale City Suns after beating the Preston Lions 2-0 advanced to the semi finals and they met the other joint host, Bankstown City Lions, at full time the game ended in a nil all draw.
A nail biting penalty shoot out was then held and each team took 12 penalty shots before a cool and classy penalty by Rockdale City Suns new signing and former Newcastle Jets striker Jason Naidovski sealed the win for the Suns 10-9 on penalties.
The Suns then clashed with Wollongong United in the grand final before a loud and large crowd, the Suns won the game 3-0 with two goals scored by Josh Lawson and one by new Rockdale signing and former West Sydney Berries captain Kosta Lagoudakis.
Jason Naidovski was crowned player of the tournament and presented with the Australian Macedonian Weekly newspaper player of the tournament trophy by Rockdale City Council Mayor Bill Sarvinovski.
Josh Lawson was named the man of the match in the grand final and won a $1,000 gift voucher to spend at any Gregory Jewellers store.
The Maso Cup was then presented to the winning captain from Rockdale Pece Apolevski by the member for Kogarah MP Cherie Burton.
The results of all the games are listed below:
Friday 28 January 2011
Bankstown City Lions 4 v Arncliffe Scots 0
Rockdale City Suns 3 v Yagoona Lions 0
Saturday 29 January 2011
Broadmeadow Magic 3 v Coniston Lions 0
Cringilla Lions 0 v Preston Lions 0
Yagoona Lions 1 v Newcastle Suns 1
Broadmeadow Magic 7 v Arncliffe Scots 0
Newcastle Suns 0 v Preston Lions 2
Rockdale City Suns 0 v Cringilla Lions 3
Wollongong United 9 v Coniston Lions 0
Bankstown Lions 3 v Broadmeadow Magic 0
Coniston Lions 1 v Arncliffe Scots 8
Newcastle Suns 0 V Rockdale City Suns 2
Cringilla Lions 0 v Yagoona Lions 1
Bankstown Lions 0 v Wollongong United 1
Sunday 30 January 2011
Cringilla Lions 5 v Newcastle Suns 0
Preston Lions 2 v Yagoona Lions 1
Wollongong United 1 v Broadmeadow Magic 1
Coniston Lions 0 v Bankstown Lions 3
Wollongong United 3 v Arncliffe Scots 2
Rockdale City Suns 3 v Preston Lions 0
Semi Final 1: Wollongong v Cringilla [0-0] [4-3 penalties]
Semi Final 2: Rockdale v Bankstown [0-0] 10-9 penalties
Grand Final: Rockdale 3 v Wollongong 0
2011 saw a record number of teams invited as the likes of Preston Lions FC [VIC], Altona Magic [VIC], Arncliffe Scots [SYD], Broadmeadow Magic [NCL], Coniston Lions [WLG], Cringila Lions [WLG], Newcastle Suns FC [NCL], Stirling Lions FC [WA], Sydneham Park SC [VIC], Wollongong United [WLG], Yagoona Lions [SYD], Geelong [VIC], Keilor Wolves FC [VIC], Noble Park [VIC], Plenty Valley Lions [VIC], Lalor United Sloga [VIC], Pascoe Vale Pelister [VIC], Sherpaton SC [VIC] and Queenbeyan FC [NSW] all took part in the competition which was split in two groups.
-By Mark Stavroulakis