Waratah Cup Quarter Final: Wolves comeback ensures progress at Parramatta?s expense
Parramatta grabbed an early lead through Shane Ardle as they dominated the early stages of the match under the watchful eye of coach Manny Spanoudakis in his first game at the helm.
Wolves eventually found their footing and fought their way into the lead via a Samet Kaynak brace before Mark Picciolini buried a penalty to secure their progress from the quarter final in cold and windy conditions on the South Coast.
With his side first out of the blocks, Ardle silenced the home crowd with an early goal as he controlled the ball well, darted between Jacob Timpano and Alex Mansueto, and beat Brody Crane from the edge of the box with a shot that skipped off the turf the deceive the South Coast custodian.
Shell-shocked by the early goal, Wolves found themselves on the back foot and could have fallen further behind had Bryan Soane?s drilled cross taken a goalward deflection shortly before Crane denied Ardle a second with a sharp save.
Parramatta looked to have doubled their lead on 10? minutes when Daniel Fogarty beat Crane to a long ball, heading past the keeper 30-yards from goal only for the wind to carry the ball beyond his run and out for a goal kick.
Zac Freeburn, who had a fine game at right back for Wolves, showed his side?s first attacking intentions soon after, turning Ben Jurman inside out before delivering a dangerous cross that was smartly cut out by a George Strogylos header.
Crane kept Wolves in the game on multiple occasions throughout the first-half, denying Matthew Osman and Soane?s free kicks with vital low saves.
Andres Gomez sent warning signals to the Parramatta backline midway through the first half when his tantalising cross dropped for Picciolini at the far post; the striker volleyed his shot wide from a tight angle under pressure from keeper Anthony Costa.
Wolves did not have to wait long for their equaliser as Gomez darted onto an inch perfect through ball seconds later and crossed for Samet Kaynak to equalise, tucking the ball home at the far post.
Ardle had a couple of opportunities to restore Parramatta?s advantage late in the half, turning past Gomez and Freeburn and forcing Crane into a stylish save at the expense of a corner.
Minutes later Ardle forced Crane into an unorthodox and crucial last-man intervention 30-yards from his own goal line as the striker darted onto a through ball in behind the Wolves? backline; Crane?s outstretched right foot taking the ball away from Ardle to ensure the sides went into the break all square.
Nick McInerney went close to giving his Parramatta the lead early in the second period, heading the ball against the post from Soane?s cross on his first appearance against his former club.
Osman had his chance to restore Parramatta?s lead ahead sooner after, heading wide Jurman?s bullet free kick with Crane rooted to the spot.
Wolves punished Parramatta for their misses on the hour mark as Gomez and Picciolini linked well before releasing Kaynak into the box.
The enigmatic attacker?s original shot was well blocked by Costa only for Kaynak to bury the rebound to put his side into the lead and double his tally for the evening.
The match was wrapped up midway through the half when substitute Peter Simonovski ran in behind the Parramatta backline and drew a clumsy challenge from Costa, earning his side a penalty.
Picciolini stepped up to the spot, blasting the ball to Costa?s right and into the back of the net to put breathing space between the two sides.
Kaynak went close to grabbing his hat-trick soon after, volleying Freeburn?s cross into the side netting before Costa made fine saves from Jake Duczynski and Picciolini?s headers.
Substitute Peter Crevani went close to pulling a goal back for Parramatta, forcing Crane into a reflex save from his 20-yard free kick, however Wolves held out for the win while giving late substitute debuts to teenagers Kyle Hazebroek and Sam Nastic.
Wolves coach Trevor Morgan was in a jovial mood after the win, expressing his delight at his young side?s achievement as they booked their place in the semis:
?We?re getting younger,? joked Morgan.
?The keeper who went on is 17 (Nastic), the back four that finished is seventeen, seventeen, nineteen, and eighteen, so next week the thirteens are getting a crack.?
Despite falling behind to the early goal, Morgan was confident his side would recover after tactically deciding to run into the wind in the first half, praising the effort of several individuals that helped his squad get over the line:
?They pressed hard on us,? said Morgan.
?We chose to go into the wind for that reason thinking it would help us for the second half.
?It?s very nice to see someone like Samet (Kaynak) ? it?ll give him a lot of confidence because he?s had so much bad luck the poor kid ? to get two goals tonight will really make him feel good.
?Picca again (played well).
?We?ve got a lot of young kids backing up ? Zac Freeburn?s played four games in three days, he?s put in a fantastic effort.
?It?s tremendous for us; any win is a good win and builds confidence,? Morgan added.
Parramatta coach Manny Spanoudakis was understandably disappointed by the result after his first game in charge of the club, but believe he could take positives from the match as his side bowed out of the tournament:
?It was my first look at the team tonight,? said Spanoudakis.
?While I?m disappointed with the result there were a lot of positives that I think we can take away.
?We started well, took the early opportunity, and maybe could have taken a couple more.
?It was good for me to see the team in action for the first time, and I think there?s a lot of opportunity for us to improve, and I?m confident we will.?
Spanoudakis was impartial as to whether or not their Waratah Cup exit will aid their NSW Premier League campaign as they push to avoid relegation:
?The young lads will recover whether they?re playing tonight or training on a Wednesday, the intensity is similar,? said Spanoudakis.
?I guess it?s one less thing to distract us.
?It?s good knowing we?re going into the last ten games focusing on improving and hopefully retaining our Premier League status, which is everyone?s objective,? Spanoudakis concluded.
Match Stats
South Coast Wolves 3 (Samet Kaynak 24?, 60?, Mark Picciolini pen 69?)
Parramatta FC 1 (Shane Ardle 3?)
Wednesday June 22nd, 2011
John Crehan Park, Cringila
Referee: Alex Glasgow
Assistant Referees: Matthew Cropper, Nathan Wotton
South Coast Wolves: 1.Brody Crane (21.Sam Nastic 89?); 16.Zac Freeburn, 2.Alex Mansueto, 4.Jacob Timpano (13.Stephen Paric 40?), 12.Jack Keating, 18.Jake Duczynski, 15.Tayfun Buyokkopru (14.Cam Littler 62?), 8.Andres Gomez, 9.Mark Picciolini, 7.Samet Kaynak (19.Kyle Hazebroek 87?), 11.John Martinovski (17.Peter Simonovski 62?)
Substitutes Not Used: Nil
Yellow Cards: Jack Keating 12?
Red Cards: Nil
Parramatta Eagles FC: 21.Anthony Costa; 2.Nick McInerney, 4.Daniel Fogarty, 5.George Strogylos (12.Marc O?Donnell 46?), 6.Thomas Wilson, 7.Shane Ardle, 8.Bryan Soane (18.Almir Dizdaric 66?), 16.Jono Castano-Acero (11.Peter Crevani 76?), 17.Matthew Osman, 20.Evangelos Petratos, 28.Ben Jurman
Substitutes Not Used: 33.N Napoli, 23.Tomislav Romic
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Michael Shoolman
