NSW Super League Round 1 Finals Review
It took a penalty shootout to decide the Rams? win over Granville Rage, while a single penalty to the Berries was all that separated them from St George.
Elimination Semi Final
Rams sneak through via penalty shoot-out thriller
This is what finals football is all about.
It would be difficult to see a more determined and lung busting game than that between the Rams and the Rage on Saturday night. The knock out nature of the game made sure that both teams would give it their all right down to the final minute and after extra time and then penalties, there was hardly a player left standing.
Ultimately, it was the Rams who prevailed but a closer finish could hardly have been scripted. It came down to sudden death penalties after both sides finished 4-4 after the regulation five attempts, it went to 5-5 before the Rage?s seventh of the night came back off the post, to the delight of Macarthur.
It was a cruel blow for Granville who had looked the winners for a large part of the night. A well taken and neat goal by David Harding put the Rage into the lead as early as the second minute, giving them a flying start, and one thing about the Rage, once they get their noses in front, they will battle till the end to maintain the advantage.
This game was no exception and try as they might, the Rams were having no success in their attempt for an equaliser. They had no shortage of chances though, but each was either squandered or Jason Holmes would repel yet another strike. Solid, strong defending by Daniel Carrozza and counterpart Ante Bakmaz also made certain that Chris Gomez and Shannon Hankin would not have it easy.
The Rams? first chance of the night actually fell to Craig Cooley who charged upfield, drawing a save from Holmes, before Hankin had his first opportunity, turning very well in the box but his shot lacked the power to trouble Holmes.
But the boost of that early goal drove the Rage. They were sharper and quicker to the ball as the Rams struggled to get their momentum. Simon Ly, a Rage U20, was dangerous down the right, and showed great attacking character, causing problems as he put crosses in with some regularity in the first half.
Despite their chances, the Rams just couldn?t finish. Chris Gomez hit low and Holmes palmed away. But it was Macarthur?s next chance which gave indications it would be a difficult night. A free kick from outside the box was floated in, and in a packed penalty area, the ball was flicked on by the Rams and with Holmes beaten this time, an equaliser seemed certain. However, a last gasp clearance off the line saw the ball hoofed away before the Rams immediately hit back again, this time hitting the cross bar.
It was very lucky escape for the Rage who were now being put under pressure. Hankin was wide after thirty five minutes, Alvaro Malmierca was proving dangerous, and Hankin again was denied by Holmes. In the final moments before half time, Lisandro Berbis had his shot charged down. Despite their best efforts, the Rams just couldn?t breach the Rage?s goal and it was Granville who kept the lead going into the break.
The second half saw the Rams increase the pressure and the game became camped in the Rage half. But desperate defending was holding out Macarthur and with their season on the line, Claudio Canosa threw on his attacking substitutes. Firstly, on came Alan de la Cuadra, for defender Callum Fleming, before Goran Ljuboja and Chris Godoy Boscur joined the fray.
The Rage were digging in and holding out but with only five minutes left, the Rams finally got their equaliser. Cooley shot and with a cruel deflection, the ball looped over Holmes into the net.
It was a hammer blow for Granville, who had held on to the lead for eighty three minutes, but they retaliated themselves in the final moments. Kris Holbrook almost put the Rage back in front, in the last minute, but a tired shot was sliced wide.
There were plenty of tired bodies too as extra time kicked off. But if there was to be a winner in the extra half hour, it was going to be Macarthur. Holmes saved again, this time with his feet, in the first period, and again came to the rescue, diving at the feet of Hankin, early in the second.
The Rage came close on two occasions as well, but in the 119th minute, it did look to be all over. Hankin was clear and bearing down on goal. As he looked to shoot, Carrozza charged from nowhere and under extreme pressure, Hankin shot well wide. It was a superb challenge from the Rage captain, at a time when a goal seemed a certainty.
If two hours of intense football action wasn?t enough, there was more to come in the penalties. The Rams went first, scoring, before Granville took an early hit missing their opener. On the fourth go though, the Rams stumbled allowing Granville to bring it level at 3-3. All remaining penalties were successful, until Granville?s seventh.
So the Rams go through, by the barest of margins, but they won?t mind that at all.
?We played some good football and did very well in coming from behind?, said Claudio Canosa.
?I am very pleased with everyone involved. In games like this, when there is very little to divide two teams, it only takes something very small to make the difference. And we kept our cool in the penalty shootout, which just made the difference, I think?.
It was not a pleasant way to go out for Granville Rage.
?It was gut wrenching?, said Mauricio Islas. We were under the pump for a bit but when their equaliser went in, it was like watching slow motion. We knew it was going in, off the deflection, and there was nothing you could do about it?.
?But our players put their bodies on the line and really, it has been a brilliant season. We have brought in a few young guys, out of necessity, and they have gained more experience that was probably planned. It should make us stronger for next season and allow us to build on this?, he finished.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Craig Cooley 85?) v Granville Rage 1 (David Harding 2?). 1-1 after extra time, Macarthur Rams win 6-5 on pens
Saturday 27 August 2011
at Lynwood Park
Referee: Khodr Yagi
Assts: Adam Susz and Wayne Lenardon
Macarthur Rams: 20. Josh Barrett 2. Craig Cooley 6. Josh Ford 18. Peter Halstead 21. Callum Fleming (7. Alan de la Cuadra 70?) 11. Daniel Duarte (4. Goran Ljuboja 79?) 14. Ryan Marchant 15. Lisandro Berbis (17. Chris Godoy Boscur 82?) 8. Alvaro Malmierca 9. Shannon Hankin 10. Chris Gomez.
Subs not used: 3. Emanuel Elali 20. Ben Needham
Yellow Cards: Peter Halstead
Coach: Claudio Canosa
Granville Rage: 1. Jason Holmes 4. Cameron McKinnon 2. Ante Bakmaz 13. Daniel Carrozza (c) 20. Andy Matloub 12. Simon Ly (15. Luke Speranza 72?) 6. Joseph Cartisano 16. Calum Hedge (8. Phil Pyliotis 110?) 18. Pat Cappuccio 7. David Harding 9. Kris Holbrook.
Subs not used: 10. George Kallimanis 19. Rhys Kennedy 20. Craig Morley.
Yellow Cards: Ante Bakmaz, Joseph Cartisano, Daniel Carrozza, Callum Hedge, David Harding
Coaches: Mauricio Islas/Jason Holmes
Penalty sequence
Macarthur Rams Granville Rage
1 Craig Cooley Score 1 Pat Cappuccio Miss
2 Shannon Hankin Score 2 Phil Pyliotis Score
3 Ryan Marchant Score 3 Kris Holbrook Score
4 Chris Godoy Boscur Miss 4 Jason Holmes Score
5 Chris Gomez Score 5 Ante Bakmaz Score
6 Peter Halstead Score 6 Joseph Cartisano Score
7 Goran Ljuboja Score 7 Daniel Carrozza Miss
In the Under 20s elimination final, a single goal in the 21st minute by Russell Farrell gave the Hills Brumbies a 1-0 win over Central Coast FC,
Qualifying Final
Berries continue their march towards the ?big one?
There was barely a whisker in this match as the West Sydney Berries and St George went head to head in the qualifying final.
The Saints settled the better and looked in control for the opening period, and almost got the breakthrough when Fred Umlil received an excellent ball from Peter Vassilis, and on the run lifted the ball towards goal, but just shooting over.
Umlil had a turn at creating not long after, evading his man along the byeline and cutting back for Reuben Lagos, in a nice position inside the box, but that chance went begging.
The Berries, who hit seven last week, were limited in their chances today, especially in the first half, as Mark Bariamis and Michael Smith proved themselves a tower of strength at the back. Bariamis and Daniel Nash, combined well to deny Kodjo Adjassou when he broke clear. A long range strike from Ivo de Jesus was just wide of the mark as the Saints continued to threaten.
But as the half wore on, the Berries came back into the game and began to cause some concern. None more so than when Simon Verrender was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box, and received a straight red card for his troubles. There seemed little dispute about the penalty award, and Ante Deur picked his spot to put the Berries 1-0 up.
Despite being reduced to ten, St George still looked the goods, and an equalising goal was never out of the question. Ivo de Jesus prompted at every opportunity, from free kicks and corners, and Lagos worked hard in the centre. The Berries though, were also strong at the back, Jack Sobczyk and Damon Collina the equal to many attacks.
Adjassou had a chance to put the Berries two up, when he picked up a loose back header, but Bariamis chased to the Saints? rescue, deflecting away for a corner.
Dimitri Zakilas could have sealed the game with less than ten minutes to go, when Adjassou put him clear, but his shot was well over, a surprise to many watching.
In the end, the Berries kept their one goal advantage and will now relish the chance to visit Blacktown Spartans next week. St George will take on Macarthur Rams in the minor semi final.
West Sydney Berries 1 (Ante Deur pen 41?) v St George 0
28 August 2011
at Lidcombe Oval
Referee: Adam Best
Assts: Sam Grasso and Robert Klein
West Sydney Berries: 99. Phil Zabaks 6. Nick Tantalos (5. Liam McKenna 62?) 4. Jack Sobczyk 7. Damon Collina 2. Steve Wright 13. Ryan Emerton 8. Ante Deur (c) 15. Stefan de Jesus 27. Alex Becerra 9. Kodjo Adjassou (3. Louis Duchesne 85?) 19. Dimitri Zakilas.
Subs not used: 11. Aram Tayebi 22. George Bouropoulos 10. Nicholas Paras
Yellow cards: Jack Sobczyk, Dimitri Zakilas, Damon Collina, Kodjo Adjassou
Coach: Steve Karavatakis
St George: 1. Daniel Nash 29. Jason Tack 2. Michael Smith 14. Mark Bariamis 3. David Smith 10. Peter Vassilis (22. Brad Gibson 62?) 5. Simon Verrender (c) 6. Reuben Lagos 25. Ivo de Jesus 21. Blake Ricciuto (7. George Lagoudakis 80?) 24. Fred Umlil (Jordan Figon 72?).
Subs not used: 12. Luke Turnbull 4. Daniel Fallico
Yellow Cards: Reuben Lagos, Daniel Nash.
Red Card: Simon Verrender
Coach: Kory Babington
In the Under 20s qualifying final, a first half penalty by Jeremy Saad was enough to get Spirit FC the win over St George, earning them the right to meet premiers Sydney University next week. St George will meet Hills Brumbies in the minor semi final.
-By Peter Rowney
