Super League Finals Series Round 2 Review
The Berries eliminated Macarthur Rams with a last minute penalty to keep their hopes alive.
Minor Semi Final
Bankstown Berries v Macarthur Rams
A penalty right at the death gave ten-man Bankstown Berries a lifeline, as they moved onwards to next week?s final with a get out of gaol free card in the final minute of injury time.
With extra time beckoning, Macarthur Rams would have fancied their chances against a Berries side reduced to ten following the dismissal of Brad Gibson in the 70th minute. But a push in a packed area by Adam Wither, as the Rams defended a late free kick, resulted in Dimitri Zakilas having the chance to nail the win, shattering the Rams? hearts.
Macarthur had fought back well after a poor first half, with the Berries having taken an early lead with just four minutes gone. A long range strike from Kodjo Adjassou flew low and hard, taking a slight deflection past Chad Taylor. It was a lead they never looked liked relinquishing, certainly in the opening forty five, as the Berries were relentless in their pressure against the Rams. It was a constant barrage of Berries drive, Macarthur rarely being able to threaten the opposing goal. Shannon Hankin and Stefan Donevski were left looking for scraps, with chances few and far between.
But for all their dominance, Bankstown Berries were unable to increase the margin and it was still by the single goal that the teams were separated at the break.
The Rams were a different proposition after the turnaround, Craig Cooley?s introduction an impetus for Macarthur and within five minutes they were level. Good work on the right by Alan de la Cuadra saw his cross go deep where Peter Halstead headed home to make it 1-1.
It was a much more even contest now but Gibson?s send off, for a second yellow card offence, tilted the favouritism towards Macarthur. They almost took immediate advantage too, de la Cuadra?s free kick following Gibson?s departure being thundered against the post by Halstead. How that one stayed out is anyone?s guess.
As the game ticked down, extra time seemed certain, and things were looking good for the Rams. But the late penalty changed all that.
Bankstown Berries 2 (Kodjo Adjassou 4?, Dimitri Zakilas 93? pen) v Macarthur Rams 1 (Peter Halstead 49?)
Saturday 1 September 2012
at The Crest, Bass Hill
Referee: Adam Weir
Assts: Michelle Allen and Chris Bosevski
Bankstown Berries: 1. George Bouropoulos 16. Brad Gibson 2. David Gardiner 7. Peter Peralta 3. Steve Wright 9. Ante Deur (14. Nick Paras 85?) 12. Stefan de Jesus 18. David Stojic 11. Aram Derakzala 8. Kodjo Adjassou 19. Dimitri Zakilas.
Subs not used: 15. Peter Crevani 20. Naim Rahimi 22. Nick Tsioustas 23. Peter Dimitropoulos.
Yellow Cards: Peter Peralta, Brad Gibson
Red Card: Brad Gibson.
Coaches: Tony Pace and Matthew Ribarovski.
Macarthur Rams: 1. Chad Taylor 3. Emmanuel Elali 5. Callum Fleming 7. Peter Halstead 15. Joel Craig 19. Mojtada Mohebbee (11. Daniel Duarte 77?) 17. Adam Wither 22. Alan de la Cuadra 8. Michael Brown (2. Craig Cooley 46?) 6. Stefan Donevski 9. Shannon Hankin.
Subs not used: 18. Scott Madden 20. Ben Needham 30. Nick Mugridge.
Yellow Cards: Chad Taylor, Stefan Donevski, Peter Halstead, Shannon Hankin, Joel Craig, Adam Wither.
Coach: Claudio Canosa.
Major Semi Final
Northern Tigers v Bankstown City FC
A first half double to Adam Biddle set Northern Tigers on the way to their second grand final appearance in three years after defeating Bankstown City FC 3-1 at Mills Park to cement their place in the season?s finale in two week?s time.
The ex-Sydney FC striker scored direct from a corner, the ball cannoning in off the far post after seventeen minutes to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead, the ball eluding all.
The Lions responded with plenty of purpose and possession but had difficulty in making headway against a tight Tigers defence. Despite still missing the suspended Travis Oughtred and also without the injured Michael Rolston, the Tigers? improvised central defensive pairing of Will Thom and Glen Downey managed well against the Lions attack, led as always by Gosue Sama. Sama worked hard all afternoon but it was just not going to be his day, in more ways than one.
When Biddle scored the second, two minutes before half time, it was going to be an uphill battle from then on for Bankstown City. Biddle was the recipient of a nice Tom Spencer pass, after the Lions had conceded possession, and Biddle had little trouble in scoring from in front. It all occurred in the blink of an eye, after the Lions had dominated so much territory.
With the introduction of Robert Mileski at the break, it seemed possible that the Lions fortunes would change. But before Mileski would even have had time to work up a sweat, the Tigers had pounced for their third. Some great skill from Spencer saw him juggle to control, before spinning and volleying high into the net. A wonderful goal from the ace marksman, his thirteenth of the year, but maybe his best.
It looked like the match would peter out over the final stages, the result not really in question. But a penalty conceded by substitute Toby Reading, a minute after coming on, gave the Lions a brief sniff of hope.
Gosue Sama duly converted to bring it back to 3-1 but then, with one of the more bizarre cards you would ever see given, Sama collected his second yellow after seeking to obtain the ball from the back of the net for a quick restart. A short contretemps with Tigers? keeper Stuart Page, one seen time and time again in similar circumstances, resulted in an ultimate send off for the Lions striker.
It seemed impossible then for Bankstown City, as it proved to be, and they will now go into next week?s final against Bankstown Berries without their gun scorer.
Northern Tigers 3 (Adam Biddle 17?, 43?, Tom Spencer 47?) v Bankstown City FC 1 (Gosue Sama pen 80?)
Sunday 2 September 2012
at Mills Park
Referee: Chris Young
Assts: Mario Tedone and Lance Morton
Northern Tigers: 1. Stuart Page 12. Rhys Williams 15. Glen Downey 17. Will Thom (13. Toby Reading 79?) 3. Jamie Lobb 14. Brendan Salameh 16. Steven Baveas 24. Tom Spencer 6. Paul Davies (c) 8. Max Glanville 11. Adam Biddle (9. Tim Simpson 65?)
Subs not used: Brandon Bowd, Grant Lynch, Ryan Blaker.
Yellow Cards: Brendan Salameh, Toby Reading, Steven Baveas.
Coach: Jason Eagar
Bankstown City FC: 1. Zlatko Joseski 7. Steven Liavas 2. Matthew Presello 5. Richard Luksic (c) 4. Peter Vassilis 6. Reuben Lagos 22. Zac Vallorani (99. Chris Godoy Boscur 76?) 23. Anthony Doumanis (10. Robert Mileski 46?) 24. Dominic Hudap 14. Nathan Ristevski (18. Nicolo Sama 59?) 11. Gosue Sama.
Subs not used: 8. George Nohra 40. Angelo Petratos
Yellow Cards: Matthew Presello, Gosue Sama, Dominic Hudap, Nathan Ristevski.
Red Card: Gosue Sama 80?
Coaches: George Nohra and Bill Pilovski.
Under 20s
Premiers Spirit FC moved directly into the grand final after overcoming Sydney University 1-0. In a game of few chances, it was an unfortunate own goal by Uni?s Mat Hoeing with seventeen minutes left which gave Spirit victory.
Northern Tigers continued their finals run, and ended St George?s in the process, with a 4-0 victory at The Crest on Saturday.
With Ryan Blaker netting after just two minutes, the Tigers were always in the box seat although it took until thirteen minutes from time before they gained their second. Matthew Castelnuovo was the scorer as the Tigers? position strengthened. Two injury times goals, to Blaker again, and a minute later to Osama Zaki, simply confirmed the result.
Northern Tigers 4 (Ryan Blaker 2?, 92?, Matthew Castelnuovo 77?, Osama Zaki 93?) v St George 0
Spirit FC 1 (Mat Hoening own goal 73?) v Sydney University 0
-By Peter Rowney
