APIA-Leichhardt snatch semi-final spot at the death

The fog lent an eeriness to the occasion that was matched only by the borderline freezing temperatures at Valentine Sports Park, but in the midst of the all that, a football match took place.
And what a match; a modern day Waratah Cup thriller, in the most unlikely of settings and circumstances. 
Jason Oswell, a mid-season arrival at APIA-Leichhardt Tigers, scored a clinical hat-trick. That, coupled with a heart breaking own goal from Matthew Crowell in extra time, sent APIA through to the Waratah Cup semi-final at the expense of the unlucky Central Coast Mariners Academy. 
120′ minutes was needed to separate the two sides after they shared six goals in an end-to-end 90′ minutes. After so narrowly prevailing, APIA will play Bonnyrigg White Eagles next Wednesday, as they look to make back-to-back cup finals.
Visibility was low at kick off, but there was brief respite in the second half as the fog lifted. By full time though, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in either direction.
CCM Academy had the first chance of an opening stanza that gave little indication of what was follow.
A 9′ minute opportunity carved out by Louis Bozanic deserved better, but Brady Smith lacked the composure to finish and ended up blazing over.
The game meandered along and in the 22′ minute a free-kick from Bozanic, at Jaeger, should have continued the theme.
The APIA goalkeeper though, dropped what should have been a simple catch and Crowell slid the ball home. If only all his good work remained at that end, Mariners Academy could have been in the semi-final.
APIA looked to hit back and Aaron Clapham headed straight at David Bradasevic, an effort that served as a warning shot.
2′ minutes later APIA drew level and it was a header from Oswell that did it.
The timeless Franco Parisi swung in a corner from the right and Oswell rose through the mist to head his first of the night past Bradasevic.
CCM Academy restored their advantage via the penalty spot, just 5’ minutes before the half-time interval.
Referee Chris Young didn’t hesitate to point to the spot when the ball struck the arm of Keith Shevlin and though Jaeger went the right way, he was comprehensively beaten by Chris Payne’s shot.
APIA found an equaliser within the first 7′ minutes of the second-half.
A long range shot from Clapham was touched in by the lively Oswell and the scores were level.
The goal gave APIA a much needed lift. Parisi began to get more and more involved, pulling the strings in midfield.   
He forced a decent save from Bradasevic, who did well to spring to his right and put the ball out for a corner.
Oswell’s finishing was another class and in the 66′ minute he completed a well-earned treble, with a sweet left footed volley that Bradasevic got a touch on, but couldn’t keep out.
Having gone behind twice, APIA now led 3-2 and were very short odds to go through in normal time.
They should have closed the game out and they have no excuse for their sloppiness in the final moments.
Mariners Academy are nothing if not plucky and they showed great heart to find an equaliser and take the match to extra time.
A mix up between Brendan Reilly and Paul Galimi gave CCM Academy their lifeline in the 83′ minute.
An innocuous ball wasn’t cut out by either centre half and Nathan Verity raced clear to slot past Jaeger, who failed to commit.
The sixth goal of a super match consigned everyone present to a further 30′ minutes of action.
Though the match itself was wonderful entertainment, the conditions became brutal as fog engulfed the ground and a chill swept over the playing surface.
As extra time kicked off, the mercury plummeted yet further and the hardy handful of supporters did their best to raise the temperature.
Mariners Academy could smell blood and they raced out of the blocks for the first period of extra time. They really should have taken the lead, but Venty hit the post with a rasping effort.
Their profligacy in front of goal cost them dearly and their hopes were dashed when Daniel Bragg saw red for a second bookable offence in the 103′ minute.
Crowell’s heart breaking own goal with just 11′ minutes remaining was the final chapter in a true cup classic.
Mariners Academy coach Mark Jones was frustrated with their inability to finish the numerous chances that they created on the night:
"We had more than enough chances in the first 90′ minutes to win the game," he said.
"We’ve had three one-on-ones with the ‘keeper and haven’t pulled the trigger.
"If you don’t take those chances you can’t win football games, it’s as simple as that.
"Again, we’ve dominated possession, clearly outplayed them, created opportunities and we didn’t take them.
"We conceded four goals and that’s not good enough.
"People say we played good football, but at the end of the day if you concede too many goals and don’t score enough, you’re not going to win the games," Jones said.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers assistant coach Nicola Rizzo was relieved to have progressed after such a gruelling 120’ minutes:
"I thought overall we did quite well," he said.
"The intensity wasn’t there in the first half though and a few things were said at half-time.
"We had a bit of luck at the start of extra time, but we missed a few chances too and overall we’re pretty happy with the result.
Rizzo was full of praise for Oswell, who’s hat-trick further proved his adaptation to Australian football:
“Basically we’ve got an out-and-out striker playing there," Rizzo said.
"He holds the ball up well and he’s pretty lethal in the box, which he’s shown.
"I think it’s a work in progress, he’s getting to know his team-mates and the Australian game, but we’re happy with the way things are going," Rizzo concluded.                                                                                                                                   
Match Stats

APIA Leichhardt Tigers 4 (Jason Oswell 32′, 52′, 66′, M Crowell [OG] 109′)
Central Coast Mariners Academy 3 (Matthew Crowell 22′, Christopher Payne 40 (pen), Nathan Verity 83′)
Wednesday 12th June, 2013

Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood
Referee: Chris Young
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Andrej Giev
APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 1.Simon Jaeger; 4.Brendan Reilly, 7.Stephen Kayes, 3.Emmanuele Shewan (8.Matthew Castelnuovo 56′), 6.Aaron Clapham, 9.Jason Oswell (2.Marco Micevski 117′), 10.Franco Parisi (C) (17.Clayton Musumeci 81′), 8.Keith Shevlin, 15.Bradley Bartels, 16.Sean Symons, 11.Paul Galimi
Substitutes Not Used: 21.Andrew Bazi (GK), 5.Brian Griffin-Colls
Yellow Cards: Jason Oswell 58′, Paul Galimi 70′
Red Cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners Academy: 20.David Bradasevic, 16.Jed Prater, 2.Matthew Crowell (C), 22.Liam O’Dell, 11.Louis Bozanic (30.A Woodbine 77′), 8.Daniel Bragg, 29.Daniel McFarlane (10.Tomislav Cirjak 73′), 26.Mapu Ridge, 5.Brady Smith (24.Nathan Verity 36′), 6.Christopher Payne, 9.James Monie (39.Dylan Holz 65′)
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Jordan Nikolovski (GK)
Yellow Cards: Matthew Crowell 46′, Louis Bozanic 49′, Daniel Bragg 86′
Red Cards: Daniel Bragg 103′
-By Matthew Connellan