SUPA IGA NSW NPL Mens 2 Grand Final Review

St George took out the 2013 SUPA IGA Grand Final coming from a goal down to win 3-1 over Mounties Wanderers in a quality affair. Two goal hero Sam Messam led the Saints to victory, taking out the Man of the Match Award for his efforts.

St George v Mounties Wanderers

In a match worthy of a Grand Final, with plenty of quality football on display, St George took out the Grand Final with a 3-1 win over Mounties Wanderers, ensuring a clean sweep of the trophies on offer for the Saints.

This was a fine spectacle put on by both sides, an entertaining game on an excellent surface, which certainly brought out the best that both sides had to offer. There was little surprise within either of the starting elevens, the selection of Alvin Singh for the Mounties an expected choice despite recent injury concerns, while only Bruno Pivato, on the bench for St George, a perhaps unusual choice.

It was an intriguing first half and while there may have been no goals, there was no shortage of chances, or good build up. A chance for each within the first ten minutes set the tone for the day with Juan Chavez nicking the first strike on goal but a minute later, Singh was down the other end on a quick break, but only managed to find the side netting. Even at this early stage, it seemed that the Fijian international was inhibited with his movement but with a hatrick against St George in the final round of the season, there was good reason for perseverance.

The Mounties were forced into an early change nonetheless when defender David Gardiner was forced from the field after only twelve minutes, to be replaced by Peter Day. The Mounties were still strong at the back despite the early loss and while St George may have had the possession early on, it was certainly a difficult task in unlocking the Mounties backline.

The closest either side came to a goal in the first half was when Daniel McCann for the Mounties shaved the post just before the half hour mark but a quick response by Chavez three minutes later, after great interchange work with Nick Napoli, kept Mounties alert.

Chavez again brought out the best in Ali Akbal, but with two minutes before half time, Eli Squillacioti charged down the middle, bearing in on goal. A great chance on offer for the Mounties but the shot flew over.

St George may have shaded the play in a tight first half but the Mounties were quick out of the blocks at the start of the second. They fired plenty of salvos in the first ten minutes, Daniel Severino, always dangerous at set pieces, had a curler just wide two minutes in, while five minutes after that, he hit the woodwork with a smashing free kick. In between those two efforts, George Codrea sidefooted wide for St George. Plenty of chances, but still no goals. 

That changed in the 54th minute. Severino placed a corner into the centre of the six yard box, a packed area tried to scramble the ball away but Scott Goodwin got the better of them all, slamming the ball home from close range.

The Mounties were ecstatic, with good reason, the lead a vital one.

But St George weren’t fazed, at least they didn’t appear to be, and set about restoring parity. That took only eight minutes and no surprise it came from the combination of their two leading strikers. While Chavez may have led the scoring charts this season, on this occasion he played provider for his fellow frontman, Sam Messam, putting through an exquisite pass straight into the path of the powerful Kiwi striker.

The pass was matched by a drive which almost broke the net, Akbal having no hope in preventing this one.

With Singh having departed on the hour, a sterling effort to last that long, and a goal conceded two minutes later, the game now seemed to favour St George. That was in no small part due to the influence of Pivato, brought on just before the hour.

Pivato was a dynamo in the middle of the park, the close control and change of direction a constant menace to the Mounties. Added to the left sided play of David Dascal and Aleks Jovovic and the right sided overlaps by Costa Andricopolous, who became more adventurous as the game went on, and St George appeared likely to score another from any part of the pitch.

That it came again from Messam was no surprise. A cross from the right and a clear header right in front put the Saints in the lead for the first time, only twelve minutes from time. A slight controversy perhaps, as Mark D’Alessandro was prone in the box at the time, but there could be little argument.

St George continued to drive forward, looking to kill the game off and while Akbal parried away a Napoli free kick, it was George Degenek who sealed victory. Only on for the final few minutes, Degenek certainly made his presence count, scoring the clincher in injury time.

“That win seals a great season for us, “stated Manny Spanoudakis. “Premiers, Club Champions and now the Championship. Not to mention one game away from the Waratah Cup Final. It has been a fantastic year for the club and for a great squad of players”.

“Even when we were one down, I knew that we had the composure to come back. And that proved to be the case. I am fortunate that I can go right through to number 20 in the squad and have someone who can deliver. Leaving Bruno on the bench at the start was a tough decision but I decided to play Sam [Messam] and sometimes, a coach’s decision can work out just right, like today”, he smiled.

It has been a long time between Grand Final wins for St George, this victory the first since the 1987 NSL Grand Final. Twenty six years is a long time in anyone’s language, so the Saints are likely to celebrate this one long into the night. 

St George 3 (Sam Messam 62’, 78’, George Degenek 92’) v Mounties Wanderers 1 (Scott Goodwin 54’)

Sunday 22 September 2013

at Sydney United Sports Centre

Referee: Michael Weiner

Assts: Thomas Lee and Lance Greenshields

4th Official: Kevin Peddie

St George: 23. Dion Shaw 35. Costa Andricopoulos 2. Michael Smith 25. Bill Tsanidis 3. David Dascal 16. Jonathan Castano-Acero 19. Nick Napoli 18. George Codrea (10. Bruno Pivato 58’) 12. Aleks Jovovic 9. Sam Messam (7. George Lagoudakis 89’) 11. Juan Chavez (c) (4. George Degenek 85’).

Subs not used: 60. Daniel Nash 22. Matt Sadler.

Yellow Cards: Michael Smith, George Codrea, Sam Messam.

Coach: Manny Spanoudakis

Mounties Wanderers: 22. Ali Akbal 3. Tim Salvaggio (14. Mark Symington 83’) 18. Mark D’Alessandro 16. Scott Goodwin 8. David Gardiner (6. Peter Day 12’) 2. Eli Squillacioti 27. Daniel Severino 17. Daniel McCann 31. Daniel Merrin 10. Daniel Willoughby 25. Alvin Singh (4. Greg Baldock 60’).  

Subs not used: 1. Jackson Franich 9. Matt Viera

Yellow Cards: Daine Merrin, Alvin Singh.

Coaches: Aiden Desmond and Glen Lockhart

Under 20s

Spirit FC claimed the Under 20s Championship thanks to a first half goal by Kyle Roberts. The single goal was enough to defeat Premiers Hills Brumbies and continues the fine results of the Spirit FC club at this level. 

The win in some way makes up for the close loss in last season’s Grand Final.

Hills Brumbies 0 v Spirit FC 1 (Kyle Roberts)

-By Peter Rowney