Major sends Blacktown City to FFA Cup
Heroes were all over the park as Travis Major’s double was enough for Blacktown City to get past a determined Hakoah Sydney City East at Hensley Athletic Field 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the Waratah Cup and earn a spot in the Westfield FFA Cup.
The stage was set as the IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 high flyers from Blacktown were pushed to the limits by a gallant Hakoah side.
It was clear from the first minute that Hakoah would show no respect to Blacktown as they come off the blocks pressing very high to try to force a mistake. Their intensity in the middle of the park early on, forced some uncharacteristic mistakes from Blacktown defenders as they played through nervously.
Though the relentless pressure proved ineffective as Blacktown’s defenders demonstrated great composure and weathered the storm. As the minutes ticked on and Blacktown settled into the match their core started to reclaim more of the ball and started to show the slick passing that proved a huge success in the IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 competition.
Hakoah withstood Blacktown City FC’s efforts and remained calm which led to a well deserved goal in the 16th minute. After some great lead up play by the Hakoah midfielders a clinical pass to an oncoming Lloyd Owusu left him one on one with a Blacktown defender. Owusu then put a clinical cross into Jablonski who hit the ball on the half volley with great ferocity to put the home side 1-0 in front.
The home support erupted celebrating with their players which proved deadly as the equaliser came just seconds after the restart. A slight lapse of concentration is all it took and Blacktown’s Travis Major showed his class. He took advantage of a sleeping Hakoah defence and beat two defenders and put the ball in the back of the net to silence the crowd, much to Blacktown’s relief.
The goal seemed to wake them up as it followed a period of constant bombardment on Hakoah’s goal. Twenty minutes in and Blacktown finally imposed their skill and class over Hakoah.
Japanese import Ryuji Miyazawa was damaging on the right as his speed was no match for Hakoah’s defence, his crosses were clinical but lacked the finish.
Hakoah needed composure through this period and they found it in their midfield duo of Nathan Kosmina and Deklan Gilmartin. They were crucial as their focus resulted in a number of interceptions in the middle of the park which could have proved costly.
As Blacktown continued to press higher, it was clear by the 30th minute that this would not be an easy game.
Target man Owusu was damaging up front as his strength and speed bullied Blacktown’s back four at times.
Hakoah then began to build momentum which led to a great chance right before the break to Jablonski who headed the ball past Nenad Vekic from a brilliant corner which was cleared on the line by the Blacktown defence.
The second half was telling from the get go as Blacktown’s instructions were clear, it was to score early and put the pressure on Hakoah. Blacktown’s possession provided them with early chances with Kearyn Baccus and Zac Cairncross both shooting just off target.
Again Hakoah’s core were magnificent as they remained composed and after the early pressure started turning the momentum to their advantage. What followed were great chances from Hakoah’s partnership upfront. Owusu and Hakoah’s 17-year-old substitute Kevin Lopes narrowly missed chances on several occasions.
Then, heartbreak for Hakoah in the 73rd minute as a goalkeeping blunder led to Blacktown’s second goal. Hakoah’s Terry da Broi passed it short to one of his defenders and an alert Mitch Malia intercepted it who squared it to an oncoming Miyazawa. Miyazawa who over ran it, put in an unbelievable through ball to Major who slotted it in for his brace.
Most teams would have been disheartened, though to the home team’s credit they fought on and kept pushing Blacktown to their limits. With just minutes to go, Owusu had the chance to equalise with a shot but instead squared it to his strike partner Lopes who narrowly missed the opportunity.
A tough way to go out for Hakoah but no one in their dressing room would have been disappointed with their efforts.
“The boys should be proud of their performance tonight and hold their heads up.
“They pushed a Premier League team to a point of uncertainty”, said Hakoah coach Mark Robertson as he looks to build on this brave performance.
Meanwhile a humble but happy Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden knew the dangers this game possessed but was delighted with the victory.
“They’re a very physical side, very different to what were used to in our league, but we’re very happy to move on in the competition” said Crittenden.
Match Stats
Hakoah Sydney City East 1 (Neil Jablonski 16′)
Blacktown City 2 (Travis Major 17′, 73’)
Thursday 22nd May, 2014
Hensley Athletics Field, Pagewood
Referee: Adam Susz
Assistant Referees:Lance Greenshields and Murray Wilson
Hakoah Sydney City East: 1. Terry da Broi 15. Michael Katz 4. Bradley Walker 36. Nathan Bowden-Haase 17. Joe Dingwar 6. Nathan Kosmina (16. Mark McAlane 63’), 10. Deklan Gilmartin 8. Jordan Mundell 11. Neil Jablonski 12. Justin Kosmina 9 (33. Kevin Lopes 52’), Lloyd Owusu
Substitutes: 5. Dylan Blumberg 2. Remy Wolanski 7. Daan Ranshjijsen
Yellow Cards: Deklan Gilmartin 62’
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City: 4. Giorgio Speranza (18. Daniel Araujo 64’), 5. Jacob Poscoliero 6. Matt Lewis 7. Travis Major 8. Sasha Macura (14. Mitch Mallia 53’), 9. Ryuji Miyazawa 11. Danny Choi (12. Joel Hardwick), 13. Blake Tuxford 15. Marco Travaglini 16. Kearyn Baccus 19. Zac Cairncross
Substitutes: 1. Nenad Vekic 10. Shayne D’Cunha
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Chris Doroudgar
