Mens State League 1 Round 2 Finals Series Review
Premiers Hakoah Sydney City East have booked their tickets to the Men’s State League 1 Grand Final with a gripping 2-1 victory over Northbridge FC on Sunday afternoon, while Balmain Tigers continue their red-hot run by eliminating Granville Rage in a 4-0 victory on Saturday.
Semi Final 1
Granville Rage v Balmain Tigers FC
Balmain Tigers have moved into the Preliminary Final with a stirring 4-0 victory over Granville Rage on Saturday afternoon. Domenic Arcella opened the scoring for the Tigers in the first half before a flurry of goals late in the match sealed the win.
The opening stages saw both teams looking to go forward from the get go, and with both sides well suited to the fast paced pitch, it was clear neither team would be sitting back in this one.
For Granville Khushaba Khusaba looked to pull the strings from the middle of the park, with Nenos Bobo looking to get in behind the Balmain defence early on, while Balmain’s central midfield trio of Di Mento, Arcella and Broehl looked to stamp their authority on the game early on.
As a tight and intense battle ensued there were no clear cut chances on goal being created by either side, but Balmain started to gain the ascendency and long range efforts from Valentin Broehl and Joel Cook kept Granville keeper Carl McMahon on his toes.
The game broke open in the 31st minute when Balmain captain Jacob Di Mento charged up the field and played in William Donato, the winger cut inside his defender and hit a swerving shot which was just tipped over the bar by Rage keeper McMahon, but from the ensuing corner Balmain would take the lead with Domenic Arcella meeting the ball at the front post and heading home the opening goal for the Tigers.
Balmain started to take control of the match in the next few minutes by looking very composed in possession, while Granville looked disjointed after conceding the goal with some lose passes creeping into their game. On the stroke of halftime Balmain nearly had another goal when a Liam Cole free kick from the edge of the box looked headed for the top corner, but Rage keeper McMahon made a brilliant fingertip save to keep the ball out of the net.
The second half saw Granville bring on Daniel Vukovic into the fray, and the midfielder made an immediate impact by getting stuck in straight away and throwing his weight around in the centre of the park. Granville started to put more pressure on the Balmain goal and looked the more energetic of the two sides, but the Rage were dealt a blow in the 52nd minute when captain David Harding was forced off with injury, leading to Coach Islas reshuffling the midfield and introducing Kurdvan Abduljabbar into the action.
The lively Nenos Bobo nearly got Granville on equal terms shortly after, but the striker flashed his shot wide of the goal after being played in by Vukovic. Granville kept up the pressure on the Balmain goal and a pin point delivery from right back Rainer Smahel found Almir Dizdaric in the box, but the striker’s header was comfortably saved by Balmain keeper Lachlan Kerr.
As the game wore on Granville forward Almir Dizdaric started to come more into play, getting further involved in the buildup and looking to play in his teammates, but another injury blow hit Granville in the 65th minute when Nenos Bobo limped off the field with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Samir Eshani, while Balmain introduced Scott Tonkin for Will Donato.
Granville kept probing and looking for an opening but the Balmain defence continued to look composed and hold firm, and in the 78th minute Balmain landed a telling blow with Rosario Occhipinti doubling the lead for the Tigers. The goal started when a breakaway from the Tigers saw the ball fall out to midfielder Joel Cook, and just as the Rage defence started to push up, Cooks long range shot fell right into the path of Occhipinti, who took a touch in the box and slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Granville chased the game and pushed men forward but there was no way back when Occhipinti made it 3-0 to Balmain in the 85th minute, Tonkin winning a free kick on the edge of the Rage box and Occhipinti striking a low firm shot which bounced just in front of keeper McMahon and snuck into the goal.
Balmain captain Jacob Di Mento nearly got another goal with a long range effort before Scott Tonkin was kept out by the woodwork, but striker Tonkin would not be denied and in injury time he would round out the scoring by heading home a Di Mento corner and making the final score 4-0. This marks the third week in a row that Scott Tonkin has come on for the Tigers and got on the score sheet.
The final whistle brought the game to an end as the Balmain players and fans celebrated loudly and passionately, but for Granville the loss means their season will end here for year 2014. The late goals conceded by the Rage will not do their performance any justice as they were well in the contest late in the second half and stuck to their guns right until the end, playing their usual free flowing attacking football which has made them one of the most exciting teams in the competition this season.
Best in a beaten side was Almir Dizdaric who showed his usual technique and strong aerial game and tried everything in his playbook to find a goal for Granville on the afternoon. Defender Rainer Smahel also battled away on the right hand side all afternoon and delivered some dangerous crosses into the Balmain box.
Coach Mauricio Islas shared his thoughts on the game, “Obviously it’s a disappointing result, in the end the score line probably doesn’t reflect the game and we had some good chances in the second half we couldn’t convert and that really cost us. But that’s football and Balmain deserved their win today. Overall I’m quite content with the season, but it’s just disappointing we couldn’t go any further in the final series”.
For Balmain the win sees them continue their amazing end of season run, the side is definitely saving their best for last and has been looking more ominous with every week that passes.
Best performances for Balmain came from Joel Cook who was everywhere on the afternoon, the midfielder won every one-on-one battle that came his way and showed plenty of energy when going forward for the Tigers. Upfront Rosario Occhipinti showed all his class by coming up with two big goals when the game was in the balance, while captain Jacob Di Mento once again drove the team forward all afternoon from the centre of the park.
Balmain Coach Joe Di Giulio was pleased with his side, “I think we played well, especially in the first half where we created numerous chances, but at the beginning of the second half they were all over us so we made some changes to our formation and were able to get on top on the in last 20 minutes. Overall I’m very happy with the way we played”.
Match Stats
Granville Rage 0
Balmain Tigers 4 (Arcella, Occhipinti x2, Tonkin)
Saturday, 6th of September 2014
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: P.Apostolou
Assistant Referees: M.Riley, G.Williams
Granville Rage: 1.Carl McMahon, 8.Daniel Bortoloazzo 9.Alessandro Pecora 19. Almir Dizdaric, 5.Mitchell Luc, 7.David Harding (18.Kurdvan Abduljabbar 52’), 2.Jonathan Ekehov, 10.Kushaba Kushaba (12.Daniel Vukovic 46’), 3.Rainer Smahel, 17. Manut Yel, 11.Nenos Bobo (6.Samir Eshani 68’)
Substitutes Not Used: 21.Adam Green, 14.Alexander Bit
Yellow Cards: 12.D Vukovic, 3.R.Smahel
Red Cards: Nil
Balmain Tigers: 21.Gavin Wenyon (2.Thomas Hyde 55’), 11.W Donato (9.Scott Tonkin 65’), 10.Jacob Di Mento, 17.Liam Cole, 29.Valentin Broehl (19.James Kiosidis 75’), 6.Danny Noor, 14.Lachlan Kerr, 7.Rosario Occhipinti, 23.Dominic Arcella, 8.Joel Cook, 16.Josh Karpes
Substitutes Not Used: 5.Andrew Casali, 25.Yaw Billy
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Semi Final 2
Hakoah Sydney City East FC v Northbridge FC
Hakoah have booked their place in the Grand Final with a 2-1 victory over Northbridge FC on Sunday afternoon at Arlington Oval. Much like their two games during the regular season, this was another action packed and fast paced encounter with both sides not holding back for the entire 90 minutes.
Hakoah struck an early blow in this one by taking the lead in the 6th minute of play after a Nathan Kosmina free kick was swung into the back post and defender Bradley Walker rose highest to head the ball back across the goal and into the net.
Following the goal some tough tackles came flying in as the two teams looked to stamp their authority on the game, but both sides were still intent on attacking and the chances came thick and fast as first Jordan Mundell went close for Hakoah, before Northbridge left-back Mitchell Lensink saw his left foot shot go just wide of the Hakoah goal.
Northbridge striker Ry Hardy looked in the mood and was involved in a great chance for Northbridge to draw level in the 25th minute, the striker went on a mazy run down the left hand side before cutting the ball back to midfielder Jake Mavin, but Mavin’s shot was just cleared off the line by the Hakoah defence.
Northbridge were pushing for the equalizer and the 33rd minute saw a great team move by the Bridge culminate with a Mitchell Lensink cross finding Lee Jones at the back post, Jones met the ball first time and guided a side foot volley towards the goal, but was denied by the woodwork on this occasion.
With the half coming to a close Hakoah nearly doubled their lead when left back Daan Ranshuijsen delivered a pin point cross to Jordan Mundell in the Northbridge box, but Mundell saw his header flash just inches wide of the goal.
The second half saw more of the same as both teams continued to play forward at every opportunity, but Northbridge would strike the first blow of the half with an equaliser arriving in the 55th minute courtesy of Lee Jones. The play started on the left hand side where Paul Orgad showed great touch and vision to beat his marker and switch the ball out to Jones, the right back then cut inside his defender and hit a delightful curling left foot strike into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
The game was evenly poised following the goal and Hakoah looked to midfielders Deklan Gilmartin and Neil Jablonski to link up with Lloyd Owusu as they looked for an opening, while at the other end Northbridge’s pace on the counter attack was starting to trouble the Hakoah backline.
The minutes ticked away and the score remained level with 15 minutes to go, the game continued to be an open encounter as both sides looked for that one play that would provide the winner.
However it was Hakoah who got the go ahead goal when a contentious penalty was awarded in the 80th minute after a Lloyd Owusu cross into the box struck the hand of James Collins. Hakoah Captain Neil Jablonski stepped up and converted the spot kick to put Hakoah up 2-1.
It was a double blow for Northbridge with the already booked Collins receiving a yellow card for the infringement and leaving the Bridge down to ten men for the remainder of the game.
Despite the ten men Northbridge kept going right up until the end with Paul Orgad getting on the ball late in the game and trying to create an equaliser, but there would be no more goals and Hakoah would claim a hard fought 2-1 victory in an action packed contest.
The win books Hakoah’s spot in the Grand Final in two week’s time, while Northbridge will face off against Balmain Tigers in next week’s Preliminary Final.
Hakoah Sydney City East FC 2 (B.Walker, N.Jablonski) Northbridge FC 1 (L.Jones)
– By Diego Munoz
