IGA NL NSW Mens 1 Grand Final Player Ratings
Official player ratings for the 2014 IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 Grand Final between Blacktown City FC v Sydney Olympic.
Blacktown City FC
1.Nenad Vekic (8.0): Blacktown City’s shot-stopper rarely sighted the ball in the opening stanza, but it was a different story after the break when Olympic regrouped and tested Vekic by peppering him on a number of occasions. Pulled off the save of the match in the dying seconds of regular time to force the game into extra time.
3.Giorgio Speranza (7.0): Defended well and linked up nicely in attack with Matt Lewis on the left edge before being replaced late in the game by Danny Choi. Integral part of the attacking backline which initiated much of City’s attacking raids, but stood tall when pressed by Olympic throughout their second-half onslaught.
4.Yianni Fragogiannis(7.0): Energetic at right-back and caused havoc out wide when he moved forward. Linked well with the tireless Keiran Baccus and combined nicely with Travis Major in the first-half and Mitchell Mallia in the second. Proved solid in defence and repelled the livewire Olympic forwards on numerous occasions.
5.Jacob Poscoliero (7.5): A rock at the back alongside Zach Cairncross and stepped up a notch to control proceedings in defence for City when Cairncross came off injured in extra time. Moved forward when space opened up to link well with his halves and forwards and saved the day for his side with a couple of last ditch tackles when his team needed it most.
6.Matthew Lewis (7.0): Former left-back who has made the transition to left-midfield with ease this season and was all class out on the field with his turn of speed throughout Sunday’s grand final. Switched back to the defensive line when Speranza was subbed at the completion of regular time and didn’t miss a beat in either position played.
7.Travis Major (7.5): Newly crowned IGA NSW Mens 1 ‘Player of the Year’, Major was a touch quiet in comparison to his normally dominating game and appeared to be well marked well by firstly Danaskos and then Sorge throughout the game, but like a true champion sealed the match winner in extra time to snare the championship for his team. Led from the front as always with his inspirational co-captaincy.
8.Sasa Macura (7.5): Built tall and strong, Macura used his height and strength to dominate the middle throughout much of the first-half as he made a ton of runs through the middle to create havoc for the Olympic defence. Defended well in the second period and used his power to keep the Olympic attackers at bay whilst turning defence into attack at the drop of a hat. Provided the assist to Major’s goal that proved to be the match-winner.
9.Ryuji Miyazawa (7.5): Japanese-born Miyazawa was a big reason why City were such a dominant force all season long and the diminutive forward was in the thick of the action once again with his skill and poise as he danced his way through the middle of the Olympic defence. Scored a deflected goal for his team and showed exactly the reasons why he was deservedly rewarded with a spot in the recently named IGA NPL All Star Team of the Year.
14.Mitchell Mallia (7.0): Used his athleticism to perfection with his long striding runs to test Olympic’s outside backs, but succumbed to injury late in the game. Linked well with his fellow forwards to deliver the ball into the middle and came close to scoring on at least one occasion.
16.Keiran Baccus (9.0): Man of the Match performance after covering a million miles of ground in just 120 minutes and was instrumental in his side’s first goal and may have actually been credited with it only for a deflection from Miyazawa that found the back of the net. Looked dangerous all game and was a pivotal key in delivering City the championship. A marvellous performance to cap off a brilliant season and surely must be on the A-League radar now.
19.Zach Cairncross (7.5): Like fellow stalwart Poscoliero, was solid at the back and laid the platform for his side in defence. Looked dangerous in set plays when he came forward and stamped his authority on the game with his imposing presence until he was replaced in extra time by Shayne D’Cunha. Organised his troops well in the role of co-captain and certainly justified his selection to the All Star side.
Sydney Olympic FC
1.Paul Henderson (7.5): The veteran Olympic custodian was called upon to make an abundance of saves in the first half, but rarely tested after the intermission. Kept his side in the game which allowed his teammates to regroup and get back into the contest. Had his hands full in extra time behind a tiring defensive line, but never gave up and was only beaten by the brilliance of Travis Major.
2.Brayen Sorge (7.0): The only Olympic player to make the starting 11 in the IGA NPL All Star Team, and showed his class in both defence and attack creating headaches for Mark Crittenden’s men. Sorge’s never-say-die attitude shone through and he did very well to keep Major quiet for most of the second-half. Was replaced late in the game by Chris Godoy Bascur.
3.Troy Danaskos (7.0): Like Sorge had his hands full with Major and Mallia, but did extremely well to snuff out numerous raids out wide. Looked dangerous when he moved forward and came close on one or two occasions to unleashing his lethal left-foot that has found the back of the net for Olympic during the finals series.
4.Brendan Hooper (7.5): Combined brilliantly with Peter Markovic at the back to keep his side in the game. Repelled the dangerous City forwards with some copy-book tackles and well-timed interceptions. Covered the outside Olympic backs all afternoon to keep City’s forwards at bay and could have scored a goal from a corner if it were not for the brilliance of Vekic.
6.Ryan Keir (6.5): A workhorse for Olympic in the defensive midfield role and provided some solid defence when needed throughout the opening half. Provided a useful link to his fellow halves in the second-half until replaced in the 76’ minute by Yianni Spyrakis.
9.Dimitri Hatzimouratis (7.0): As the game wore on Hatzimouratis came into his own and troubled City’s defenders at ease. Linked well with his halves and Japanese forwards in Soeda and Shirai, and almost stole the game for Olympic in the 88’ minute when a direct free-kick went painfully shy of the far post.
10.Harris Gaitatzis (7.5): Came close to scoring the opening goal of the game when his neat shot deflected off the far post. Was instrumental in set plays and delivered a near-perfect ball to Hooper that could have proved the difference. Like Hatzimouratis, was more involved as the game went on and created a number of opportunities for his fellow forwards.
14.Peter Markovic (8.5): Inspirational performance by the Olympic skipper who led by example and held his side together. Was cool, calm and collected as he halted the impressive City attackers with ease and was just as valuable when he went up high. Obviously disappointed with the heartbreaking loss, but can take solace in the fact that he was one of the best players out on the field despite being on a losing side.
18.Taiga Soeda (7.5): Came to the forefront for his team as the clash wore on using his lightning speed and turns to bedazzle a tiring City defence line. Was almost the hero for Olympic in the closing minutes of extra time when he; firstly chipped a neat ball that had Vekic beat and narrowly missed the far post; and provided a perfectly weighted ball for Hooper’s head that hit the crossbar.
19.Go Shirai (7.0): Like fellow countryman Soeda, came into his own as the game proceeded. Ran his heart out and tried valiantly to create something in attack or to find the back of the net. Showed the creative skill he is renowned for and controlled the middle throughout the latter stages of the game to provide the platform for his forwards.
39.Michael Gaitatzis (6.5): Tried hard to penetrate the formidable City defensive line and linked well with his brother Harris up front. Had a running battle out on the left with defender Yianni Fragogiannis with neither player prepared to give an inch. Was one of the first players subbed in the 71’ minute after giving his all for his side.
33.Christos Tomaras (7.5): Super-sub who looked dangerous from the moment he entered into the game. Scored the equaliser for his side after just five minutes on the pitch in what can only be described as one of the best goals of the season. Almost became Olympic folk law with his injury time screamer shot that looked certain to be the match-winner if it were not for the reflex brilliance of Vekic.
-By Gary McDonald
