SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 Grand Final Preview

The biggest SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 match is headlining this Sunday as Lilys Centre plays host to the Macarthur Rams taking on Premiers Parramatta FC on Sunday.

It’s poetry in motion. On one side, Macarthur Rams – a club determined to take out the Mens 2 competition for the first time in their history.

On the other, a Parramatta FC outfit looking to cap off what has been nothing short of a dreamy season.

Undoubtedly two teams deserving of their ticket to the big dance promise to deliver an enthralling display of attacking football, spearheaded by the most potent attacks across the league in 2014.

There will be no shortage of confidence in either dressing room, with both teams coming off impressive wins. Macarthur booked their spot in the decider by overcoming Parramatta 2-1 in a tense affair a fortnight ago. Their opponents were then forced into a preliminary final showdown against Northern Tigers, where they prevailed 2-0.

Alvaro Malmierca’s stunner proved the difference for Macarthur last time out, although they were pushed to the limit by a plucky Eagles attack late in the match.

Rams emerged from a mid-season lull in results a stronger side and are sprinting towards the final hurdle with plenty of momentum, having claimed three wins on the trot.

A switch in formation from 3-5-2 to a more conservative 4-3-3 has solidified their backline and Macarthur’s players have responded seamlessly to the system change.

The shift has done little to quell Rams’ attacking intent, though, and coach Claudio Canosa insists his side will continue to focus on surprising their opponents on the counter.

"It’s in the nature of our players, we’re always looking to attack," Canosa said. "We’re using a different formation but our aim is to attack.

"In football you have different ways to attack but it’s in the nature of our players and in the nature of Australian players. Very rarely you will find an Australian team that is conservative.

"We always try to attack, but when you don’t have the ball you need to work to get the ball back. We will attack from the first minute and probably Parramatta will do the same."

While golden boot winner Gerard Ouffoue is often seen as the danger man, Canosa relishes the luxury of calling upon a number of experienced players across the park to make an impact at any moment.

The likes of Shannon Hankin, Alvaro Malmierca and David McMurray have all continued to step up in the post-season and Canosa says it will be dangerous for either side to place too much emphasis on a single player.

"In finals, the small details make the difference," he added. "We’ve been a consistent club all year. Sometime’s the results were not as good but in general, the team was competitive. We want to be competitive to the end and we are prepared to play well and try to win the game.

"They are a good team. They finished in the position they did for a reason and they have good players all over the field. They have a good striker, good midfielders and good defenders, some players that have played in the top division. So we are really focused on all of the team.

"We will concentrate on the whole aspect of the game and I believe they will do the same. They know we have guys that can score goals but also good players in the middle and at the back."

Failure hasn’t been a word in Parramatta’s vocabulary this season. Premiership? Check. Club championship? Check. Throw in the accolades of coach of the year, goalkeeper of the year and the fair play award from last week’s National Premier Leagues gala dinner and it’s clear Melita will finish the season very happy campers.

But their success thus far doesn’t mean they have dropped their standards for the grand final. Having had a 17-game winning streak ended by Macarthur, there is plenty of motivation to ensure that sinking feeling isn’t replicated.

According to coach Franco Cosentino, the Eagles don’t need an excuse to get up for the match.

"The boys have got the will to win. At training they want to win, they’re competitive and it’s good to have," he said. "The boys want to win the double, even though we know the Premiership is most important because it means you’re the most consistent team throughout the year. They’re hungry to win and they didn’t take the loss too well the last time we lost to them."

Parramatta will again be without captain Patrick Gatt, but the void has been aptly filled by Josh Symons and Robert Tribbia, who have proved commendable in their two tests as centre-back partners.

The Eagles looked to have remedied their key issues as they outclassed a valiant Tigers side last weekend and the semi-final defeat to Macarthur provided somewhat of a bonus in identifying the key to victory this weekend.

"I don’t try and change the plan to match an opposition, but we know what they will try and do," Cosentino said. "It’s more the second ball that we have to be better at. When you’re playing those teams and it’s physical, if you’re not willing to pick up that second ball then it’s a major problem because both sides can get forward quickly."

Finals football is an uncompromising beast and demands nothing less than perfection. The margin between jubilance and dejection is agonisingly thin, with the past swept aside for a 90-minute tug-o-war. There can be only one winner. Sit back and enjoy.

KEY BATTLES

Chad Taylor (Macarthur) v Luke Turnbull (Parramatta)

Arguably the two best goalkeepers in the competition line up between the sticks. Both shot stoppers have proved immense this season and are yet to shirk a challenge in the finals series, with Taylor making crucial saves at the death against Parramatta to confirm Macarthur’s grand final spot and Turnbull turning in a dazzling display to keep Tigers at bay last weekend.

Craig Cooley (Macarthur) v Frank Martey (Parramatta)

Rams’ shift to a flat back four has handed Craig Cooley more defensive responsibilities. The skipper has become known for his marauding runs down the right flank, which have dismantled numerous defences this year. He will be handed the task of balancing that attacking flair with the duty of containing Parramatta winger Frank Martey, who has damaging pace and trickery.

Alvaro Malmierca (Macarthur) v Daniel Rezo (Parramatta)

These two are possibly the strongest creative sparks for their respective sides. Both have a similar knack of picking out a penetrating ball to the joy of their pacy attackers. Assists and goals have been in abundance for both Malmierca, who proved the winner in the semi-final, and Rezo, who finished the season with an impressive nine goals from midfield.

HEAD TO HEAD

Rd 5: Parramatta 2-4 Macarthur

Waratah Cup R16: Parramatta 3-0 Macarthur

Rd 16: Macarthur 0-1 Parramatta

Semi-final: Parramatta 1-2 Macarthur

RUN TO THE FINALS

Parramatta – 1st (regular season), def. by Macarthur 2-1 (semi-final), def. Northern Tigers 2-0 (preliminary final)

Macarthur – 3rd (regular season), def. Central Coast Mariners Academy 1-0 (qualifying final), def. Parramatta 2-1 (semi-final)

NSW SECOND TIER TITLES

Parramatta – 5 (’80, ’83, ’86, ’89 as Melita Eagles, ’97 as Parramatta Eagles)

Macarthur – 0

GRAND FINAL DAY FIXTURES  – SUNDAY 21/9/14 AT LILYS FOOTBALL CENTRE, SEVEN HILLS

Under 16’s – Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Central Coast Mariners Academy 9am

Under 18’s – Central Coast Mariners Academy v Sydney University 11am

Under 20’s – Northern Tigers v Spirit FC 1.30pm

First grade – Macarthur Rams v Parramatta FC 4pm

– By Mitchell Grima