Finals Series Round 1 Preview – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s
2016 has delivered a brilliantly tight race for the premiership in the Playstation® 4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s 2016, and now the finals series is upon us to decide who will be crowned champions for 2016.
Week 1 of the finals brings us two fascinating contests that both promise to showcase interesting clashes of styles and tactics. Saturday’s Minor Semi Final sees the guile of Sutherland seek to overcome the force of Sydney Olympic, while on Sunday the Northern Tigers will try to pierce the obstinate lines of the Inter Lions to claim success in the Major Semi Final.
Minor Semi Final:
Sutherland Shire FA vs Sydney Olympic FC, 5pm Saturday August 27th at Valentine Sports Park NO.2
2016 results:
Round 1:
Sydney Olympic 2 – 1 Sutherland
Round 8:
Sutherland Shire 2 – 1 Sydney Olympic
Round 15:
Sydney Olympic 1 – 1 Sutherland Shire
Match Preview:
Sutherland haven’t been able to penetrate top defences as well as they would have liked this season. This has been fairly evident when they’ve come up against the other sides in the top 4 where they’ve only won 2 out of their 9 games. There is a positive here though, with only 2 losses coming in those same fixtures. But the lack of results show that they’ve been much more effective at restricting opposition chances through their own possession game than they have been at creating chances of their own.
It’s a worthwhile approach, but they’ll need to find ways through if they’re to win their next 3 games and become champions. There’s a rigidity and predictability to their play that can be stifling at times, and as we saw against Inter last weekend that refusal to shift the gameplan can cost them against a well marshalled opposition defence.
Contrast that with Olympic, who are all about setting a platform from which their forward line can then express themselves, and you have a fascinating clash of styles in this elimination final.
Power is something we’ve come to associate with Olympic and their way of playing. In Danielle Calvi they have a striker who can set up or score a goal from almost any situation, and with Kate Halaska proving prolific in front of goal this season, Calvi is doing les of the heavy lifting than last year. Add to that Madelaine Costanzo (4 goals in 7 matches) and Freya Hickey (4 in 7 for Olympic, plus 5 in 6 during her time at Inter this year), Olympic possess more options than most in the final third.
We know Sutherland will dominate the ball as they always do, but if they can’t make it count then Olympic will always be a danger. The longer this stays scoreless, the better things are set up for a Sydney Olympic sucker punch, and Sutherland haven’t been excellent at recovering from such blows in 2016.
Major Semi Final:
Inter Lions SC vs Northern Tigers FC, 5pm Sunday August 28th at Valentine Sports Park NO.3
2016 results:
Round 2:
Northern Tigers 1 – 1 Inter Lions
Round 9:
Inter Lions 1 – 1 Northern Tigers
Round 16:
Inter Lions 1 – 3 Northern Tigers
Match Preview:
Speed in transition is what has made the Tigers so dangerous in an attacking sense this season. While sharing some of the possession based DNA of rivals Sutherland, the Tigers have tailored a game style that is much more about vertical passing. The likes of Emma Watkins will receive the ball in midfield and immediately look to play forward, either with balls into the feet of Ellana Balicki or Eilidh Mackay, or a penetrating pass looking for a run in behind from their wingers.
Once they’ve won the ball back, they’re on the front foot before the opposition has time to reset their defence quicker than anyone else in the league. This style could be particularly effective against Inter this weekend after Bankstown exposed their weakness to the quick ball forward a couple of weeks ago.
The Tigers excel in tight areas as well, which will help them play through the pressure that Inter can apply in midfield. So from the Tigers perspective they have all the weapons to play their way to a grand final this weekend, it’s just a matter of performing to their maximum.
But you write off Inter at your peril, as they shown time and time again this season they’ve been able to get across the line despite not dominating the play of the match. They never go away, and are always in the contest even when chasing a game.
Inter seem to be at their best when things are tight, and are very difficult to overcome once they establish a lead, so an early goal here for Inter will make things tough indeed for the Tigers. In Sarah Mandile they have a powerful forward with a tireless work rate, always looking to hit the channels and bear down on goal. And she’s supported by skilful midfielders in Alisha Dudman and Maria Kalogeropoulos who constantly look for the killer pass to open up the opposition defence.
The premiers will look to start the game at a high intensity to try and push the Tigers off their game, and it will be up to the Tigers to keep their guard up during this period and then settle into their football.
Reserve Grade:
Minor Semi Final:
Bankstown City FC vs Sydney Olympic FC, 2.15pm Saturday August 27th at Valentine Sports Park NO.2
Major Semi Final:
Northern Tigers FC vs Nepean FC, 2.15pm Sunday August 28th at Valentine Sports Park NO.3
By Eamonn Warner, PS4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s Reporter
