Finals Series Round 2 Review – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Inter Lions will face the Northern Tigers in next weekend’s PlayStation® 4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s 2016 grand final after a hotly contested Preliminary Final win over Sydney Olympic.
By no means a dominant display form either side, but Inter were just too good when it mattered, and they now get the chance to seal the double if they can edge the Tigers next Sunday evening.
Preliminary Final:
Inter Lions SC vs Sydney Olympic FC, 5pm Sunday September 4th at Valentine Sports Park NO.3
Olympic got off to the perfect start when they took the lead after only 4 minutes. Danielle Calvi picked up the ball in the centre of the park, and with time to turn she was able to slide a brilliant through ball for the run of Madelaine Costanzo. Costanzo darted in between the fullbacks, took a touch on the edge of the 18 and angled her shot across Natasha Pentecost who could only watch as it just crept inside the post to make it 1-0 Olympic.
It was a rapid start from both sides, and it only took a couple of minutes for Inter to get back into the game. Kirilee Cook struck a flat free kick into the box from the halfway line, and it was met by a totally unmarked Erica Toscano on the penalty spot. With Amanda Seskin tracking the flight of the ball Toscano angled her header back across goal and it sneaked in at the far post. A very poor goal for Olympic to concede after taking the lead so early, but Inter always make you pay for the smallest of errors.
Inter were dealt a massive blow shortly afterwards with Pentecost injuring her knee and being taken from the field. She was late to come off her line to clear a through ball, and in the end needed to pirouette to avoid the onrushing Costanzo. She was just clipped by the striker, but the injury came from her awkward landing, where her weight looked to go through the side of her knee. She was down for 6 or 7 minutes before she was carried off and would take no further part in the match. Danyelle Pringle would replace her in goals, and would do a great job sweeping for the remainder of the match.
Olympic should have taken the lead again on 25 minutes. They slipped a quick free kick in behind for Costanzo, who chose to shoot from a difficult angle and thrashed the ball against the crossbar. The rebound fell kindly for Kate Halaska, but she couldn’t get it under control and they had nothing but a goal kick to show for the attack.
It was around this point that a lot of niggly fouls started to creep into the game. Olympic are much more physical than the other sides in this competition, and they use that to their advantage. Inter weren’t too happy with some of the close attention and started to give some of their own back in kind.
Olympic paid particularly close attention to Inter skipper Maria Kelogerpoulos, making sure they were right in her back when she received the ball so they could deny her the space to turn. The Lions skipper had one or two looks to the referee querying the tactics, especially after she was booked somewhat harshly towards the end of the first half.
The intensity lifted at the outset of the second half, with both sides knowing how crucial the next goal of the match would be. Olympic got themselves into trouble at the back while trying to play out, with Rhonda Succar unable to capitalise for Inter.
Both sides were working exceptionally hard in midfield trying to deny one another space, and as a result the second half was scrappier than the first for the most part. Remarkably both teams kept up the intensity right up until the 90th minute without a lot of signs of fatigue.
Any mistake could turn this contest, and Inter benefited from an error form the usually reliable Seskin. Kalogeropoulos did well to hold the ball on the wing before lofting a high ball into the box. Seskin tried to claim it, but misjudged it ever so slightly and she fumbled the ball as she hit the ground. Succar had the presence of mind to turn away from goal and tee up Leanne Sharp on the edge of the box, who was able to steer her finish through several Olympic defenders and just under the crossbar.
The premiers had the lead back and it was immediately clear they were prepared to hold back wave after wave to hold onto it.
For the second week in a row Kalogeropoulos went down injured, looking to be quite distressed. And for the second week in a row she hobbled off before returning seemingly unscathed. She’s a great leader for this team, and really exemplifies the spirit of the side as a whole by just refusing to give in while there’s still time left in the match.
Costanzo should have resorted parity with 12 to go after she was played in behind once more. Her pace saw her just nick the ball away from Cook, and bearing down on goal her final touch was far too heavy and she lunged towards the ‘keeper to try and poke the ball home. She was very lucky to escape a booking, and possibly a red.
Again things began to get heated between the two sides – and some supporters – as the clock ticked down.
In between the tackles, Cook was able to repeat her goal line heroics from a week ago. Pringle came rushing off her line but the ball was flicked towards goal before she could get across, and with two Olympic players waiting to nod the ball home Cook came flying across in cover to take the ball off the head of Costanzo and save a certain goal.
That proved to be enough for the premiers as moments later the referee blew full time. Inter now move onto a grand final with the Northern Tigers, as they look for revenge for the loss last weekend. Olympic will wonder just how they let this one slip, but they couldn’t put the Lions way – which will always come back to bite you.
Reserve Grade:
Preliminary Final:
Northern Tigers FC vs Sydney Olympic FC, 2.15pm Sunday September 4 th at Valentine Sports Park NO.3
The Tiger shave bounced back from their loss last weekend to claim a grand final spot with a 1-0 victory over Sydney Olympic. Saoirse Cobbe gave them a first half lead which they were able to hold onto despite a late rally from Olympic.
They now face Nepean FC next weekend to determine who will be crowned reserve grade champions for 2016.
By Eamonn Warner, PS4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s Reporter
