Round 3 Finals Series Review – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
Rydalmere Lions confirmed their place in the season’s showpiece match, the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s Grand Final, by overcoming Sydney University in an absolute nail biter on Sunday afternoon in the Preliminary Final at Blacktown Football Park.
Following on from a scoreless first half, the match unfolded to then produce six goals, a red card, two regulation time penalties, a penalty in extra time that was saved, a penalty shootout, and even a substitute who was substituted himself just three minutes after entering the field, but not before he managed to score a goal! Intrigued? Let’s review what was an incredibly entertaining Preliminary Final.
Rydalmere Lions came in to this match on the back of a1-0 reverse against Hills Brumbies, and were keen to come out victorious so they could have another crack at the Premiers in the upcoming Grand Final. Sydney University qualified for the Preliminary Final on the back of two sudden death victories in the Finals Series so far, beating Stanmore Hawks and Dunbar Rovers, and were carrying a momentum of confidence that was going to be difficult to stop.
Both sides were missing influential ball winning midfielders – Rydalmere had Simon Zahra absent as a result of a hamstring strain from a midweek training session, whilst Daniel Mifsud sat this one out for Sydney University due to two accumulated cautions in the first two semi-finals.
An overcast sky and consistent rain fall greeted players and fans alike at Blacktown Football Park, with the slippery surface affecting the state of play from the opening whistle.
In all fairness, outside a couple of opportunities at either end of the half, Rydalmere Lions dominated the first forty-five minutes, holding the majority of possession with Sydney University struggling to get out of their half.
Having said that, it was Sydney Uni who should’ve taken the lead as early as the 3rd minute. A Syd Uni corner was cleared to the edge of the box, where centre back, Josh Karpes, let fly with a left footed grass cutter that was well parried by Rydalmere keeper, Harrick Sinpraseuth. The rebound fell to the feet of Sydney Uni’s Rosario Occhipinti, who scooped the ball over the stranded keeper, but alas, also over the cross bar by a matter of inches.
For the next half an hour the majority of the play was held between the half way line and the edge of the Sydney Uni penalty area, with the Lions roaming freely and controlling the leather.
Seijei Tarutani was the first to threaten, his snapshot on 7 minutes from a left wing cross deflected wide by Uni defender, Tommy Hyde. Amaury Gauthier then smacked a low shot in the 13th minute from 20 yards that fizzed inches past the upright.
Tarutani was at it again in the 16th minute, meeting a delicious far post cross by Ryunosuke Hayashi with a close range volley that was brilliantly blocked by Uni goal keeper, Oliver Gibson.
Rydalmere kept up the pressure, Zac Elrich curling an effort just over the bar from 20 yards in the 23rd minute, before Gauthier did likewise with a firmer strike in the 32nd minute.
Sydney University were backs to the wall, repelling everything that came their way, but were hurting themselves by turning over possession easily each time they managed to win the ball.
The ‘students’ did have a half chance on the counter attack in the 36th minute, with Scott Tonkin trying to lob Rydalmere keeper, Harrick Sinpraseuth, from a tight angle after latching on to a through ball by Jay Wynter, but the keeper back tracked and gobbled up the shot.
Rydalmere went close again in the 38th minute, firstly with a Zac Elrich shot that took a slight deflection on the way to a corner, and then with a Matthew Mayora header from that ensuing corner that bounced inches wide of the post.
The positive for Sydney University when hearing the half time whistle was that the scoreboard reflected 0-0, and that they would have their turn with the ball and hopefully make more of the opportunities than Rydalmere had. But credit the University backline who had been strong in their tireless display, with Hyde and Loke flanking the fierce tackling centre backs, Karpes and Kardasis, and their collective focus had helped keep the Lions at bay.
Kardasis, however, did have a couple of minutes after the break he’d prefer to forget, commencing with a foul on 50 minutes near the half way that earned him a yellow card. The ensuing free kick was played in to the feet of Amaury Gauthier, and as the striker took a touch inside the box, Kardasis clipped his heels to concede a penalty.
Amaury Gauthier stepped up to drill the ball low and hard past Oliver Gibson in the University goal, giving Rydalmere a deserved 1-0 lead.
Sydney University were level within a minute, however, winning a foul near the left hand corner flag. Johnny Gowdy swung over a peach of a free kick, the ball swerving and dipping over a cluster of heads to nestle inside the far post, and it was game on.
The Rydalmere fans were crying for Lloyd Owusu, and coach Tony Basha obliged in the 69th minute. The Rydalmere co-captain had been on the field less than a couple of minutes when he managed to wrestle past a Sydney Uni defender just inside the penalty area, before showing composure as he stroked the ball past Uni goal keeper, Oliver Gibson, sending the Rydalmere contingent crazy. Unfortunately, Owusu damaged his hip flexor in the process, and was substituted a minute later, concluding an unorthodox but valuable three-minute cameo.
But Sydney University refused to lie down, and they restored parity once again, this time on 78 minutes. A through ball towards the corner flag was met at speed by the diminutive Domenic Di Mento, and he showed all his experience by tucking inside a defender with his first touch of the ball. Even though Rydalmere left back, Luiz Dorretto, avoided clipping Di Mento, Matthew Mayora couldn’t resist, and the referee, Kris Griffith-Jones, pointed to the spot.
Scott Tonkin took on the responsibility for Sydney University, and he drilled his penalty low and hard to make it 2-2 with just over ten minutes remaining.
The match continued it’s see-sawing flow just three minutes later, when Rydalmere’s Amaury Gauthier seized upon a superb Tarutani through ball, rounding Uni goal keeper Gibson before slotting home to give the Lions a 3-2 lead with just 9 minutes remaining.
Scott Tonkin responded with a fierce effort from 20 yards that absolutely stung the hands of Rydalmere’s keeper, Sinpraseuth, but not to be denied, Tonkin was then instrumental in what would prove a last minute equaliser, coming in fact, two minutes into injury time.
Receiving the ball a few yards outside the box with his back to goal, Tonkin took control before lifting the ball in to the path of team mate, Jay Wynter, who did likewise, moving the ball to the left out to Will Donato, just inside the Rydalmere penalty area. Everything around him seemed to stop as Donato took a touch before firing a brilliant left foot volley into the side netting inside the far post, sending the Sydney University players and fans in to delirium, and the match in to extra time.
45 seconds in to the first period of extra time and Rydalmere had their second penalty of the game, the referee deeming to have judged a handball offence inside the box. Amaury Gauthier once again stepped up to the mark, but this time, his low shot to the right was brilliantly saved by Sydney Uni keeper, Oliver Gibson, with an expert dive to his left.
Will Donato then almost got his second goal of the match, but his 94th minute header was cleared off the line.
Rydalmere’s substitute, Yoel Silvestre, then went close on 98 minutes, heading inches over the bar from Shane Webb’s free kick.
As the legs became a little weary, Shane Webb committed a second foul in the opening minute of the second half of extra time to earn himself an early shower, and it was in fact Sydney University who mustered up the best two chances thereafter, almost snatching victory at the death.
In the 112th minute, Gavin Wenyon produced an incredible cross from the corner flag that caught everyone by surprise, least of all Scott Tonkin who threw himself at the ball as it skidded across the face of the Rydalmere goal.
But Sydney Uni went even closer with literally the last kick of the match. Adrian Porcu, who had been introduced to great effect with about twenty minutes remaining, squirmed his way forward before curling a superb cross behind the Rydalmere defence. Domenic Di Mento timed his run in to the box to perfection, side footing his shot first time against the base of the upright, the ball bouncing away to safety for the Rydalmere faithful.
3-3 at the end of extra time, but we had to have a winner, so it was off the dreaded penalty shootout.
Sydney University went first, and Scott Tonkin capped off a fantastic match and season by scoring his second spot kick of the game, shooting high in to the corner, whilst Seijei Tarutani did likewise for Rydalmere, so it was 1-1.
Uni’s Adrian Porcu then hit his penalty low to the keeper’s left, but Harrick Sinpraseuth dived full length to divert it around the post. Rydalmere substitute, Mortaza Safdari, made it 2-1 to Rydalmere hitting his kick low to the keeper’s right.
Peter Kardasis scored his penalty for Sydney Uni to make it 2-2, but Amaury Gauthier edged Rydalmere back in front by striking his penalty straight down the middle – his third penalty of the match, in fact.
Sydney Uni’s Josh Karpes hit his penalty high to make it 3-3, but Farres Aoun made it 4-3 to Rydalmere with a firm shot high in to the net.
Jay Wynter stepped up next for Sydney University, and his spot kick was saved by Harrick Sinpraseuth, sending the Rydalmere players in to a frenzy. Referee, Kris Griffith-Jones, judged Sinpraseuth to have moved forward before the kick was effected, and requested a re-take. The keeper was not to be denied, and he parried Wynter’s second effort to send Rydalmere Lions in to the Grand Final.
It was a heart stopping way to finish the Preliminary Final, but Sydney University have much to be happy with during a superb 2016 season. Losing so many players once they dropped from the NPL2 last season, Sydney University recruited ever so well so make the finals, and won the first two before losing this Preliminary Final, and that only after a penalty shootout.
Best on the day for Sydney Uni included central defender, Josh Karpes, who defended stoutly, especially during a first half where the ‘students’ could barely get out of their half. Karpes kept barking instructions whilst effecting many tackles himself, and even stepped up to convert a penalty in the shootout. Gavin Wenyon worked tirelessly across the midfield, whilst Adrian Porcu – one of only two players who remained from last year’s squad – was very effective once he was introduced in the 71st minute, showing composure on the ball and some tenacity in the tackle.
Rydalmere Lions could’ve been forgiven if they had thrown their hands up at half time, with nothing to show on the scoreboard given the amount of possession they had. But the Lions kept at it, and edged in front three times, no less, before prevailing in a shootout to book their place next week against Hills Brumbies in the season decider.
Amaury Gauthier and Zac Elrich looked dangerous every time they touched the ball, weaving in and out of defenders as they tried to open up the University defence, quick to show themselves to their team mates, and involved in most of Rydalmere’s attacks, whilst Matthew Mayora was a tower of strength in the backline.
Match Stats
RYDALMERE LIONS 3 (Gauthier 51’ pen / 81’, Owusu 71’)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 3 (Gowdy 52’, Tonkin 78’ pen, Donato 90’ + 2’)
Referee – Kris Griffith-Jones
Assistant Referees – John Garcia and Sebastien Brennan
Rydalmere Lions won 4-3 in a penalty shootout
RYDALMERE LIONS; 1.H.Sinpraseuth, 23.F.Aoun, 21.L.Dorretto, 7.Z.Elrich (37.M.Safdari 121’), 24.A.Gauthier, 11.R.Hayashi (9.L.Owusu 69’, 17.Y.Silvestre 72’), 2.D.Kim, 15.M.Mayora, 6.Y.Samba, 16.S.Tarutani, 8.S.Webb(capt).
Substitutes Not Used – 14.M.Akca, 3.K.Allybokus.
Yellow Cards – 8.S.Webb 30’ / 106’
Red Cards – 8.S.Webb 106’
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY SFC; 41.O.Gibson, 18.D.Di Mento, 14.J.Gowdy (11.W.Donato 86’), 2.T.Hyde(capt), 13.P.Kardasis, 5.J.Karpes, 17.J.Loke, 10.R.Occhipinti (16.A.Porcu 71’), 9.S.Tonkin, 4.J.Wynter, 21.G.Wenyon.
Substitutes Not Used – 24.V.Broehl, 8.J.Cook, 22.R.Chery.
Yellow Cards – 10.R.Occhipinti 27’, 13.P.Kardasis 50’, 4.J.Wynter 54’.
Red Cards – Nil
