Finals Series Round 2 Review – Men’s State League

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Then there were three, Saturday night saw a hive of activity out at Valentine Sports Park as we saw one side book a grand final spot whilst a surprise entrant to a grand final qualifier next week.

In the Minor Semi Final, South Coast Flame ran over the Western Condors whilst at the same time, Central Coast United overcame some demons and beat Fraser Park for the first time in the Major Semi.

Semi Final 1: Western Condors v South Coast Flame

One game away! South Coast Flame have continued their unlikely finals run in the State League Men’s competition in disposing of Western Condors in extra time.

After going behind courtesy of a penalty, Matthew Mazevski scored one of his own after Yuki Mandai was brought down inside the area. They then took advantage of extra fitness, scoring twice in extra time. Firstly, through debutant Jonathan Mushaba before Daniel Lucas made sure it was beyond doubt.

For the Western Condors, well it has to go down as a disappointment, going out in straight sets in a finals series which promised so much. They took the lead through a Christian Leiva Martinez penalty before conceding the next two goals. In trying to bring themselves back into the game in extra time, Gabriel Gomes then received his marching orders putting the game beyond doubt.

Condors were on top for much of the first half of the fixture with perhaps their best chance early on coming courtesy of Christian Leiva Martinez whose right footed effort hit the top right-hand corner of the goal frame.

The Flame had to readjust and created a chance of their own. Darren Jones whipped in an enticing ball from a free kick which was met by Andrew Christie who couldn’t direct it into the net, instead the ball going over the bar.

Gustavo Maya Valiente has proved a headache for opposition defenses in recent weeks, he then had three chances too give his side the advantage before the half time break. A free header from inside the six-yard box which flew over the bar, a shot from an acute angle going forcing a sharp save.

Before perhaps the best chance of the half, with Maya Valiente shooting from just outside the 18-yard box. The shot was parried away by the goalkeeper into the path of Martinez which forced Matthew White into an even better save to deny him.

New half, familiar pattern. But at least this time we didn’t have to wait for a goal. Condors left winger Jay Takahashi did well to isolate his man inside the box forcing his marker into a rash challenge. From the resulting penalty, Martinez stepped up and put it into the bottom right corner.

That lead didn’t last long though as the South Coast Flame soon won a penalty of their own when Yuki Mandai was brought down. Matthew Mazevski stepped up and converted the penalty into the bottom left, his shot just out of reach for the Condors shot stopper.

As the game went on, the Flames confidence continued to grow as they now looked the more likely to score. In saying that, there were a few nervy moments late on, involving a goal line clearance and another clear-cut opportunity for Maya Valiente as extra time loomed.

The go-ahead goal came at the other end through Jonathan Mushaba. The under 18’s player on debut was first to react when a Mazevski shot was saved, with the young striker tapping home sending the South Coast fans (including Godfrey with a drum) into raptures.

Things went from bad to worse for the Condors who then lost a player to a red card and they simply never recovered with a third South Coast Flame to come.

That goal came from Daniel Lucas who calmly finished off a swift counterattack shortly into the second half to send the Flame to a grand final qualifier next week. Who would of thought?

South Coast Flame coach Neil Mineef was once again delighted with his teams win, “Who said kids can’t win?”

“The boys have been working really hard and they deserve everything they are getting. It was a tough one tonight but I think our fitness got them in the end.”

Western Condors coach Barry Zambrano was understandably upset. “We’re devastated, but when you don’t take your many opportunities, it will come back to haunt you.”

“Overall, I’m proud of my boys. Midway through the season it didn’t look likely that we would make the finals whilst at the same time we definitely expected to be playing for a grand final spot a couple of weeks ago.”

Match Stats

Saturday 31 August 2019

Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood

Referee: R. Nattei

Assistant Referees: J. Adebaja & A. Weir

Western Condors: 1 (Martinez 48’)

South Coast Flame: 3 (Mazevski 57’, Mushaba 98’, Lucas 108’)

Western Condors: 1. Jake Jose Mendes, 2. Kizyala Kiemo, 3. David Moreira Muller, 4. Gabriel Gomes, 5. Revedacs Adonteng, 6. Alejandro Arregin, 7. Jay Takahashi, 8. Kaito Ikarimoto, 10. Cristian Leiva Martinez, 11. Joshua Obeng, 16. Gustavo Maya Valiente

Subs: 9. Chun Him Yau, 12. Mina Youssef, 13. Hikaru Takase, 14. Mario Garcia, 15. Rodrigo Ezequiel Medina.

Red card: Gomes

South Coast Flame: 1. Matthew White, 3. Darren Jones, 8. Andrew Christie, 9. Louis Connell, 10. Matthew Mazevski, 13. Alexander Boardman, 15. Jayden Smileski, 16. Julio Mushaba, 18. Yuki Mandai, 22. Toru Suzuki, 35. Wade Wilton.

Subs: 4. Daniel Lucas, 17. Jonathan Mushaba, 27. Ben Lucas, 32. Lachlan Morgan, 44. Deakin Southern.

Semi Final 2: Central Coast United v Fraser Park

Well, it didn’t take them very long to shake off any rust from not playing a fixture in three weeks. Yes, that’s right, Central Coast United have written a wrong from their season and beaten Fraser Park for the first time.

A spectacular? effort from Adam Woodbine got them started before the striker set up Jarred Steen to double their tally before the half. Daniel Mcfarlane then rounded off the victory with a goal later on which sends them through to a second grand final in a row and dreaming of a treble.

For Fraser Park, they now look towards a clash with South Coast Flame next week. They will be disappointed with the result having beaten Central Coast United in both their regular season fixtures.

It was Fraser Park, who provided the first couple of chances of the fixture through Luiz Lobo. And they both came in similar fashion with the flamboyant attacker cutting in off the left before a curling effort went over the bar.

The scoring was opened just before the half hour mark through Adam Woodbine. Woodbine collected a well weighted through ball from Daniel Mcfarlane, took it around the keeper before finishing from an impossible angle. On purpose? You decide…

In response to the goal, Fraser Park went about trying to get an equalizer but just couldn’t get a decent shot on target despite the creativity of their front five.

However, their worries were then compounded just before the half time break when once again that man Adam Woodbine broke down the left before beating his man in unique fashion before squaring it to Jarred Steen. Steen then finished off with little pressure put on him inside the box.

Once again, it was Fraser Park who created the first opportunity of the half through Christian Soares who took a snapshot from a narrow angle inside the area.

In fact, the second half was promising much with a couple of chances at either end. Alex Arbelo hitting a left foot volley over the bar before Luiz Lobo showed a bit of skill before firing over with his left this time.

But just as Fraser were beginning to show their intent and really test their opponents’ goal, their captain Christian Soares received his marching orders for a two footed challenge just after the hour mark.

And they were made to pay when just over ten minutes later, Daniel Mcfarlane capitalizing on a lot of space in front of him taking one touch then finishing low into the bottom right facing corner of the net.

That goal finished off another memorable day for Central Coast United. Having finished off premiers in all three grades, they now have booked a grand final in all three grades. Who would bet against them in a fortnight then?

Central Coast United coach Stu Davis was delighted, “Yeah we’re delighted with that. We had a point to prove having lost to them twice this season. We’ve played a lot better this season, but credit goes to them for making things difficult.”

On the performance of Adam Woodbine. “His been playing broken for a lot of the season, we’ve worked on getting him back to fitness during the double break and the first half was all about him.”

Fraser Park coach Renato Jelen was disappointed by his teams’ efforts. “We were confident coming into this one. We thought we had the advantage given their extended break. We started well but didn’t really connect after that. They capitalized well on a couple of our mistakes and now our focus must turn to next week.”

Match Stats

Saturday 31 August, 2019

Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood

Referee: J. Mcfarlane

Assistant Referees: J. Garcia & N. Djokovic

Central Coast United: 3 (Woodbine 29’, Steen 45’, Mcfarlane 78’)

Fraser Park: 0

Central Coast United: 1. Jack OMally, 2. Jack Ragen, 6. Oscar Torres Inchaustti (16. Nathan Cowell), 8. Scott Mcginley, 10. Alexander Arbelo (99. Thomas Lyons), 12. Graham Toope, 14. Geordie Howe, 20. Yuki Morikawa, 24. Daniel Mcfarlane, 30. Adam Woodbine, 31. Jarred Steen (7. Corey Atkinson).

Subs: 21. Tom Marsh, 73. Jakeb Brownlow.

Fraser Park: 1. Ian Johnson, 2. Talan Myers (5. Edilson Farias), 4. Alexis Wenzel, 7. Christian Soares, 8. Dominic Siu, 10. Luiz Lobo, 11. Shu Torihara (18. Kaito Tokumoto), 13. Rodrigo Cataldi, 14. Eric Tomesek, 15. Cam Philpot, 45. Matthew Nezval.

Subs: 17. Christian Mura, 33. Miles Beeston, 41. Thomas Alston.

Red Card: Soares

By Justin Smith (@smiththejustin)