NWS Spirit FC book Waratah Cup Final tickets
NWS Spirit FC have continued their unbeaten run and booked their place in the 2022 Waratah Cup final for the first time in the club’s history with a 2-0 victory over Wollongong United FC at Christie Park on Tuesday night.
The League One outfit put an end to the fairytale run of Wollongong United with two goals that went unanswered by the Illawarra outfit in the clash.
Louis Bozanic took the lead for the hosts in the 29th minute and Musashi Kokubo sealed the deal for Spirit in the 87th minute to close out the match.
Wollongong United settled into the game well and gave the hosts a taste of what they’re capable of.
Klime Sekutkoski made a run down the left flank to let off a shot in the 22nd minute but NWS ‘keeper Christopher Marques managed to keep him out.
Although the visitors built pressure of Spirit early in the match, it was the hosts who would take the lead in the 29th minute.
A pacey counter attack gave them the opportunity as their forward line rushed forward into space.
Bozanic ran through the centre of the park and received the ball in a silky passing display and sent a shot past the Wollongong ‘keeper to open the scoring.
Despite both teams moving around the park well, the hosts carried a 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
Coming back onto the cold Christie Park, United were eager to get onto the scoreboard but a resolute North West Sydney Spirit held them out.
Referee Adrian Arndt awarded five yellow cards in the first half of the second stanza as the intensity of the game grew.
The hosts upped their intensity as the game played out and they seemed to take hold of the match in the second half, keeping United to minimal chances and creating a number of opportunities theseles.
Wollongong had a chance to equalise in the 73rd minute, however a cross in from Seiji Kawakami just missed Jeremy Flanagan in front of goal and their chance fizzled out.
Darkoh looked poised to score in the 78th minute as he let off a shot towards the target, but Madden managed a save to keep it out for a corner.
The resulting corner came curling in towards the goal for Spirit but Madden punched it out to keep a hungry home side from capitalising.
A ball from Spirit flashed across the face of goal in the 83rd minute as they came agonisingly close to extending their lead, but it couldn’t meet the target.
The hosts continued to create opportunities and it paid off for them in the 87th minute, when they scored their second to all-but-secure their win.
Johns made a forward run after winning back the ball and cut across to the centre of the park and it came off the back foot of Kokubo before going over the line and into the netting to take Spirit’s lead to two.
With no more to come from the game, the hosts celebrated their 2-0 victory at the final whistle.
North West Sydney will take on the winner of next Wednesday’s clash between Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Sydney United 58 in the Waratah Cup Final.
Match Stats
North West Sydney Spirit FC 2 (Bozanic 29’, Kokubo 87’)
Wollongong United FC 0
Tuesday, 28th June, 2022
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Referee: Adriant Arndt
Assistant Referees: Jake Rose & Matt Staples
