Round 1 Finals Series Review – League Two Men’s
Week 1 of the League Two Men’s Finals Series lived up to the hype, with both games going to extra time and delivering plenty of drama.
Rydalmere overcame a two-goal halftime deficit to take the win over Central Coast United in extra time, as Macarthur Rams took down Canterbury Bankstown in a tense penalty shoot-out.
Elimination Semi Final
Canterbury Bankstown FC (2) 2-2 (4) Macarthur Rams FC
20’s: Bankstown United FC 2-1 Inter Lions FC
Macarthur secured its spot in Week 2 of the finals, after outlasting Canterbury Bankstown in a thrilling penalty-shootout.
After a slow start for both sides, the game blew open in the second half with four goals to send the game in extra time.
The fatigue began to play apart in extra time, forcing the sides to be separated by penalties where the Rams came out on top.
After a slight delay to kick-off, it was the Berries who found the upper-hand in opening period of the game.
The young-Rams side took their time to adjust to finals football but eventually found their feet and came closest to opening the scoring when Mark Symington picked out Jacob McDonald, with his shot narrowly going over the bar.
Canterbury Bankstown looked potent on the counter-attack, but as per usual the strong defensive efforts from Macarthur held them at bay.
Ahmad Ismail kept out a rampage of Rams attacks in the final minutes of the first half, highlighted by a world-class save from close range.
McDonald continued to make his presence felt in the aerial duels, coming within inches of an opener after a powerful cross from John Fahmi picked out the imposing defender.
After both sides enjoyed periods of dominance in the first half, they couldn’t be separated and entered the break at a deadlock.
In carbon-copy of the first half, it was the Berries who started off the better of the two sides in the second half.
Fresh off winning the golden boot, Bonmyeong Koo agonisingly saw his efforts from a corner smash back against the post in the opening stages of the second half.
The Berries wouldn’t have to wait much long for the opener as Cian McNamara found Justin Ivanovic from a corner, with the defender heading his effort home.
Macarthur answered back just minutes later as Michael Osei-Adomako took it upon himself and made a darting run into the box and picked out the bottom corner.
After two goals in as many minutes, the flow of the game slowed down, but the emotions began to flare in the later minutes.
Christian Torelli almost gave the Rams lead with a powerful curling effort that just swung past the frame of goal.
It was the Berries who once again found the lead through an unlikely source, as Ivanovic sensationally converted on a long range free-kick.
Ivanovic stepped up from an improbable distance and with both his teammates and the Rams expecting a cross, he powered his shot into the roof of the net.
The final 20 minutes of the game saw the Rams push everyone forward in pursuit of a goal, in order to save their season.
Macarthur were rewarded with 10 minutes to play as Fahmi whipped a ball into Michael Martin who made no mistakes from close range.
As the 90 minutes came to an end, it seemed inevitable that even an extra half an hour wouldn’t be enough to separate the sides.
Macarthur looked more promising in front of goals in extra time, but the heroics of Ismail ensured that the game would go to penalties.
The Berries were up first and it was the league’s top scorer, Koo who stepped up for the hosts and saw his shot saved by Steven Savicic
Ismail stood tall once again with a crucial save on the Rams second shot to put his side level.
After a courageous performance at the back, the Berries’ skipper Gino Cerasoli smashed his penalty against the bar and gave the Rams the chance to win the game.
Daniel Blachura stepped up for Macarthur and powerfully buried the final penalty to send the Rams into a finals match-up with Central Coast next week.
Macarthur coach, Brett Hewit admitted his side took their time getting into the game but was proud of the effort to come from behind twice.
“We showed a lack of maturity in the opening twenty minutes mainly because we are a young side, I think the occasion got to them,” he said.
“We settled into the game and showed we could play, I’m really proud that we responded twice and showed a lot of character, all credit to the Berries it’s a tough way to go out, for us now its onto next week.”
Canterbury Bankstown coach, Wally Savor was happy with his sides performance and noted the level of quality in the game.
“It was a great game for the spectators, both teams had a real crack at it, the only disappointment I have with the game is that we led twice,” he said.
“Apart from that I was very happy with the how the boys played and it took a penalty shoot-out for us to lose.”
Preliminary Semi Final
Central Coast United FC 2-3 Rydalmere Lions FC (AET)
20’s: Dulwich Hill FC 4-1 Dunbar Rovers
Rydalmere have put themselves within one game of a grand final appearance after a massive come from behind victory over Central Coast United.
Central Coast’s incredible ten-game unbeaten run looked to be heading to 11 after they went into the breaks up by two goals.
However, Rydalmere turned the tide in the second half, levelling the score before snatching the victory in extra time.
It was a trademark home start for the Pirates, as Cade Mapu broke away on a counter attack and opened the scoring in the 8th minute.
After flying out of the blocks to send themselves ahead, United continued to looking impressive in attack.
Rydalmere matched the intensity of their opponents as the first half progressed and were unlucky to have not been level going into break.
United took full advantage of one last break before halftime as Josh Swadling sensationally slammed his effort into the bottom to send the hosts up by two goals.
The Lions had an up-hill battle to salvage a result in the second half, but were given a lifeline as Daniel McFarlane was forced off at the break.
Ahmed Taleb opened the scoring for the visitors in the 54th minute after a brilliant solo run from Dillan Kahale setup the golden boot winner.
With the momentum firmly in the corner of the Lions, they looked at their best in the final period of the game.
Taleb and Kahale linked up once again, but this time it was a reversal of roles as Taleb played Kahale through as he knocked it past the keeper and found himself with an open net.
After a tense finish to the game, the deadlock couldn’t be broken and it was off to an extra half hour of play to determine who would face Inter next week.
Rydalmere looked dangerous from the opening kick of extra time and wasted little time to take their first lead of the game, as Jacob Chidiac neatly curled his effort into the back of the net.
The Lions could have had a couple more goals to their name in the final minutes if not for a world-class effort from Jack O’Mally between the sticks.
It was an outstanding comeback from Rydalmere who now move onto to a tough match-up with Inter Lions for a spot in the grand final.
Central Coast remain at home next week as they welcome Macarthur Rams in an elimination final.
By Football NSW Men’s League Two Writer, Dominic Criniti @DominicCriniti
