Round 2 Finals Series Review – League One Men’s
Week Two of the League One Men’s finals series had a little bit of everything over two absorbing contests played across the weekend.
In our Major Semi Final, St George City came back from being a goal down in injury time too book their spot in the Grand Final. While Northern Tigers continued their charge in overcoming Western Sydney Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park.
Central Coast Mariners FC 1 (Cresnar 90+2‘) v St George City 2 (Prajza 90+4‘, Saracino 117‘)
St George City booked the first spot in the FNSW League One Men’s grand final with a victory over Central Coast Mariners at Pluim Park.
After conceding first in second half injury time, City equalized with the last kick of the game through Jakub Prajza before Antonio Saracino scored the winner deep into extra time to make sure they’ll take their place in the decider.
For Central Coast Mariners, they looked like they had their winner in injury time through Jakub Cresnar, but it was ultimately defeat in Luke Wilkshire’s first game in charge. They face Northern Tigers next weekend.
Like the previous days semi final, both sides seemed to be content to sus each other out in the opening quarter hour, with only a few long range shots to speak of at either end.
The game then took a step up intensity wise after the 20th minute, with Dor Jok having a few efforts at one end, while his opposition counterpart Reuben Awaritefe notched up the visitors opening shot on target. However, neither tested either goalkeeper significantly.
With two of the leagues better defensives on show for the healthy crowd, the game was a tense affair with neither side able to crack the oppositions defensive code before the break.
After the half time refreshments, the game seemed to step up chance wise with Ben Duncan nearly catching out Mackenzie Syron with a cross-cum-shot from deep eight minutes into the half being the most notable moment early.
Indeed, the closer calls were happening for the Mariners attack, with Sasha Kuzevski whipping in a couple of dangerous balls and having a shot between the 65th and 70th minute.
While Nathan Roberts tried his luck on the counter at the other end, his effort sailing just over the top right corner. With Matthew Keremelevski following up soon after.
Finally the game had opened up with both sides finding space at either end, yet unable to find that final action in their efforts on goal.
Applying plenty of pressure late, the Mariners then had three really good chances in injury time, one of which gave them the goal. Harry McCarthy hitting the crossbar before Jakob Cresnar found the first of the game, Sasha Kuzevski putting the ball across which fell too Cresnar who finished with his left foot.
Don’t count the visitors out though, with City equalizing just over a minute later. The visitors throwing everyone forward with nothing to lose, which eventuated in a Tarik Ercan bicycle kick which was saved by Bulic into the path of Jakub Prajza who finished to send the game into injury time!
Into extra time, the game picked up where it left off, with Marko Bulic brave in his effort to deny City and Joshua Keremelevski the go ahead goal soon after the resumption. With Jordan Morfitis putting the follow up over the bar.
While Stefan Nikolic had the Mariners best chance in the extra time period, unable to put it past Syron after finding himself free of the defense.
Just as it looked like the game was going to penalties, St George City struck the final blow. Jordan Morfitis coming up clutch finding room outside his man on the right before taking it into the box and squaring it to Antonio Saracino who finished off from close range to give them the eventual winner.
With the victory, St George City advance to the Grand Final in two weeks’ time while Central Coast Mariners will play Northern Tigers next weekend for the chance of revenge.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 0 v Northern Tigers FC 5 (Adeli 36‘ 58‘ 66‘, Wiggin 69‘, Lloyd 88‘)
On the charge! Northern Tigers secured back to back victories for the first time since April in prevailing over Western Sydney Wanderers at Wanderers football park.
Scoring four second half goals, the visitors ran over the young Wanderers. Shervin Adeli put in an all-star performance with a hattrick before Ollie Wiggin and Lachlan Lloyd rounded out their victory.
For the Wanderers, it was the second week in a row they’ve lined up understrength and like last week, they struggled in the second half against a more experienced opponent.
Speaking of the Wanderers, they had their best moments in the early stages of either half, opening the game in terms of good chances in the 7th minutes with Jakov Malbasa just unable to control the ball before shooting at a narrow angle.
Northern Tigers though were to have the more joy in the opening half when it came to final third entries. And opportunities to Scott Browning, Kai Denton and Shervin Adeli all came in the opening half hour.
So it was perhaps a deserved goal for the visitors in the 36th minute. Alexander Brown playing the role of provider with a low cross into the near post which Wanderers keeper Jack Gibson couldn’t clean up under pressure from Kai Denton. Shervin Adeli with the finish from close range through a sea of legs.
Once again, the Wanderers started the better of the two sides in the second half with last week’s goal scorer Alex Denmead drawing a save after cutting it onto his left in the 48th minute.
Their best chance of the game came a couple of minutes later, Jakov Malbasa missing a chance from point blank range after a lovely run to the right byline by Luca Pecora who beat four defenders before squaring it to Malbasa.
However after weathering the early pressure, it was Northern Tigers who were to have the most joy from that point forward. Shervin Adeli grabbing his second just before the hour mark. A positive passing move resulting in Ally Brown getting into a crossing position who squared it to Adeli who finished expertly.
Tigers were in no mood to stop there making it three from the penalty spot eight minutes after that. Adeli stepping up to secure his hat-trick sending the keeper the wrong way in the process.
With the victory virtually secured, the Tigers then added a further two to add the exclamation mark to the performance. Ollie Wiggin grabbing the fourth curling his finish into the far corner with Adeli providing the assist.
Before Lachlan Lloyd scored the fifth with a couple of minutes remaining sneaking the ball into the far corner after Ally Brown cut it back to him.
Northern Tigers proceed to face Central Coast Mariners next weekend, while we bid farewell to Western Sydney Wanderers for 2022.
FNSW League One Men’s 20s results:
Major Semi Final: Central Coast Mariners FC 3-0 Northern Tigers FC
Minor Semi Final: Western Sydney Wanderers FC 3-2 NWS Spirit FC
By League One Men’s writer Justin Smith
