League One 2022 Grand Final Preview
It was written in the stars! After we were unable to separate them points wise on the premiership table and after a Semi Final which went deep into extra time, St George City and Central Coast Mariners meet once again in the League One Men’s Grand Final this weekend with a championship on the line.
In their three meetings this season, a game hasn’t been decided within 90 minutes with an injury time goal deciding the first, a goalless draw the second and a period of extra time in the third. So strap in as we take a look at how either side are coming into the big one.
Let’s start with the team who qualified first for the Grand Final in St George City. Undefeated since mid-June while also keeping it tight at the back, they come into the game as the form side. And that’s not to mention their positive record against this weekend’s opponents including in the semi-final just a fortnight ago.
Indeed that was the last time we saw them take the field, with City producing a memorable comeback with goals coming in both injury and extra time.
Their opposition Central Coast Mariners have taken the harder route (although they did have a week off earlier in the finals series). After their loss against St George City a fortnight ago which broke a seven-match unbeaten run, they produced a clinical performance against Northern Tigers last weekend in which they proved a class above.
Lachlan Bayliss and Sasha Kuzevski scored the goals, but it really was an all-round performance where no player put a foot wrong.
So let’s break a bit from tradition and take you through teams before the big one.
St George City have quality across the park and a big strength of theirs is their mentality. Mackenzie Syron is a mainstay in goals, Alexander Kyriacou has slotted in seamlessly in recent weeks replacing Brendan Hooper in centre back who picked up an injury. His joined by Nicholas Kalogerou who you could make a good case for being signing of the season. Troy Danaskos is ever-present on the left side of defense while Matthew Keremelevski has replaced an injured Stephen Athanaseris on the right.
Further up the park, Tarik Ercan is their fearless leader in defensive midfield. Jakub Prajza, Alex Malfara, and Paolo Mitry will play their respective roles in midfield. While Nathan Roberts and Reuben Awaritefe are both in form up front and they can challenge any defense.
That’s not to discount the influence of Jordan Morfitis, Damian German, Josh Keremelevski and Antonio Saracino who have all played their part in the season. (Hope that’s everyone, let me know Saturday if I missed you, haha).
Central Coast Mariners have plenty of experience in the big occasion with a potential eight of their players appearing in either the U20’s or first grade grand final back in 2020.
Harry McCarthy and Cameron Windust played in the first grade that day, while Sasha Kuzevski, Lachlan Bayliss, Joshua Hong, Dean Larson, Bradley Tapp and Ben Duncan all played in the 20’s (a side which also featured Reuben Awaritefe).
Elsewhere, Marko Bulic has quickly claimed the No.1 goalkeeper spot, Jakub Cresnar plays a pivotal role in the side, while Jackson Khoury, Dor Jok and Maksim Kasalovic provide the excitement. They also possess a strong bench with names like Nicholas Duarte and Jordan Segreto available to make a difference.
It’s enough to whet the appetite, isn’t it? And we only have to wait three days to the conclusion of the 2022 season which you can catch at Sydney United Sports Centre. Or via NPL.TV with Alex Molchanoff on the call for the big game (best we don’t tell you what happened the last time we covered a grand final).
Football NSW League One Men’s Grand Final
Saturday 3 September, 3pm, Sydney United Sports Centre
St George City v Central Coast Mariners FC
U20’s: Central Coast Mariners FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC, 12pm.
