Macarthur Rams crowned 2022 League Two Champions
Macarthur Rams have pulled off an improbable late comeback to secure victory in the League Two Grand Final against Inter Lions at Sydney United Sports Centre on Saturday night.
Although it was a cold night, the two sides brought the heat in a thrilling encounter that went until the final seconds.
Inter’s classy first half display was rewarded with an opening goal Patrick Scibilio, but it was the Rams who stole the show in the second half.
Christian Torrelli levelled the game in the 81st minute, before Anthony Vastag won the game for Macarthur in the fifth minute of injury time.
Macarthur started off on the front-foot, forcing Inter into some uncharacteristic errors passing out from the back, contrary to their previous starts this finals series.
After the slow start Inter find their way back into control and start to show flashes in attack.
The first real chance of the game fell to Inter as Giuseppe Tilio picked out Ollie Green from a free-kick, but his header narrowly went over the bar.
After a physical opening to the game, Inter opened the scoring in the 21st minute as Owen found space down the right a sent ball into Scibilio, who smashed his effort home from close range.
The Rams tried to answer back after a dangerous cross Giovanni Panuccio curled into the area and took a giant leap from Anthony Costa to defuse.
The Lions continued to look dangerous in attack and were almost rewarded with a second goal when Scibilio chipped a ball into Green, with his chance hit the wrong side of the net.
Inter were somehow denied of a second after Duke was sent through one-on-one and after knocking it past Savicic the ball look destined to roll in, until Banchura pulled off a late lunge to knock the ball away on the goal line.
Although Macarthur came alive in the final stages of the first half, it was the Lions who held all the confidence heading into the break up by a goal.
Macarthur flicked the switch to start the second half, putting Inter on the backfoot immediately from kick off.
Christian Torrelli found himself with the first chance of the second half after Vastag won the ball deep into the Lion’s half and sent Torrelli through on goal, with his powerful shot going over the bar.
As he has done throughout the season Savicic came up with a massive save, this time getting down low to deny Duke early in the second half.
Savicic was the hero once again, as Scibilio played Duke through on goal, with an open sight at goal he was brought down by Jacob McDonald but still managed to get up and get a shot off, forcing a brilliant save out of the Rams’ keeper.
Duke was denied by Savicic just moments later after a powerful shot bounced off the keeper’s arm and back into his path but he was denied of a shot by McDonald.
With the game heading towards a likely Inter victory, Brett Hewit looked to his bench brought on Mark Symington for what would he his last ever game.
Symington made an instant impact, getting on the back of a mis-judged back pass from Alex Becerra and getting a shot past Costa that bounced back off the post, but into the path of Torrelli who slammed his effort home from metres out.
With the Rams levelling the game it set the fans up for a thrilling finish in the League Two Grand Final.
With the momentum firmly in their corner, the Rams came agonisingly close to a quickfire second goal as Torrelli picked out an open Symington in the box, but he sliced his volley wide.
In the final minute of regulation Daniel Georgievski stepped up on a free-kick for Inter and with his effort looking bound for the top corner, somehow Savicic got his fingertips to it.
With the fourth official lifting his board for injury time, Torrelli broke through with an amazing solo run and had a two-on-one chance but took the shot himself and was denied by a stellar save from Costa.
In one of the most amazing finishes in grand final history, the Rams sensationally took the lead in the fifth minute of stoppage time after a moment of brilliance from Vastag. After the striker won the ball back he was sent through on goal by Torrelli, where he neatly placed it in the bottom corner to win the game for Macarthur.
After the bench cleared out in celebration the Rams held on for the win and one of the most memorable championship wins in recent memory.
For his valiant efforts, Savicic was awarded with the man of the match in the grand final, slightly edging out his teammate Daniel Blachura for the award.
Rams coach Brett Hewit was proud of his side’s comeback and their performance this season.
“Five wins in a row, to play the round of the competition knowing we had to win and rely on results, every week has been a final for us, even being down 1-0 at halftime it could of bee two,” he said.
“We didn’t really play that well in the first half, but in the second half we came out and showed, one of my comments at halftime was if we’re gonna lose, we’re gonna lose the way we play.
“Credit to Inter they were minor premiers and had an amazing season, but I just can’t be prouder of my team, young boys getting done, now we’re off a for a little break.”
Match Stats
Inter Lions FC 1 (Scibilio 21’)
Macarthur Rams FC 2 (Torrelli 82’, Vastag 90
+4’)
Saturday 3rd September 2022
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Inter Lions FC : 21. Anthony Costa, 2. Liam Flack, 4. Alex Becerra, 5. Ben Morrison (20. Daniel Georgievski 59’), 6. Evan Patramanis, 8. Patirck Scibilio, 9. Ollie Green, 12. Sam Armson (14. Lawrence Hanna 90’), 15. Owen Duke, 16. Ellis Bellos, 19. Giuseppe Tilio
Substitutes not used: 1. Daniel Axford, 7. Nathan Rayner, 11. Fikret Berisha, 25. Daniel Lister.
Yellow Cards: Armson 58’, Patramanis 58’, Becerra 66’
Red Card: nil
Macarthur Rams FC: 1. Steven Savicic, 2. Michael Martin, 4. Jacob McDonald, 7. Mitchell Brooker (42. Amir Ajaj 68’), 10. John Fahmi (8. Sebastian Pena 77’), 13. Kye Soares, 15. Christian Torrelli, 18. Giovanni Panuccio (14. Mark Symington 45’), 20. Anthony Vastag, 21. Zubayd Allie (3. Nikola Pintur 45’), 22. Daniel Blanchura
Substitutes not used: 19. Brendan Berkeley, 47. Bailey Miles
Yellow Cards: Panuccio 17’
Red Card: nil
By Football NSW Men’s League Two Writer, Dominic Criniti @DominicCriniti
