Socceroos: Colombia vs, vs France,
Japan vs (Asia/Oceania Challenge)
Young Socceroos: East Asia Games
Matildas: Australia Cup
Clubs: NSL Grand Final
Socceroos
28 February 2001: Aussies Fair Poorly Against
Colombia
In Bogota, an Australian team of mainly local players, wearing a shocking
new strip, and wearing black armbands seeming in respect to legendary cricketer Don
Bradman who passed away earlier this week, were soundly beaten 3-2 by a Colombian team
short on their best players that utilised the local conditions to the fullest. The
altitude, narrow pitch and heavy locally made ball, saw them totally dominate the game in
terms of possession and shots on goal. In fact, other than a break down the left by
Chipperfield from the kick off and a resulting corner, Australia had no influence in
attack, save for a couple of free kicks, for the rest of the half. In contrast,
Colombia had a dozen shots on goal, ran the Australians ragged, and exploited the abundant
errors. Michael Petkovic constantly made saves, mostly medium range shots, and the
defence had to deal with the many crosses, especially from the (Colombian) right.
It was this right side that Colombia exploited when Laybutt turned in his worst performance in the green and gold. Maybe it was the altitude, but his lack of fitness and speed was a liability that saw the first the goal go in, and almost a second. While the midfield can be directly blamed for giving the ball away for the counter attack, and then the defence for not clearing the ball after the initial shot was blocked, Laybutt's inability to keep up with the supporting wide player saw this player receive a pass unmarked and to cross the ball for an easy header by Serna just after 10 minutes. Not long later, a turnover in the defensive third saw Colombia play a quick pass into the box for an unmarked Colombian, with again Laybutt trailing badly, to shoot at close range. Thankfully the shot was saved well.
Coach Farina made several changes at the half time break with the speedy Di Amicis, and eventually Colosimo, come on in defence and Archie Thompson up front. Thompson made his presence felt immediately with a nice run towards the box. However, Colombia were able to curtail any significant advances, mostly helped by wayward Australian passes that were constantly over-hit. Farina mentioned the ball was heavier than normal, and combined with the altitude, it did seem to get away. Indeed, Colombia's penchant to shoot at range, hoping to catch Petkovic out, seemed to vindicate this. Makes you wonder if this sort of local customisation of equipment is allowed come World Cup time.
Anyway, Australia had more possession and more influence on the game but were quickly rebutted by two Colombian goals, both to Australian errors. The first came at the 67th minute after a series of short passes saw a dink over the Australian defensive line fall fortuitously for Colombia after an Australian clearance was executed with the competence of, lets say, the 2000 Olyroos? Horvat and Blatsis were in the mix, got in each other's way, and their stuff-up saw a resultant one-on-one. Salazar blasting passed Petkovic easily. The second - a free kick at the 76th minute - was chipped over the wall and the GK after Petkovic was hopelessly out of position in straying too far from his line. Grisales' loafing run-up suggested a dink, and Petkovic's failure to recognise this showed a sign of inexperience that we can certainly do without. Game, set and match.
Before the game, Farina publicly stated that the result was almost immaterial and that the excursion was more about a learning experience and extracting the positives for that final qualifier come November. So were there any? Well, detailing how Australia were comprehensively beaten, suppose most are wondering about that final score of 3-2. Well, a few minutes after the third Colombian goal, the brisk Thompson and Chipperfield combined on a fast break after a Colombian turnover to yield Chipperfield one of the softest penalties ever when he ran into the back of a defender. Corica duly converted with class. The second goal, in the dieing minutes of the game, saw the ever-running Chipperfield charge-down a back-pass that the GK immediately gave away to Chipperfield for an easy goal. If only they were that easy come qualifying time. It is this sort of luck that Australia has missed over the decades come final qualifying and hopefully some more will arrive in November. While the goals were soft, they again highlighted the speed factor that the Australian team must harness. The days of sluggish midfielders playing short pansy passes are gone. Easy possessions must be turned into quick balls to players already running forward at speed, or taken forward themselves.
In defence, again, all Colombia's goals were based around Australian mistakes of 2000 Olyroos proportions. Other than those, their desire to try and walk through the middle of the defence rarely created any trouble. You'd think, with these tactics, and against a cohesive Australian team, they would find it difficult to score, even with all their best players in. A 3-2 result would be not to bad in a two-legged playoff. While many would take that result if offered before the match, I would not. Given the appalling home form over the decades, nothing short of a 2-0 win would give me any sort of confidence going into a home leg.
Off the field, troubles with connecting flights should not be factor given that we'd expect to have the team for a longer lead-in time. Also, the hotels, training facilities and pitch, proved a pleasant surprise for the coaching staff. Of course, that could all change coming crunch time. Altitude is a worry, though, so are the balls. It is an area that Australia should at least petition in order to create a level playing field in such a crucial playoff. There is no advantage for us playing at sea level, so they should not be allowed to have their advantage playing at altitude. There was talk of Fifa imposing an altitude limit, but I think only Bolivia was the only South American team to have concerns. The balls, however, should be uniform, and at the very least, that should be addressed. Remember, Iran were successful in annulling suspensions for two of their players, including goal scorer Azizi, in that first match, so Australia must try to get any advantage they can.
Colombia 3 (Jorge Serna 11', Nestor
Salazar 66', Freddy Grisales 74')
Australia 2 (Steve Corica 76' pen, Scott Chipperfield 89') Venue: El
Campin Stadium, Bogota.
Australia: Michael Petkovic (gk); Stephen
Laybutt (Fausto De Amicis 46'), Con Blatsis, Steve Horvat (Angelo Costanzo 74'), Luke
Casserly (Simon Colosimo 46'), Scott Chipperfield, Kasey Wehrman (Archie Thompson 46'),
Aurelio Vidmar (capt), Jacob Burns, Steve Corica, John Aloisi (Scott Miller 69').
Colombia: Farid Mondragon (gk); Gonzalo Martinez (Ivan Lopez 46'), Andres
Orozco, Alex Fernandez, Roberto Carlos Cortes, Freddy Grisales, Hernando Patiņo (Andres
Perez 56'), Alex Viveros, Oscar Restrepo (Arnulfo Valentierra 41'), Nestor Salazar (Carlos
Castro 74'), Jorge Serna (Elson Becerra 46')
11 November 2001: Magnifique At The MCG As
France Hold Australia
Australia and France played at a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the
MCG in wet, wintry conditions. Despite pre-ticket sales of 75,000, only 53,000
turned up to what was the greatest display of football talent ever seen in this country.
Not since 1993 has our best taken on their (a world class international team's)
best, when Argentina played a World Cup qualifier in Sydney. And not since 1988 when
the Bi-Centennial Gold Cup was played have Melbourne fans seen such a similar contest.
Before the game, France promised to impose their football on the game, and for the first 25 minutes, they did exactly that. Australia rarely saw the ball, but for all France's possession, a handful of set pieces and only one meaningful chance was grafted as Australia's defence shut them out. That chance fell, when after 10 minutes, Zidane intercepted an Australian throw-in and put Trezeguet through. However, from an moderate angle, Trezeguet's shot was parried by Schwarzer, the cleared.
Kewell proved menacing for Australia with several nice runs, but his most telling was when he set up the first clear-cut chance of the game after 35 minutes. After taking the ball from near the half way mark, he skipped past three players with brilliant acceleration and put Emerton - who'd made a glorious diagonal run from the right - through for a clear shot on goal. Unfortunately, and it seemed he was shooting on his wrong (left) foot, he blasted the ball straight and high as France's goal-keeper Barthez got finger tips to it. Australia now won a succession of corners, and on 43 minutes, Lazaridi's corner - who up until this stage had delivered horrible low ones that were easily cut out - got one high enough for Vidmar to nod on at the near post which was then headed into the net at point-blank range by Moore. Then almost from the kick off, Lazaridis intercepted a French ball, crossed the ball far-post for Kewell to launch a blistering shot on the volley. It just went wide. No doubt the French were seething at going into the break a goal down, especially after all the possession they had. But truth is, Australia came back well into the game in the latter stages of the half, had as many shots on goal, almost as many corners, and created the more dangerous chances.
The lead did not last long as just 3 minutes into the half, some nice interplay involving Pires, Dugarry, then back to Pires near the by-line, who then crossed low straight to Trezeguet, saw France equalise with a sequence of short passes that they had been threatening to do for much of the first half. There were calls of off-side, but Muscat had just played Pires on. It's also wise to remember that Fifa's laws actually state that offsides must be clearly seen, or the attacking team is to get the benefit of the doubt. Referees rarely heed this law and get it right, but on this occasional, as well as for most of the match, they did.
Anyway, normally a quick goal like this is about the worst thing that can happen to a team, but in the context of World Cup preparation, it was the best thing, as it would really test the mettle and resolution of the Australian team. And as the match progressed, they came through with flying colours. In fact, it was Australia, playing a fast breaking counter attacking game rarely seen from an Australian team, that continued to create the better chances. Viduka got through on the break after receiving a ball from Skoko only for his no-look cross to just fall behind the free Kewell. Then just minutes later, Kewell repaid the favour, however, Viduka's marker managed to block his attempted shot into the unguarded net. In some real end-to-end stuff, Wiltord and Zidane played a nifty one-two, only for Wiltord to be caught offside. Then Australia rebounded when Lazaridis played a corner out wide for Skoko to drive a low shot into the box. It bobbled about as Moore nearly onto the end of it. At the other end, substitute Carriere broke through but had his shot saved, while Viera continued to bomb from range. The final blow in this magnificent contest came deep in injury time when a goal kick bounced off Karembeu straight into the path of Aloisi who was in the clear and about to shoot one-on-one. However, France's Silvestre barged Aloisi over, to which the Australian referee simply waved play-on.
An undeniable penalty, and one that would have given Australia a chance to gain a deserved victory. While most pundits - and even coach Farina - thought the draw was deserved, especially on the balance of possession, but in terms of good chances created, Australia were the more deserved. It's a pity that a local referee had to be officiating as they are notorious for unfavourable refereeing towards the local team for fear of being labelled biased. However, having a local referee may have actually helped during an unsavoury incident midway through the second half when Muscat harshly tackled Dugarry that saw him stretched from the field with a knee injury. Muscat received a yellow, when it quite easily have been a red, which under Fifa's silly rules that sees situations in irrelevant friendlies affect World Cup qualifiers, Muscat would have been banned for 3 matches. Referee Micaleff may have realised this, hence the leniency.
French TV reported Dugarry being out of action for at least 2 months, but stopped short at condemning the trip, or even labelling Australia or the match as brutal. A player can pick up an injury anywhere, in fact, even in Paris. Also, Australia were on the end of just as many rough tackles, especially on Kewell, and Viduka, who were quite often double-teamed. Muscat and Pires were going at each other for most of the match, with reports from the Australians that Pires even spat at Muscat (which he did during the earlier scuffle when Muscat grabbed Pires's throat), not only here, but at the Confederations Cup in June. It was always bound to boil-over.
Kewell played just off Viduka and clearly had a free-range to run. He made runs left and right, and dropped deep, just as expected. When Muscat was substituted with Aloisi after the fracas, this saw Lazaridis drop back to left back, Vidmar switch to right, and for Kewell to assume Lazaridis's - and his Leeds - role at left midfield as Aloisi played up front with Viduka. The big debate of where to play Kewell went unanswered - he played well in both positions. Off-striker, he set up Emerton and made a few other incisive runs that set up crosses and set pieces. On the left, he seemed even more dangerous, especially with the extra room allowed. However, what must be taken into context is that he had it easier in that he was facing Karembeu, whom he had the measure of, with occasionally LeBeouf as cover, yet off-striker, he was often double and even triple teamed. The jury is still out on which is best, but if one thing can be gleaned, he's just as effective in both spots which gives the team greater flexibility which is an ever greater bonus. It's also good that Vidmar can play either left or right back, meaning Lazaridis can assume left back when Kewell, or even Tiatto, fill the left midfield role.
The result was never important, it was all about preparation, and it seems that Australia really does have most things covered. To keep France to just one goal - who pride themselves on scoring goals - suggests that curtailing any South American opposition won't be too difficult. France's coach Roger Lemerre concurs in saying Australia deservers to qualify, is well-organised, strong-willed and strong motivated. Whether that's sincerity or diplomacy speaking, we don't quite know, but on face value, all his comments are at least correct. Of the players, Viduka had an off night, though, his ability to draw two markers allowing midfielders to burst through should not be under estimated. Skoko and Okon did what had to be done, though, Lazaridis seems to be getting more tentative in taking on players as time goes on. When he cuts inside he looks lost at sea, so maybe should stick to his speed edge at skipping past the outside of defenders. Australia again must be wary of slopping passes and conceding possession in their own third, which happened way to often. The conditions probably had most to do with that as even France messed up a few times.
Finally, France. What an amazing team. How many times did the thoughts of "oh shit" enter our minds as they grabbed the ball and burst forward? Despite the score-line, they still seemed a class above and seemingly had players everywhere. The amount of space they garnered out wide, Australia rarely achieved. They spread out - and quickly - and promptly got the ball cross-pitch to players in space. Then, the played intricate one-twos and delayed little nifty through-balls to seemingly an endless supply of players in support. And there's so much movement that it is amazing any defence can keep track of them. On one instance, Viera made a 50-metre diagonal cross field run towards the corner flag as Pires played a straight ball through. As for Zidane, it is stunning that people that had the opportunity to watch him live, did not do so. Strength, and effortless ability, on the ball, was amazing. So too his shimmies and jigs. It must have been half a dozen times that the entire stadium thought he was about to pass, yet just kept the ball and glided past his marker. It was though he just dispossessed himself! He, like his team, were the greatest, and ours was not that far behind. In two weeks time, that may change, for the better.
Australia 1: Mark Schwarzer; Kevin Muscat (John Aloisi, 58), Craig Moore, Tony Vidmar, Shaun Murphy; Brett Emerton, Paul Okon, Josip Skoko (Marco Bresciano, 73), Stan Lazaridis; Harry Kewell, Mark VidukaRef adds insult to injury for France By Ivan Speck in Melbourne
REPORT FROM SOCCERNET.COM
Original Link: http://www.soccernet.com/global/news/2001/0904/20011112ausfrareport.html
Managers of Premiership clubs were worried about the effect two 23-hour flights would have on their France players travelling to Melbourne, but jet-lag was nothing compared to the treatment they received from Australia's team.
Having flown halfway around the world for the controversial friendly, which finished 1-1, the World and European champions were given a hostile welcome by, among others, a defender from Wolverhampton. Striker Christophe Dugarry was the victim of a tackle of such savagery by Kevin Muscat that the Wolves full back should have been sent off. Dugarry, who will be out for two months with the resulting knee injury, said: 'When you spend 46 hours flying here and back, you are due a minimum of respect.
'When someone makes a tackle like that, I can't imagine what must be going through his head. He went into that tackle to hurt me, really hurt me. I'm lucky it's not more serious.
'We came here to provide a match for Australia, to give pleasure to the fans. We didn't come here to be thrown around like rags. We're not World champions to be made firewood of.'
The real insult, though, was delivered by Australian referee Simon Micallef, who administered a meaningless yellow card to Muscat for the appalling 55th-minute challenge from behind. David Trezeguet, Dugarry's partner in attack, said: 'To my mind it was a red card offence. The referee told us that if he sent the player off, he wouldn't be able to play in Australia's World Cup qualifiers.
'That's nonsense. We came all this way; it took us 23 hours to get here and when the referee tells you that, you blow your top.
'It's a shame we met a team who were very limited, very physical and who didn't want to give way. My impression of the Australia team? Negative. As a team, they kept their shape. That's all. Beyond that they just seemed interesting in fouling.'
Trezeguet's reaction was typical after a match which will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Perhaps it was inevitable that a fixture which attracted so much adverse advance publicity would not pass quietly into the Melbourne night.
France coach Roger Lemerre called Muscat's tackle 'an act of brutality'. His players, stung by such ungracious hospitality from their hosts, went further. Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf said: 'It's a real shame for Dugarry to have come here for that. Muscat has no respect. I can't see how someone could have got so far in football by being that nasty. 'You can be aggressive, but you don't have the right to be nasty. You have to stay within the limits of what is allowed. He went outside those limits. He deserved a red card but the referee was Australian and because Australia have an important game in eight days, we suspected he wouldn't send the player off. That's shameful.'
Not that the Australian public appeared to care for the safety of the France players. 'Get up,' they howled at Dugarry as he lay on the ground and Arsenal's Patrick Vieira, among others, attempted to take up the issue with Muscat. The defender was substituted by Australia coach Frank Farina.
It was one of few occasions when the atmosphere rose above the funereal. Until Rangers defender Craig Moore headed Australia into a travesty of a lead just before half-time, you could have mistaken the 53,228 crowd in the Melbourne Cricket Ground for a theatre audience. It was fully five minutes before Australia had their first possession of the ball, a fact not missed by the 2,000 France supporters - the only ones making themselves heard. The continuous downpour did not help. Neither did almost total France domination in the first hour which deservedly brought a silky 49th-minute equaliser, served up deliciously by Dugarry and Robert Pires, and finished by Trezeguet.
Juventus striker Trezeguet was denied a second when Arsenal's Pires was given offside although clearly two yards on, while the Socceroos might have had a penalty after John Aloisi was challenged by Manchester United's Mikael Silvestre. However, it was Australia's rough-house approach which provided the bitter after-taste. As France left the MCG, captain Marcel Desailly, of Chelsea, said: 'I'd like Australia to qualify for the World Cup.' 'And to play them in the World Cup?' came the question. 'I'd like them to qualify.'
15 July 2001: Japan Win Inaugural Challenge
With a make-shift featured basically no first-team regulars, Australia lost the
inaugural Asian/Ocean Football Confederations Challenge, 3-0, in Shizuoka tonight.
Other than the first 20 or so minutes, Australia were completely outplayed by
a team far more cohesive, less error-ridden, and able to hold onto possession longer.
It was actually a bright start from Australia, who produced the first good chance
of the game in the 6th minute. De Amicis's lob caught the Japanese defence square
leaving Zdrillic clear to shoot on goal. Unfortunately, his lack of sharpness was
apparent as he shot tamely at Kawaguchi. After several more raids that produced half
opportunities from wide crosses, it was Japan's first meaningful attack that saw a goal
being scored. Morishima got free down the right, skipped passed Laybutt, and cut
back from the by-line for Yanagisawa to poke into an open net. Other than a Corica
shoot/cross that went harmlessly across the goal face, from this point on, it was all
Japan. Suzuki had the best chance before half time when a header after a short
corner was well saved by Petkovic.
Australia brought on Con Boutsianis - who sported a magnificent shaved head - which immediately gave them more life in attack. However, it was Japan that continued the goal mouth action when Suzuki curled a snap-shot that just went wide. At 48 minutes, it was midfielder Hattori who doubled the lead when he nicely curled a shot in at the far post after a nice lay-off near the edge of the box. Australia barely had any of the ball at this stage, so much so, that midfielders Robertson and Wehrman were virtually unsighted. Anyway, on 57 minutes, Laybutt conceded a free-kick and received a yellow card from a hand-ball which nearly made it three when Yanagisawa rattled the cross bar. However, the third did come minutes later when Japan were awarded a dubious penalty when De Amicis was adjudged to have fouled Yanagisawa as they both lunged after a bouncing ball. Japan promptly brought on Nakayama who duly converted with his first kick of the game.
Against a tiring Australian team, the match was basically over, but Australia at least should have got one back. In another sign of their unprepared state, Chipperfield received a lovely cross from Boutsianis after some nice leadup play, but sent it way wide when scoring actually seemed the easier option. And just preceding that, Aloisi was on the end of a nice long ball during an Australian counter attack, but his first touch forced the ball too far from his feet whereby his marker was able to clear the ball easily.
This match is supposed to be the start of regular such challenges, with future ones being decided on home and away basis, which is a nice idea, if the they can organise it better. The timing of this match could not have been worst, as neither team were at full strength. But at least Japan had their J-League players fully fit and the team prepared. As for Australia, it was almost a waste of time. The result was a shocker, but not surprising considering the circumstances, and for World Cup plans, it is doubtful coach Farina learnt much at all. Since most players were unfit and under-prepared, he would not have seen the full package. Aloisi and Zdrillic were classic examples, so too the NSL players like debutant Robertson.
Of those that impressed, Casserly and Boutsianis on the right provided nice crosses. Conversely, Laybutt was among those failing to impress - again. Have no idea what's gone wrong, but since his excellent pre and actual Olympic performances, he has seemed out of his depth. Fitness seems to be an issue, especially given the 4-4-2 is more running intensive than the sweeper based systems used by the Olympic team. Simple fact of the matter is that he is getting caught out far too often and that can't be tolerated come Cup time. And questions can be raised regarding the validity of Horvat - who was made captain for the night - who seemingly will at least be a squad member come Cup time. Not that his performances have been anything less than good recently, but after the roles he played in the two Iran games, where he was directly responsible for the Teheran and jointly responsible for the second Melbourne goals conceded, total exclusion from the national team for at least this campaign would be warranted. Maybe that is too harsh, but hey, those Iran games still hurt and safe, reliable defenders is what's required at the back.
Japan 3 (Yanagisawa 19m, Hattori 53m, Nakayama 65m
pen) - Australia 0
Australia: 12-Jason Petkovic, 2-Luke Casserly, 3-Stephen Laybutt (13-Angelo
Costanzo 60m), 4-Steve Horvat (captain), 14-Fausto De Amicis, 6-Kasey Wehrman, 8-Scott
Chipperfield, 10-Steve Corica, 15-Mark Robertson (18-Con Boutsianis 46m), 9-John Aloisi
(20-Saso Petrovski 69m), 11-David Zdrilic
Matildas
Australia Cup
18 January 2001: Matildas kick of the year in fine style in winning the Australia Cup.
France were the sole entrants for this year's Australia Cup competition which
involved a three match series starting in Coffs Harbour, then Lismore and finishing at
Carrara on the Gold Coast. Australia won the first game 2-1 when Kim Revell scored
in the 43rd minute, to be followed by a Cheryl Salisbury strike 3 minutes into the second
half. France scored in the 62nd minute but were unable to break down Australia's
defence for an equaliser. After a tough battle, Kim Revell again opened Australia's
account in the second game when she ran onto a Sharon Black through-ball with just four
minutes to go. However, France quickly hit back to end the game at 1-1 to keep the
series alive. The final game saw tempers flare and lightning interrupt the match for
47 minutes as Australia managed to curtail the much-improved French when debutant April
Mann scored early in the second half to run out 1-0 victors and win the series 2-0.
Seven yellows were shown - including one to Mann, her first ever - and the French women
refused to shake hands, or even bother to attend the Cup presentation.
Young Socceroos
East Asia Games - Game 1
21 May 2001: Australia Scrapes Past Hosts
The Australian Under-20s overcame a slow start to land the
only goal of the match a minute before half-time. Lucas Pantelis' cross from the
left found Joshua Kennedy who nodded the ball into the top left corner of the net.
Young Socceroos goalkeeper Michael Turnbull was kept busy for much of the half, but
remained dominant in the air.
Australia 1 (Kennedy 44') - Japan 0
Michael Turnbull (gk); Jon McKain, Ljubo Milicevic (capt), Patrick Kisnorbo, Ahmad Elrich
(Daniel Vasilevski 76'), Gareth Edds (Louis Brain 60'), Wayne Srhoj, Luke Wilkshire, Lucas
Pantelis, Joshua Kennedy, Greg Owens (Franco Parisi 46').
25 May 2001: Rematch with Japan in the Final
Australia defeated Kazakstan 1-0 to reach the final of
the East Asia Games. They will face Japan whom they beat in their first game.
Michael Ferrante scored the only goal of the game, after converting a penalty mid-way
through the first half, following a tackle on Franco Parisi in the box.
Australia 1 (M Ferrante 29’) - Kazakstan 0
27 May 2001: Hosts Down Valiant Aussies
Japan turned the tables and beat Australia 2-1 in the final of the East
Asian Games Football final in Osaka. Tatsuya Ishikawa scored from a free kick in the 81st
minute to give the Japanese side victory to the delight of its home fans. Japan first went
ahead in the 10th minute but the Australians equalised through Franco Parisi in the 37th
minute. Lucas Pantelis fired a cross to Greg Owens, whose header deflected to Parisi
and he slammed the ball home from 12 metres out. Australian tried valliantly to
crack the home side's defence in the last frantic minutes but could not find the net for a
second time. Australia now heads home for four days before heading to Argentina for
the World Youth Cup where they are scheduled to meet Japan yet again.
Japan 2 (10', 87') - Australia 1 (M Ferrante 37’) 1
Clubs
3 June 2001: Wolves Do It Again
The NSL, for all its troubles, again put on something that seemingly none of the
other codes in this country can: memorable grand finals. And this year's edition did
not disappoint when the Wollongong Wolves handsomely won the title for the second
successive year. In front of a crowd of only just over 13,000 - the lowest in 8 years - at
Sydney's Parramatta stadium, the Wolves controlled most of the match and proved worthy
champions by defeating South Melbourne three times - all 2-1 results - during the finals
campaign. However, there were some heart flutters at the end when South pulled back
a goal off their 2-0 lead, but they survived.
They started the game briskly with constant forays forward that brought several chances. The best was a Young header that hit the post and then a Cervinski strike after a goal-mouth scramble that went wide. Their pace and directness when breaking from midfield was the bane of South's problems right since the finals campaign started. However, after 20 minutes, the game settled down with both teams doing little leading into the half time break.
It took just under 15 minutes into the second half when the Wolves finally scored. After the ball was spilled out of the box from an earlier attack, a long, low drive was drilled back in which was then turned into the goal by Petrovski. Just over a minute later, a brisk counter attack saw Young score the second after a delicious Middleby dummy fooled everyone but the marauding striker. The two goals stunned South as much as they elated the predominant Wolves crowd, and prompted them to make two substitutes. Lozanovski and Trimboli came on, with Lozanovski immediately making an impact with his set pieces that, along with a Vlahos break into the box, forced the Wolves keeper Dean Anastasiadis into a number of saves. But the Wolves held on, and it was not until 10 minutes to go that Dean's brother, and the final South substitute, John, converted a Lozanovski free kick to give South some hope. The Wolves elected to shut shop by bringing on a extra defenders, which is exactly what they managed to achieve.
While the football proved worthy of a grand final, the decision to play the game in Sydney and not Wollongong did not. The stadium was barely half full, but even worse, many fans missed the start of the match due to queues at the gates. The Parramatta decision was based on the Wolve's home stadium being too small in that its capacity is around 15,000, and that the facilities are substandard. Again, a SA total disaster, and with SA chief Labbozetta unrepentant in sticking by his decision, it brought ire to the crowd. For the entire time he spoke at the trophy presentation he was booed resoundingly and endlessly until he left. It was nothing short of what he deserved for showing contempt to the people who make the sport - the fans, and also the club, who deserved every right to host the match in their city. A sold-out WIN Stadium in Wollongong would have produced a marvellous atmosphere and showcased the match and the sport far more effectively that the half-empty grand-stands did at Parramatta. An absolute disgrace, especially so since it is deflecting so much attention away from a Wolves team that has just achieved something special.
Wollongong Wolves 2 (Saso Petrovski 56’, Stuart Young 57’) South Melbourne 1 (John Anastasiadis 78’)