Zebras End South Streak With 2-2 Draw

Hobart Zebras brought South Hobart’s 13 game winning streak to an end as they claimed a 2-2 draw in a scrappy affar at Darcy Street. After Luke Huigsloot’s volley from outside the box had opened the scoring against the run of play, Jack Turner quickly restored parity for South tapping home an Adam Gorrie cross. Matthew Pace then gave Zebras back the lead with the final touch before half time but despite fighting hard and making themselves hard to break down, South would eventually equalise again, this time though Alex Walter. As tempers flared towards the end of the contest, no side would find a winner and both would have to settle for a 2-2 draw.

South had a strangle hold on the early moments of the game and were linking up well around the box, drawing the Zebras defenders out and causing problems and Nick Morton came within a whisker of opening the scoring when he smashed his effort into the post.

Zebras then took the lead against the run of play when Dan Brown underhit a pass out from the back that John Buga seized upon, chipping it to Huigsloot who smashed a looping volley past Kieran Brown from the top of the box to put the Zebras a goal to the good.

South’s response was almost immediate, Darcy Hall holding a ball up and drawing three defenders before releasing Adam Gorrie down the right. From the by line he swung in a perfect cross that took the keeper out of the equation and left Jack Turner with a simple tap in to square the game at 1-1.

Gorrie was proving a major factor in the first half, getting in behind down the right and testing the Zebras defence with a series of crosses but the Groenewold and Hey combination were doing a sturdy job keeping things under control at the back.

After South had shaded the contest it was Zebras who would head into the sheds with a lead after Matthew Pace diverted a ball past Brown and into the back of the net with the final touch of the half. Muller crossed it in near post and the inexplicably unmarked Pace seemed to chest it past the keeper to make it 2-1.

The second half was fairly devoid of chances as South started to get on top but they were not enjoying their usual midfield dominance. Turner and Morton were being well held, as Callen Griffin played a fine negating role whilst the recently returned Jordan Muller was showing his class on the ball.

Morton did escape the clutches of his tight marking to fire a shot on the turn from the top of the box that was well struck, but Mercuri made a tremendous diving save at full stretch to deny him. Mercuri had a fine game in net for Zebras and made some important stops.

On 73 minutes South hit back as Ben Hamlett crossed to the far post to pick out Walter who steadied himself with a touch before blasting a drive into the roof of the net to level the scores and set up a tense finish to the game.

Both sides had half chances but save for a pushing and shoving match between Brown and Groenewold breaking out, there was to be no further drama and the game would end tied at 2-2.

It brought an end to South’s 13 game winning streak but they remain unbeaten in 14 and will look to keep that going as they hoist the title next week against Launceston City. Zebras who will finish in fourth will be happy with the point and hope it represents a bounce back to form ahead of the League Cup. They will finish their season by hosting Rangers at KGV.




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