The MCR Bert Bampton Cup has been won in a dramatic penalty shootout by Wollongong Olympic, winning their first trophy since 1994.

Olympic may have travelled an unconventional path to enter the Cup Final but they can now celebrate an important milestone for the success-starved club.

Wollongong Olympic coach Rob Birkin was beaming after the win.

“The club has waited a long time for a trophy and we can finally take one away,”Birkin said.

“We spoke about it when I first came here, trying to get some respect into the club and to challenge for top three spots and win trophies and things like that. We are obviously on our way now so things are on plan.”

The final began with both teams sending the ball to all corners of the pitch and thundering shots in all directions as both teams looked to make their presence felt.

Wollongong Olympic settled into the Cup Final the quickest, beginning to dictate play in the opening 30 minutes as Wollongong United failed to ask Olympic goalkeeper Hayden Durose any questions in attack.

United’s Johnny Martinoski on his customary right wing sent a dangerous ball into the penalty area threatening the Olympic defence, but Karouna Michael was unable to utilise the ball as the opportunity was wasted in the 33rd minute.

United captain Brendan Reilly was defending like a fortress at the back as a slight scare went through United fans in the 36th minute as goalkeeper Sam Nastic went down with a lower leg complaint. Nastic after medical attention was able to soldier on.

As the first half drifted to a close Olympic finally took advantage of a chance with a Harrison Brown strike deflecting through the defence to sit up for captain Brendan Fordham to thunder the ball into the net for the opening Cup Final goal on the 43rd minute.

Wollongong Olympic held the 1-0 lead at half-time, but it was hard to imagine Wollongong United were going to lie down for the remaining 45 minutes.

It only took two minutes for Wollongong United to reverse the wrongs of the first half, with a lovely long ball from the Johnny Martinoski’s right sideline finding Klime Sekutkoski solo at the back post, who with a deft first touch set for a lovely finish that swished into the netting to equalise the Cup Final with over 40 minutes remaining.

Olympic hustled to re-claim the lead attacking down the sideline, with an early ball from Brendan Fordham into the penalty spot zooming towards Yusuke Ueda but United goalkeeper Sam Nastic was able to spoil the opportunity with his glove on the 61st minute.

Olympic’s Yuskue Ueda exhibited his strength in the 78th minute, holding back his defender as the ball rolled past before racing onto the ball to power away a dangerous strike that drifted across the face of goals for no result.

In the 90th minute with extra time appearing inevitable, Olympic goalkeeper Hayden Durose spilled the ball in the box and miscommunication and chaos nearly saw a dramatic final goal until the threat was finally cleared.

Wollongong United opening extra time with fresh energy, after appearing to desperately cling on for the final minutes of ordinary time. A dangerous strike by United substitute Nathan Scicchitano in the 92nd minute forced a strong save by Durose which kept the Cup Final tensely balanced at 1-1.

With both teams fatigued, goals never looked likely in extra time as both teams lacked the creativity and energy to conjure that vital magic goal which would provide their team Bampton Cup glory.

Olympic continued to place pressure on the United defence but centre back and captain Brendan Reilly stood tall blocking strike after strike, placing his body repeatedly on the line in the 109th minute.

Martinoski attempted to raise the United faithful on the 115th minute with a dart along the right sideline, beating his defender and sending a right foot shot from the penalty area but it was well off-target.

With both teams failing to execute in attack during extra time, it ensured a penalty shootout was upon us.

Olympic goalkeeper Hayden Durose saved his first penalty to ensure that Wollongong Olympic had a goal advantage from the start of the shootout, until Sam Nastic levelled the shootout with a fine save of his own on Olympic’s 4th penalty shot.

It was all for vain as young United striker Bradley Acev could not find the goals ensuring victory for Olympic 4-2 in penalty shootouts.

Player and Assistant Coach Steve Dimitrievski was a disappointed man following the defeat.

“We are very disappointed but also very proud,”Dimitrievski said.

“At the end of the day, a lot of players backed up from injuries and some from youth grade who have already played today. Its always tough, its a lottery, its a penalty shootout and anything can happen.”

Wollongong Olympic deservedly earned the Cup victory as they dictated large periods of play as they will celebrate before all teams turn their attention back to the Illawarra Mercury Premier League as it resumes next weekend.

 

Sunday 31 July, 2016

Crehan Park

 

Wollongong United 1 - (Klime Sekutkoski 47’)

Wollongong Olympic 1 - (Brendan Fordham 43’)

Wollongong Olympic won 4-2 in penalties

 

 

Referee: Steve Bozic

Assistant Referee: Nathan Wotton & Greg Reid

Fourth Official: Andrew Naylor

 

 

Wollongong United:

Sam Nastic, Daisuke Yuzawa, Benjamin Brooks, Brendan Reilly, Joshua Hurt, Motoki Kinjo, Steven Dimitrievski (Bradley Acev 91’), Karouna Michael (Nathan Scicchitano), John Martinoski, Tim Wylie, Jinya An (Klime Sekutkoski 45’)

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Card: Nil

 

 

 

Wollongong Olympic:

Hayden Durose, Haydyn Lloyd (Lee Kizi 86’) Jack Keating, Jake Duczynski, Ja Kon Yu, Harvey Rodriguez, Brendan Fordham, Harrison Brown, Sam Gordon, Yusuke Ueda (Andrej Gasesa 103’), Kyle Hazebroek (Jamie Wakeling 69’)

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

 

Report by Daniel McGookin

Twitter: @mcgoookin93

Photo by Pedro Garcia