Kemblawarra entered the IPL Finals in Week 2 for the Qualifying Final against Bulli's conquerors Albion Park, who themselves are still unbeaten since their Round 11 fixture against Wollongong United, enjoying a huge run home to the finals in strong form. The season for both sides has largely been one of fearsome attacking line-ups, with the much-covered Eagles' Japanese contingent opposing the Shields-McNab combination, so one would be forgiven for expecting a goal-fest.

Albion Park nearly had the perfect start with only 2 minutes on the clock, with Riku Iwauchi putting a cheeky flick into the path of Mitch Del Turco turned goal-ward to be dived on by David Poeira.

However in a notably tight first period, quality chances to test either gloveman were at an absolute premium. Robbie Shields threw his body at a ricochet inside the box early on, unable to deviate the ball on target, whilst Daenell fumbled a straight-forward catch into the lap of Sam Munro, but the gloveman retreated to claim it in a frenzied recovery.

As usual, the Albion Park trio of Iwauchi, Shohei Okuno and Kotaro Higashi were having splendid interplay in the attacking third, with their fluid movement confusing the defensive organisation of the Fury at times. On 27 minutes, the combination went on show for the next Eagles chance. Del Turco sent Higashi down the right wing with a through ball, who in turn cut back for Del Turco on the return. An air-swing from both he and his defender saw Iwauchi backing up blaze a powerful drive just over the crossbar from 18 yards.

Shields continued to battle through a hard day up front, being reined in from behind by Ryan Suttle as he was dribbling in on goal. Nathan Jagelman found himself in space down the left shortly after, with an eloquent pass from defence piercing midfield and Albion Park's defence to set him into the corner, however his cross was blocked off the boot by Mark Every tracking back.

As far as meaningful chances, that was about the best an evenly-matched first half had to offer, as scores remained 0-0 at the interval.

As in the first half, Albion Park nearly snuck in an early goal, this time a free kick from Okuno curling around the outside of the wall from 25 yards out wide, and needed a timely tip around the post from Poeira to deny the goal-bound effort.

The marquees for Albion Park were enjoying markedly more success in the second period, with both Iwauchi and Higashi having shots blocked from inside the box in the opening 10, before Higashi was unlucky to not pinch possession off a loose Shane Murray touch at the back.

Shields couldn't catch a break up front, with the normal touch seemingly missing throughout the afternoon. A chest and volley after an hour bounced tamely into the arms of Daenell, who knew nothing about the rolling shot from Matthew McNab moments later from a long corner brought down at the far post.

Shields had his best chance of the afternoon shortly after, heading a deep cross back across goal, however the hooping ball looped over the crossbar and to safety.

As the game wore on, the effect of Iwauchi and Okuno up front grew immensely, consistently producing threatening counter attacks off the back of any forward push from Kemblawarra. Some gorgeous technical dribbling from Okuno played Peter Prandalos down the left wing, but the cross-turned-shot was saved solidly by Poeira.

With 15 minutes to play, their effect compounded in Ceccoli fouling Higashi inside the box for a penalty. Okuno stepped up from 12 yards and, sending Poeira the wrong way, opened the scoring with a fine penalty into the left side netting.

This prompted Kemblawarra to panic, with rash tackles flying in on the Albion Park forwards as any threat was attempted to be snuffed out as fast as possible. The pressure seemed to be getting to the Minor Premiers, as referee Andrew Naylor was forced to reign in the affair with a trio of yellow cards within minutes of each other.

Albion Park took their opener and ran with it, seeking a second to kill off the tie. A cross from Suttle had Poeira scrambling to claim before the strikers rose to meet it, and Robbie Delbanco begun to stamp his place on the midfield battles, winning challenges and striding away with possession to start the attack.

The work-rate of Higashi was nearly rewarded after neat interplay between himself and Okuno saw a shot blocked down the right wing, before arguably the best play of the game was miraculously unable to double the visitors' lead.

Okuno passed down the right wing for Iwauchi on the by-line, who managed to squeeze the return ball through traffic back to Okuno. With a first time sweeping shot from roughly the penalty spot, Okuno had the ball headed into the absolute bottom right corner, however a desperate hand from Poeira parried the shot onto the upright, with David Hartas clearing the danger.

To finish the game, Kemblawarra could only muster a shot into the side netting from Jagelman latching onto a long ball, and drawing a punch from Daenell to extinguish a cross from the right. With nearly the last kick of the game, McNab air-swung at a half-volley with a difficult bounce, but the recovery shot was tame and trickled into the arms of Daenell to rapturous applause from the White Eagles' faithful.

In such a tight game, a single goal was the only thing to split the two sides, with Albion Park no doubt the more deserving of the two. Kemblawarra offered very little going forward, with the usual creative spark from Alvin Ceccoli and Shane Murray MIA in the midfield engine-room for Kemblawarra.

Albion Park now step into the Grand Final at WIN Stadium in a fortnight's time, awaiting the winner of Kemblawarra v Wollongong Olympic who needed penalties to dispatch Bulli in the other semi-final.

 

Sunday 11th September - Albert Butler Memorial Park

Referee - Andrew Naylor

Assistants - Steve Bozic, Mitchell Thorpe, Tony Bosevski

 

Kemblawarra Fury 0

Albion Park White Eagles 1 - Okuno 75'

 

Kemblawarra Fury - Poeira, O'Connor, Rhodes (Mears 49'), Murray, Jagelman, Hartas, Iacovelli (Waller 84'), Ceccoli, McNab, Shields (Morgan 76'), Munro

Subs - Zufic, Morgan, Mears, Kirkland, Waller

Albion Park White Eagles - Daenell, Suttle, Every, Nathaniel, Prandalos, Patterson, Iwauchi (Djukic 90'), Delbanco Okuno, Del Turco (Montanari 70'), Higashi

Subs - Ahling, Montanari, Djukic, Vzelac, Jones

 

Report by David Atherton (@daveatho5)

Photos by Kiah Hufton