In what for the most part was a dour struggle, Wollongong Olympic eventually got the better of Bulli albeit on penalty kicks (5-4) after the scores were locked (1-1) at the end of Regulation Time and Extra Time in the Elimination Semi-Final at Elizabeth Park on Sunday.

Both sides went into the match somewhat understrength with Bulli having to make three changes (injuries) from the side that lost to Albion Park White Eagles the previous week.

The game was predominantly played between the two penalty areas for the majority of the 120 minutes with neither Goalkeeper, Yuya Kuwata(Bulli) and Hayden Durose (Olympic) having to make too many saves of note between them other than to come and collect high balls into the goal/penalty areas which happened with gay abandon throughout the game.

Olympic did start the brighter of the two sides in the opening 15 minutes but any early advantage they had was wasted with two or three shots from distance that failed to trouble Kuwata who caught any effort comfortably.

However, it was Bulli who drew first blood when they opened the scoring 17 minutes in. Jared Fish (deputising for the injured Julian Minutillo) received the ball on the egde of the Olympic penalty area, with his back to goal but in the blink of eye turned nicely to deceive his marker and make inroads into the heart of the Olympic defence.
Olympic Captain, Brendan Fordham had tracked the run but only succeeded in clumsily bundling Fish to the ground and a penalty awarded. Dylan Lewis made no mistake from the spot.

This was the only real goal scoring oportunity of the first half although Bulli did force numerous corners as they did throughout the game but there was very little variation/imagination about them with high balls pumped into the same area which Durose handled effortlessly every time.

One-nil to Bulli at the break but the game was still evenly poised and we didn't have to wait long after the interval for a response from Olympic.

Seven minutes after the re-start, Bulli in an effort to clear there lines, played the ball out to Ben McDonald on the half way line but the big striker was unable to protect the ball with Olympic's Jack Keating robbing him far too easily and the strong centre back passed the ball to Sam Gordon some 40 metres from goal out on the left. Gordon then knocked an hopeful ball into the Bulli penalty area which Kuwata came to claim. Unfortunately, for the Keeper he failed to get anywhere near the ball and Olympic striker, Yusuke Ueda rose highest to nod the ball into the unguarded net.

Both sides continued to push forward at every opportunity probing for openings to find a crucial second goal.

On 65 minutes Bulli were awarded a free kick some 30 metres from goal where Ryan Emerton's low drive somehow found it's way through a packed defence and would have found the back of the net except for a marvellous intervention from Durose whose dive down to his right deflected the ball away from goal.

Eight minutes later, Bulli's Sam Davies tried a shot from the edge of the penalty area which was deflected away for a corner. From the resulting kick McDonald had a header cleared off the line and the follow up by Lewis was hit over the bar from 11 metres.

With a quarter of an hour remaining in normal time, Gordon found himself in space 23 metres from goal but he couldn't get keep his shot down has his effort sailed over the bar.

A short time later, Olympic had a free kick in a similar postion just off centre out to the right and in an effort that they have practiced on the training ground, Ueda struck the cross bar with his shot on goal.

With seven minutes remaining, Bulli's Matthew Naylor whizzed in a cross from the right which found McDonald lurking 12 metres from goal but the striker was unable to direct his header goalwards with the ball going over the crossbar.

No more chances in normal time so an extra 30 minutes was required to try and find a winner.

Twelve minutes into the extra period, Lewis fizzed in a cross from the right which McDonald just failed to get his head to and then a moment of controversy a few seconds later at the other end.
Kyle Hazebrook tried to muscle his way into the penalty area with the ball but went down under a challenge from Naylor. From Referee Bobby Mazevski's view he appeared to go down far too easily and was cautioned for simulation.

In the second period of extra time Davies hit the cross bar for Bulli from 12 metres and a short time later, Bulli's Marcus Beattie who had looked lively after coming on for Emerton a few minutes later blazed over from just inside the penalty area.

With just six minutes remaining yet another moment of controversy to finish the game. Olympic's Andre Gacesa made his way into the Bulli penalty area when confronted by Kenji Takahashi who appeared to bring Gacesca down in the challenge but Referee Mazevski saw it differently, much to the annoyance of the Olympic faithful and cautioned Gacesa for simulation and awarded a free kick to Bulli.

So, it was down to penalty kicks to decide the outcome of a fairly even contest where the two sides had given there all.

With Olympic missing there first attempt, Bulli had a chance to win the contest after converting there first four but a sublime save from Durose to deny Lewis Clements sent the penalties into a 'sudden death' situation.

Sadly for Takahashi, who had been outstanding at the back today for Bulli and for that matter all season, failed to hit the target with the 6th which left Fordham a shot at glory and he made no mistake and sent his team through to the Grand Final Qualifyer against Kemblawarra next Sunday at Crehan Park.

On the winning side, Keating and Jake Duczynski were a tower of strength at the back for Olympic and kept McDonald in check, making him play with his back to goal for much of the game.

As mentioned, Takashi was the pick of the losing side but to be fair both defences were strong throughout with the game settling into a struggle between the two penalty areas.

Olympic Coach, Rob Birkin was obviously ecstatic after the game with the result but acknowleged that penalties are a lottery. He also recognised that both sides were down on troops. Birkin felt that his side look the more likely to score in the opening 20 minutes but from there it was a case of two even teams and full credit to Bulli.

The Coach added that he felt it was strange that a Referee can award two cautions for simulation against one team in the same game and you would not see that anywhere else. He conceded that the first one could have been 50/50 but was in no doubt that the second one was the wrong decision.

From Ben's Smith's perspective, obviously huge disappointment, to go out this way. He felt his side weren't at their best but on the other hand Olympic are a very good defensive unit and hard to break down.

Smith went onto say the match wasn't a great spectacle with limited goal scoring opportunities for either side. He wouldn't blame the changes to his side as having an impact as he had good players coming in so that wasn't a problem.

This happened to be Ben's last game in charge at Bulli has he is going to take a year off to spend more time with his young family. In his tenure at the helm (five seasons), Bulli were League Champions on one occasion and Runners Up in the other four seasons. On top of that there were three Grand Final appearances. Quite an achievment for the young coach.

He felt the time was right for a fresh appraoch at the Club with Matthew Bailey widely tipped to take over.

 

Match Stats

 

Bulli 1 (Dylan Lewis 17'pen)

Wollongong Olympic 1 (Yuseke Ueda 52')

 

Wolliongong Olympic won 5-4 on penalties

 

Eliabeth Park, Bellambi

 

Referee: Bobby Mazevski

Assistant Referees: Nathan Wotton, Caleb Blanch & Blake Herbert (4th Official)

 

Bulli: Yuya Kuwata, Matthew Maylor, Kenji Takahashi, Corey Horner, Scott Best,  Guy Knight, Ryan Emerton (Marcus Beattie 105'), Sam Davies, Ben McDonald, Dylan Lewis, Jared Fish (Lewis Clements 67').

Subs not Used: Kyle Jackson, Daniel Carreno, Joao Oliveira

Yellow Card: Marcus Beattie 109'.

 

Wollongong Olympic: Hayden Durose, Hayden Lloyd, Jack Keating, Jake Duczynski, Sam Gordon, Graeme Smith, Brendan Fordham, Harrison Brown, Yuseke Ueda, Andre Gacesa, Kyle Hazebrook (Jamie Wakeling 109')

Subs not Used: Chris Jackson,Yani Mavrikis.

Yellow Cards: Harrison Ford 63', Kyle Hazebrook 103',Hayden Lloyd 106',Andre Gacesa 108'.

Report by David Naylor

Photo by Noel Wynn