Although Canberra Olympic’s fairytale FFA Cup ride finally came to an end on Wednesday evening, with a 3-0 semi-final loss to current A-League leader Sydney FC, there was little disappointment in the Olympic camp. Instead, the feeling was one of satisfaction and pride at having completed one of the team’s most successful campaigns in its 60-year history.
Despite the visitors dominating possession in Wednesday’s semi at Viking Park, the only NPL side left in the competition proved difficult for the professionals to break down through open play, and it wasn’t until the 64th minute of the match, when it scored its second goal, that Sydney was able to gain tight control of the match, after having taken just a single goal lead into the break. Both these goals came from set-piece plays. Sydney was able to score a third through open play late in the match against a tiring Olympic side.
A crowd of more than 5,000 gathered at Viking Park to watch the region’s finest team take on the high-flying A-League leaders. Olympic fired the first shot when central striker Philippe Bernabo-Madrid found himself with a half chance from a Robbie Cattanach cross which he volleyed over the bar. From then on the visitors dominated possession and peppered the Olympic penalty box with numerous crosses. However, the defence, led by skipper and keeper Angelo Konstantinou resisted, with Konstantinou saving well in a one-on-one with Sydney’s Brazilian striker Bobo. Minutes later, the visitors found an opening goal when a short corner to full back Ryan Grant produced a cross to fellow defender Seb Rhyall, who headed home to give Sydney a 24th minute lead.
Sydney continued to dominate possession, and Olympic had luck on its side when Sydney skipper Alex Brosque missed an open goal when his header hit the upright just minutes from the break.
The same pattern continued after the break, with Sydney controlling possession and doing most of the attacking only to meet a resolute Olympic defence, highlighted by some good saves from Konstantinou, who denied Holosko, Carney and Brosque.
For Olympic, right sided attacker Jeremy Habtemariam produced a couple of promising attacks, combining with right back Tim Bobolas, who fired a shot over the bar from just outside the box. The same two later combined to fashion a good chance for Olympic midfielder Daniel Colbertaldo, whose shot flew wide of Danny Vukovic’s goal.
However, Sydney took control of the match in the 64th minute, when midfielder Milos Dimitrijevic produced a classy strike from a direct free kick to beat the Olympic wall and Konstantinou. With 10 minutes remaining, two Sydney subs, Matt Simon and Berni Ibini, combined for the third goal, when Simon outpaced a tiring Olympic defence to lay a perfect cross from the left flank to Ibini, who finished first time.
Late in the match, Cattanach forced a rare save from Vukovic and Olympic were also denied a possible penalty for hand ball.
After the match, Olympic coach Frank Cachia had few complaints with the result but was full of praise for his players.
“We got a performance, which is what we were after. We just said to them, we just didn’t want to regret anything. I think they can all walk away with their heads held up. They really put in a great shift and should be really proud of their efforts. Hats off to Sydney. They’re an outstanding outfit. Sydney put their full squad out, they gave it a hot shot and I think we stood up really well.”
Olympic skipper Angelo Konstantinou told Fox Sports after the match: “I think the boys played well − I think we stuck to them. Sydney have beaten two A-League teams 4-0, they beat us 3-0, so we can still hold our heads up high. It just comes down to some quality finishing in the end.”