Sydney Olympic’s Matthew Mayora scored his 15th goal of the season against Marconi but his side couldn’t hold on to the 1-0 lead and conceded two goals in the final eight minutes of the game to end the season on a dissapointing note.
Mayora’s closest threat was West Sydney Berries’ Dimitri Zakilas but his side played a scoreless draw against Bonnyrigg, leaving Mayora to claim the Andreas Golden Boot for 2009.
His goal came in the 73rd minute and it was a cracker, beating Marconi’s James Chronopoulos at his near post with sheer power, but it was the Stallions that celebrated two late goals and afterwards in their dressing room as the news filtered from other grounds that both Manly and Bankstown had lost – leaving the Stallions to enjoy second spot and a date with Sutherland Sharks in the Preliminary Semi Final in two week’s time.
Despite finishing as top scorer, Mayora was upset at how the season had panned out for his team. It was a feeling shared amongst players, coaching staff, officials and supporters.
Another feature of the game was the first grade debuts of Peter Triantis and Alex Jovovic who came on as substitutes in the 75th and 89th minutes respectively. Peter Triantis is the younger brother of Chris Triantis who linked up with Newcastle Jets for the A League season that just commenced.
Sydney Olympic took to the field for the last time in 2009 with nothing but pride to play for in the perfect late winter sun. Their pre-game warm up on the railway end of the field was full of smiles and a relaxed mood – indicating that they were out to play some football for the die-hard fans in attendance.
The Blues began well with their ball movement, passing and freely creating openings in the middle, but Marconi quickly assumed control and nearly scored in the 3rd minute.
Alex Canak broke an Olympic offside trap and was one-on-one with Mark Bosnich. Canak approached and tried to chip past Bozza but the ball bounced to the left of the upright. It was a certain goal gone wrong.
Marconi continued to dominate and their next chance came in the 17th when Ben Vidaic’s right foot volley stung the gloves of Bosnich, and Canak followed up four minutes later with a half chance when rising to meet a cross from the right but was nudged off the ball. His team mates claimed a penalty however referee Sandro Perticarni was not interested in their appeals.
Vidaic again provided a major threat to Olympic in the 27th but his point blank shot went wide of the left post. It seemed that Marconi’s chances would surely bear some fruit, as Olympic found it hard to swing the game their way.
Things brightened up for the home side five minutes later. A deep cross from Emmanuel Giannaros on the right flank nearly found Mayora who was a fraction late to the ball grabbed by Chronopoulos, and the pair clashed again two minutes later this time off an Iain Ramsay cross from the left. Mayora got his head to the ball first this time but the ball went wide right of goal.
At half time Mark Bosnich gave Zaim Zeneli some game time and Olympic came out with a more attacking and purposeful attitude.
In the 52nd a through ball found Ramsay on the right wing – a position unfamiliar to the left footer – and he approached Chronopoulos and tried to chip with his right boot but the meekly hit shot went wide of the right post.
Five minutes later Marconi missed the best chance of the game so far. Vidaic and Vuko Tomasevic combined very effectively to open up Olympic down the left flank. The ball was hurried in for Canak lurking in a central position in the penalty area and he had plenty of time to smash a shot past Zeneli but only managed to plonk the ball against the crossbar.
At the other end Chronopoulos denied Mayora again as the latter’s 66th minute header was saved well.
A ‘difference of opinions’ between captain Michael Cindric and Anthony Hartshorn resulted in a Marconi free kick that the Stallions failed to capitalise on, but the heated discussions fired up Olympic as their last twenty minutes of the season lay in front of the them.
In the 72nd minute Giannaros found himself behind the Stallions defence after misjudging an innocuous ball. The right back shot hard at goal but Chronopoulos was again up to the task. Chronopoulos had no chance just a minute later.
The move to set up Mayora was virtually identical to that afforded to Giannaros. Mayora first controlled the ball brilliantly with the outside of his right boot then unleashed a venomous low drive that beat the Marconi keeper at his near post.
Marconi then set about scrambling to get back on level terms and Canak’s 82nd minute howler where he passed to his right rather than shoot at goal must have surely raised the temper of the already fired up Marconi coach Lee Sterrey.
Sterrey’s nerves were settled somewhat in the 84th minute when his substitute Tim McGowan levelled for the Stallions. There was some controversy about the goal though, as Paul Wither had been clattered upfield and nothing was given, and as the ball quickly made it to Marconi’s front line, it appeared that McGowan was in a clear offside position. McGowan played the whistle (or lack of it) and hit a crisp shot that beat Zeneli with deadly accuracy.
Wither had a chance to steal the game in the 89th after great build up work from Peter Triantis and Giannaros on the right flank as Olympic threw everything at their opponents.
However the last play of the game saw Vidaic set up in nearly a carbon copy of McGowan’s goal – this time Vidaic appeared onside before slamming past Zeneli.
So, the 2009 season is over for Olympic. Preparations have already commenced for the 2010 campaign and it is anticipated that the Blues will have a much smoother and successful season next year.