Match Report 11 July 2007

JUL

11

Revenge is a dish best served cold. The last derby match between FC Adelaide and rivals MA Hawks took place back in Round 3. Enough time for the thought of revenge to stew, ready to be awakened in harsh conditions under a grey sky out at Ashwin Parade. With pride on the line, FCA first team would have to dig deep to prevent the Hawks doing the double for this season. Meanwhile FCA Reserves needed the win to increase the gap at the top of the table. Here is how it all unfolded…

Reserves Match Report

Dubbed a “season defining game” at Thursday night training by the coaches, this was going to be the Reserves biggest challenge for the season. A chance to leap ahead nine points clear of the MA Hawks who were now in second place. A major drainage issue in the middle of the park meant a puddle of sludge and water covered the majority of the midfield. Coach Koufalas’ instructions were to make good use of the wingers to prevent unnecessary injury and make sure the game flowed. As always, the number one goal was to keep a clean sheet. The “Angry Dinosaur” was a last minute withdrawal as he succumbed to sickness and Stam “Van Damme” Kontouris stepped up to the plate as his replacement. The game got off to a shaky start for both teams. Players from both sides found it hard to keep the ball at their feet in such slippery conditions and many passes went astray. There was not much activity or energy from either side on the park and the dark cloud cover really put a dampener on the whole affair. The Hawks had the first attacking chance but after the first 15 minutes FCA began to take control. Nicky “The Kid” Cosma had an opportunity to put us ahead when he was first to a clearance from our defence. He shot but the keeper managed to get in front of the ball. The opportunity for a follow up was there and Cosi and a Hawks defender collided in an attempt to the ball. It floated just over the bar and Cosi came away form the incident nursing an injury. Baby Bird also sustained a soft tissue injury early on and you could just sense this was not going to be our day. To the lad’s credit, they applied plenty of pressure, but could not break down the Hawks strong defence. The Hawks were also a tall side and competitive when the ball was in the air. FCA’s defence was very firm considering Baby Bird was as flightless as a dodo. He was playing on one leg and the midfield was forced to drop very deep. Kaka was running on ½ a tank, showing courage to play despite the niggly injury he was nursing. There were flashes of brilliance on the wings with The Glove having a good run, delivering some sharp balls down the line that allowed Syed to surge forward and try his trickery to exploit his marker. On the opposing wing Daniel the Delinquent was pushing forward at every opportunity but again could not penetrate the Hawks tight defence. The first half ended at 0-0. Adelaide seemed to have more of the play and the only real chances but Hawks were proving why they had been undefeated by all teams other then FCA. The second half kicked in and the tempo seemed to have slowed. FCA were now attacking on the muddy end of the pitch and Cosi’s collision earlier saw him struggling to find his earlier pace. The ball bounced its way back and forth across the soggy pitch. And the frustration of the two sides started to show. Well into the half Hawks received a free kick near the centre circle. The kick was taken twice but called back by the referee on both occasions By the third kick our defence had lost it’s composure. The ball floated into the box and, after a scramble, was pushed over the line for a goal. 1-0. Devastation. With such a task facing us, and considering that the Hawks were not giving much away, fear of a loss set in. Rockyballs again gave his all, putting his body on the line for his teammates at every opportunity to win the ball. The play switched from end to end frequently with each team creating chances but unable to convert in the trying conditions. Digging deep paid off midway through the second half when we received a free kick on the left side of the box. The Glove whipped a ball in to Syed who took a shot that could possibly be goal of the season. The Smiling Assassin, with his back toward goal, smashed the ball on the volley. Around his body, with his famed left foot, he put the ball straight over the defenders and over the outstretched hands of the keeper at the near post. 1-1. Pure ecstasy! We can win this now! The crowd erupted. As time ticked away it appeared we would be settling for a draw as we just could not convert our chances and nor could the Hawks. Zak came closest and with the keeper beaten after a header from a corner. But the ball went just wide. If only! Tempers flared as Syed hit the deck in a challenge and his opposite number tried to make more of it. All the lads gathered around in support of their teammate with some pushing and shoving but the situation diffused quite quickly. The referee called a drop ball but some argued The Assassin deserved a free kick. Everybody was eager to get on with the job. And then a cruel blow in the last 5 minutes. The Hawks somehow broke free and punished our defence to hit the lead with a cheap goal. 2-1. FCA had no gas left in the tank and the referee seized the first opportunity he had to end the game.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Nobody can dispute the passion and pride the lads involved had for the club going into this derby game both on and off the park. Considering our outstanding goal difference and high number of goals scored why could we not convert today? Did the very late withdrawal of a certain striker force us to play without the required firepower? It is highly likely that one of our most efficient goal scorers, Mick Fournakis, may have been able to play had he been given more notice. Could this have changed the dynamic of the game? Probably yes. Could this have cost us the win? It’s a possibility. The week off will give us all time to reflect and decide where we want this team to head. Do we want this title enough to take it home at the end of the season? To do so more involvement and a greater commitment is necessary from those who have been unwilling to offer it in the past.

First Team Match Report

The home fixture saw the lead change several times with a bagful of goals shared between the two sides. The return fixture found MA Hawks in third place fighting for promotion and FCA sitting mid table desperate to keep in touch with the top 4. The landscape had certainly changed but the objective remained the same. The Hawks this time didn’t just need to be beaten. They needed to be hung, drawn and quartered, punished for the humiliation inflicted on us at home in Round 3. Unfortunately, we did not get off to the start we needed. The game started off very flat. Player availability was again an issue with many still recovering from injury or having fallen ill during the week. The Hawks started aggressive in attack and jumped away to a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes. It was panic stations and not much was being said on the sidelines. The supporters stepped back from coach Ziatas and nobody stood within a 5 metre radius of him, everybody too afraid to pass judgement or ask questions in this testing time for the club. Slowly FCA started to settle and some of that hunger returned. JC chased hard up front and The Gentleman reunited with Stevie G to control the midfield. The defence, led by Papa, tightened the screws and Party Guy didn’t let thoughts of his Euro trip affect his performance. It was solid as ever. The usual suspects kept the standard of play classy and although the Hawks caught us on the break a few times, there was always a defender there to cut out the shot. Failing that, luck was on our side as the Hawks also squandered several opportunities. Before the break, FCA pegged one back from a cracking Stevie G header. Goals against the Hawks always mean more to the Georgiou’s given their past history at the club. Both had a few more opportunities that were cut out only by some solid goalkeeping. The second half saw FCA gain a little more control. The Hawks looked panicked every time we surged forward. Reza helped in getting the ball into the danger zone but was often dispossessed after taking that one touch too many. ‘The Raging Bull” Selinis gifted the attackers with some superb long balls into space but the Hawks kept plugging up the holes quickly, leaving no breathing room. The intermittent rain did little to help the flow of the game and at times it was very much a scrap. The referee was also trigger happy. Several players earned themselves canaries for what the crowd believed were soft incidents. A handball in the box was punished by a penalty in favour of FCA and “The Raging Bull” walked up to the spot. After all of our missed opportunities and close calls at the other end, this was the chance to draw level. The supporters never doubted the ability of the kick taker. As far as all were concerned, we were on a sure thing. Whistle. He runs up. He feigns a little. Well hit, keeper beaten. Post. Rebound. No follow up. It was a sign. You knew it wasn’t going to be our day when a star player, a veteran of the game, is beaten only by the upright from a spot kick. FCA marched on, hungry for that equalising goal. The energy was intense with both teams playing good football, searching for the 3 points and the associated bragging rights. As if the penalty kick wasn’t a bad enough omen, to add insult to injury, another star player was given his marching orders about 10 minutes from time. There would be no Rezarection in today’s game as a second bookable offence ensured Reza’s day ended with him seeing red. The players did not give in physically but the mental impact of a missed penalty and being reduced to 10 men was far too great. There was nothing anybody could do to stop the flow. The extra man meant the Hawks were able to defend and attack in packs to hold on to their slender lead. And then the final nail in the coffin came as they snatched a late goal to make it 3-1.

THE BOTTOM LINE: So the Hawks did the double on us this year. We can only hope we are given the chance to get even next season. For now, the Vicks Vaporub needs to do the rounds to ensure that no more players fall ill in the coming crucial weeks. Although we may be reasonably safe from relegation, it is not in the nature of the club to give up and just cruise through to next year and start again. Questions have been asked already and it is not going to be easy but things need to start happening now. As has been said in recent weeks, changes-are-a-comin’. It is just a matter of when.

The News Hen