Match Report 2 June 2007

JUN

4

After a string of games at home, Round 8 saw FC Adelaide travel to Drummond Avenue to face off against the Adelaide Cougars. This fixture had been billed as the “Battle of the Big Cats” and those who braved the cold and windy conditions were not disappointed. Two tight, edge-of-your-seat games were played out on this sunny winter’s day and it proved to be a season defining moment for the First Team, snatching a draw against the odds and the Reserves fought hard to come away with a win of epic proportions.

Reserves Match Report

Adelaide looked to be dominating this game from the outset. Cougars had started with a man short and there was a bit of confusion amongst them as he hastily made his way onto the park. Adelaide had already started to threaten the goal but were content to play some good football, knocking the ball about the park and not afraid to move it around through the defence. Benny “Baby Bird” Ward was included in the side to add a bit of muscle to the centre of midfield and he again put his body on the line at every opportunity and combined well with the Argentine playmaker Fernando to execute some pin-point through balls to the wingers and forwards. Nicky “the Kid” Cosma was an “everywhere man” throughout the first 15 minutes, dropping deep in search of the ball and a well weighted pass found him on the edge of the box as he weaved his way through two defenders to shoot from an impossible angle deep inside the 18 yard box, the ball darted past the keeper and onto the inside edge of the far post and then across the face of goal into the back of the net – 1-0. A dream start against an opposition that was slowly gaining momentum. After the opener, Adelaide was put on the back foot and the game was constantly swinging and the only way forward for either team was through a counter attack. Cougars did just that and exposed Adelaide’s offside trap to beat Keg with an unexpected shot from the wing – 1-1. The score remained unchanged at the half but the intensity increased in the second term and tempers flared as some dubious decisions by the referee left the coaching staff calling for an explanation. White-line fever was rampant and plenty of banter between the supporters, opposition players, the referee and coaching staff and not all of it was in good humour. Syed controlled the left wing with good delivery from Leigh and a sigh of relief could be heard from the Adelaide bench as Micky Fournakos slotted a short ball past the keeper at the near post after receiving the through ball from Syed deep inside the box – 2-1. Adelaide’s defence tightened, Simon controlling from the middle and keeping Paul Kaka on a tight leash as all experience was required to stave off the prowling Cougars. Pass after pass, tackle after tackle, Adelaide held firm but had free-kicks awarded against us at the most dangerous places on the park and again the referee’s objectivity was called into question. Then in the vein of a Shakespearean tragedy, the dagger through the heart came – Cougars drawing level with a bullet header that Keg had no time to see let alone try to save – 2-2. Adelaide now faced the prospect of a draw severely denting our title hopes – but it was not over yet. They say “you gotta know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em” and what the Cougars didn’t know is that we had not yet shown our whole hand, we still had one card left to play. Any stoppage would cost us, any clumsy challenge would be the final blow so we did what we do better than any other team in the league – play football. Running, passing, dribbling and shot after shot trying to break down the resisting Cougars defence. Shots from Stav and Shoerokh; Baby Bird came close; Micky Fournakos coming to the party with a trademark volley that fell just wide of the mark. Courage in defence as Damian “the D-Train” Simpson made a heroic return from injury in the dying minutes and Zak was bombing the ball up front as quickly as possible. Every flag for offside – a lost opportunity. Every blow of the referee’s whistle – fear that time was up. Then… no linesman could flag it, the referee would never have gotten away with calling it if he tried and the through ball exposed the last man in defence as Yves “the Ace” Defossez danced his way into a one-on-one with the keeper and delivered a fine shot past him into the back of the net – 3-2! The Cougars mounted a fight-back but it was too late, the referee still had a watch to abide by and the dealing was done.

THE BOTTOM LINE: FC Adelaide continue their charge for the Premiership and showed good spirit to win this epic tug-of-war. This proves to the boys that with the right mind-set, anything can be achieved. Roll on Old Ignatians!.

First Team Match Report

Adelaide knew that the Cougars were always going to be tough opposition and their similar style of play created some entertaining football between the two sides. Kieran made a welcome return to the goalmouth and JC was given the opportunity to play on the park as a result. AD also returned to the park albeit in an unfamiliar position in the midfield but his attacking style of play suited the position well. The usual suspects shared plenty of the ball from the opening and Phil “the Gentleman” Georgiou was dominant in the centre of midfield. Ange and Shane took turns worrying the keeper but it was the Cougars who drew first blood with a comedy of errors in defence leaving the keeper exposed for an unmarked man to tap-in from 5 yards – 1-0. Little changed before the half with a brand of ping-pong football being played both in the air and on the ground as neither side was able to string together a solid attack and the Cougars began to play more defensively to hold the lead. After the break Adelaide made good use of the wingers with Falidis making some good runs forward assisted by solid defending from Nick “the Glove” Gala. The Glove had an outstanding game at left back and was instrumental in driving the ball forward to the midfield. On the opposite side of the ground, Reza again pushed forward from the wing at every opportunity and delivered some clever passes to the strikers. It wasn’t long before Ange came agonisingly close to equalising when the keeper dived at his feet and he made light work of rounding him and sending the ball toward the net only to see the last man charge back to clear the ball off the line. The Cougars again pounced and some swift play saw them break forward with Kieran parrying several shots but he was unlucky soon after to have one roll beneath him for the Cougar’s second – 2-0. Coach Ziatas’ tolerance for defeat was now at its lowest – there was not going to be another loss today. Ange made way for JC and the tempo increased through the midfield as the balls came through thick and fast. Bobby held his own and Soteriou inspired with full voice. The Glove continued to outplay his opponent, each challenge he won served to increase his confidence and strength. This was the season defining moment, when everybody realised what it would mean to lose this game. The boys worked as a team playing a passing game again through the midfield and not afraid to play back to the defence. JC was a target man up front and when the opportunity was there for a long ball it was given. Tackles were hard yet fair, turns and runs timed to perfection. You could feel it, the comeback was mounting. At this moment, a hero needed to step-up and that hero would be none other than…Johnny Falidis. It was as if the story had already been written, a free-kick given just outside the box in a position perfect for his trademark left footed in-swinger. Mr. Freekick stepped up to the plate and like a golfer, that perfect swing hit the sweet spot and the ball floated as if time had stopped, curling its way right over the top of the keeper’s head and all anybody could do was watch – 2-1. The crowd erupted – this was what playing for FC Adelaide was all about; with our backs pressed up against the wall, against all odds, we were fighting. Heads were kept cool and simple balls were played, picking out a player every time, not wanting to give the ball away. Darren Cox was inspirational, not stopping for a breath, running back and forth trying to play that ball to the advantage of his team-mates at every opportunity, putting in tackles where they counted. There wasn’t long left, what more could be done if everything was already being thrown at the Cougars? The supporters were on edge, the energy was still there and then it happened; Johnny Falidis again receiving the ball out wide takes on a player with a darting run and from about 20 yards out blasts a shot towards the far post, the keeper waiting at the near and it looked like it was heading out but the accuracy was pin-point and into the side of the net it went – 2-2. Words cannot describe the feeling around the ground when the final whistle blew. This wasn’t a win but I assure you it meant much, much more than that.

THE BOTTOM LINE: There was not only one hero out there today, but a team of heroes. Adelaide’s fighting spirit was the difference and although there was not enough time for a winning goal, a point gained is certainly better than another 3 points lost. This season defining game epitomises the culture and mentality of every FC Adelaide player. Let’s hope we can do the business in coming weeks and build on this inspirational performance.

By Jonathon Milne