The Semi Final weekend for the 2019 Lakoseljac Cup competition is upon us. A place in the Monday June 10th Cup Final looms for the victors, with an intriguing pair of games to determine who will be left standing to duke it out for the coveted silverware.
On Saturday, the 2016 and 2018 Champions Devonport, will be heavy favourites to make a third final in four years, but they will have to overcome the underdogs University who have made an inspired charge to the final four.
University have gone up North twice and promptly defeated Launceston City 2-1 in the Round of 16 before smashing Somerset 5-0 in the Quarter Final. This time around they will have home ground advantage up at Olinda Grove as they attempt to continue their surprising run of "Cupsets". An underwhelming draw with Nelson on the weekend wasn't the ideal lead in for them, but on their home patch they should provide staunch opposition to the current NPL ladder leaders.
Don't underestimate the Bees in this one, Olinda Grove is not an easy place to come get a result. The recent good weather means it won't be a bog by any means, but it certainly won't be the smoothest surface the Strikers play on this year, and you can probably expect a fair helping of Wallaby droppings on the pitch.
It's not just the home ground advantage though, they have some genuine quality in their outfit. Players like Kenneth Trac, Samuel Fahey and Thomas Roach are more than capable of mixing it with the best in the state. Trac in particular may hold the key, his ability to produce a moment of magic from nothing may be required against a team who will likely dominate in the possession stakes.
I am also particularly intrigued by the likely Toby Macgregor v Max Fitzgerald match up. Macgregor for mine is one of the best full backs in the state, flying under the radar in the Championship, but now he comes up against an opponent who would be nailed on the left wing in an NPL TAS team of the season so far. If he can stand up to that test, it will go a long way to his side pulling off the upset.
[caption id="attachment_11519" align="alignnone" width="599"]
University must shut down Fitzgerald, and Toby Macgregor is well equipped to do just that- IC- Jamie Richardson[/caption]
The Strikers have also been handed a major blow, with VISA issue causing last seasons Player of the Final Guillermo Lazcano to depart the club. Whilst the Strikers are stacked when it comes to defensive options, he has been the best performing CB in the State over the past 18 months, so it still stings them somewhat despite possessing the depth to cover him.
Obviously the Strikers should win this game, as it stands they are the top side in the State up against an opponent from a lower division. They have oodles of quality are coming off an impressive 2-1 road win over the Warriors last week. Yet anything can happen in the Cup, and we've seen some slight wobbles from them en route, including one of their worst halves of the season against Kingborough in the Round of 16. If they are off their game as they were that day, then they are vulnerable to this talented University side. If they play their best, then they will likely be preparing for what would be a remarkable third final in just four seasons.
[caption id="attachment_7162" align="alignnone" width="593"]
Lazcano was immense in the 2018 decider- Solstice Photography[/caption]
Then on Sunday at Darcy Street, the latest instalment of the great modern rivalry between South Hobart and Olympia is on show.
The pair have met twice in the NPL this season and played out two thrilling games, after South had dominated the head to head match ups between the sides between 2016-2018.
Olympia snapped a run of 12 games without a win against South on the opening night, when they claimed a 2-1 win at Warrior Park, before playing out arguably the game of the season in a thrilling 3-3 draw in their more recent meeting at Darcy Street.
https://youtu.be/uu_GWXIDNlU
The tactical battle in this one will be very interesting indeed. Ken Morton highlighted the effectiveness of the Warriors pressing game, but suggested home ground advantage could help negate that, pointing out
“They played against us in the first game at Warrior Park and they pressed us very hard, and I saw that against Devonport as well at Warrior Park, they pressed Devonport and really made them work hard for that result."
“I think when you get to Darcy Street, it’s a little bit bigger ground, they might not be able to continue to press with that intensity throughout the 90 minutes, so it’s possible we could take advantage of that situation if it arises."
Morton also suggested he was expecting Rob Clarke to deploy 2 strikers again, a tactic Clarke admitted was his preference. He suggested it was an exercise in opportunity cost, as they would need to determine whether it was worth going with that approach for the edge it would give them in central areas, because it would weaken them the wider areas of the pitch; an area of major strength for South.
The other area of tactical intrigue lies in the South Hobart net. Last time around Morton opted for the veteran Graham Wright in net over regular starter Kieran Brown due to his stronger aerial presence. Against a side with aerial threats like Ryan, Hill, Stevens and with someone like Jordan Scott who can whip a quality in swinging corner, its an understandable call. But Wright doesn't offer the same level of high line sweeping coverage, something we saw Joffrey Nkoso take full advantage of in the Darcy Street game and it will make his pace more of a threat in behind. Morton refused to reveal his choice at Friday's conference, but whichever way he goes could well dictate what approach the Warriors opt for with their own attacking setup.
[caption id="attachment_11521" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Morton has a big call to make in net- Solstice Photography[/caption]
There is little between these two sides, we've seen that in both the games they've played out in 2019 and Sunday looms as one of the games of the season. A massive rivalry playing out in a Cup Semi Final at one of the great local football grounds. It doesn't get much better than that. So do get along to Darcy Street on Sunday because this could be an epic, though whether we get anything as dramatic as Jordan Scott's stoppage time equaliser from their last meeting remains to be seen.
Semi Finals
Saturday 25 May
University v Devonport, Olinda Grove, 2:00pm
Sunday 26 May
South Hobart v Olympia, Darcy Street, 1:00pm
University must shut down Fitzgerald, and Toby Macgregor is well equipped to do just that- IC- Jamie Richardson[/caption]
The Strikers have also been handed a major blow, with VISA issue causing last seasons Player of the Final Guillermo Lazcano to depart the club. Whilst the Strikers are stacked when it comes to defensive options, he has been the best performing CB in the State over the past 18 months, so it still stings them somewhat despite possessing the depth to cover him.
Obviously the Strikers should win this game, as it stands they are the top side in the State up against an opponent from a lower division. They have oodles of quality are coming off an impressive 2-1 road win over the Warriors last week. Yet anything can happen in the Cup, and we've seen some slight wobbles from them en route, including one of their worst halves of the season against Kingborough in the Round of 16. If they are off their game as they were that day, then they are vulnerable to this talented University side. If they play their best, then they will likely be preparing for what would be a remarkable third final in just four seasons.
[caption id="attachment_7162" align="alignnone" width="593"] Lazcano was immense in the 2018 decider- Solstice Photography[/caption]
Then on Sunday at Darcy Street, the latest instalment of the great modern rivalry between South Hobart and Olympia is on show.
The pair have met twice in the NPL this season and played out two thrilling games, after South had dominated the head to head match ups between the sides between 2016-2018.
Olympia snapped a run of 12 games without a win against South on the opening night, when they claimed a 2-1 win at Warrior Park, before playing out arguably the game of the season in a thrilling 3-3 draw in their more recent meeting at Darcy Street.
https://youtu.be/uu_GWXIDNlU
The tactical battle in this one will be very interesting indeed. Ken Morton highlighted the effectiveness of the Warriors pressing game, but suggested home ground advantage could help negate that, pointing out
“They played against us in the first game at Warrior Park and they pressed us very hard, and I saw that against Devonport as well at Warrior Park, they pressed Devonport and really made them work hard for that result."
“I think when you get to Darcy Street, it’s a little bit bigger ground, they might not be able to continue to press with that intensity throughout the 90 minutes, so it’s possible we could take advantage of that situation if it arises."
Morton also suggested he was expecting Rob Clarke to deploy 2 strikers again, a tactic Clarke admitted was his preference. He suggested it was an exercise in opportunity cost, as they would need to determine whether it was worth going with that approach for the edge it would give them in central areas, because it would weaken them the wider areas of the pitch; an area of major strength for South.
The other area of tactical intrigue lies in the South Hobart net. Last time around Morton opted for the veteran Graham Wright in net over regular starter Kieran Brown due to his stronger aerial presence. Against a side with aerial threats like Ryan, Hill, Stevens and with someone like Jordan Scott who can whip a quality in swinging corner, its an understandable call. But Wright doesn't offer the same level of high line sweeping coverage, something we saw Joffrey Nkoso take full advantage of in the Darcy Street game and it will make his pace more of a threat in behind. Morton refused to reveal his choice at Friday's conference, but whichever way he goes could well dictate what approach the Warriors opt for with their own attacking setup.
[caption id="attachment_11521" align="alignnone" width="555"] Morton has a big call to make in net- Solstice Photography[/caption]
There is little between these two sides, we've seen that in both the games they've played out in 2019 and Sunday looms as one of the games of the season. A massive rivalry playing out in a Cup Semi Final at one of the great local football grounds. It doesn't get much better than that. So do get along to Darcy Street on Sunday because this could be an epic, though whether we get anything as dramatic as Jordan Scott's stoppage time equaliser from their last meeting remains to be seen.
Semi Finals
Saturday 25 May
University v Devonport, Olinda Grove, 2:00pm
Sunday 26 May
South Hobart v Olympia, Darcy Street, 1:00pm