NPL NSW heavyweights Marconi Stallions are through to the FFA Cup round of 16 after overcoming South Hobart 3-0, in front of a bumper crowd at Blundstone Arena on Wednesday Night.
2’617 people showed up to the first game of football to be played at Blundstone Arena, with the vast majority of those hoping to see South Hobart cause an upset against the ex-NSL club, with some of those people still lining up for tickets at the thirty-minute mark.
Hardly a minute after kick-off the Stallions had a chance to take the lead when Martin Fernandez’s clever flick over the top put James Andrew through on goal, but his tame shot was stopped by South keeper Graham Wright’s foot.
That was as close as the Stallions would get to scoring for the first half an hour, and although they pressed South hard, the underdogs were able to keep a tight defensive shape.
South’s plans were interrupted in the 15th minute when Alex Walter limped off with an injury and was replaced by Kasper Hallam, the exciting youngster being put into the game a lot earlier than Ken Morton would have planned.
Wright was called-on again in the 31st minute when Giorgio Speranza whipped in a gorgeous ball from the left that was met by well by Marko Jesic, his header being tipped wide by the South Hobart gloveman.
Five minutes later Andrew was released down the left-side and his cross that was aimed for Jesic found the upper-arm of Declan Foley, whose pleas couldn’t stop the referee from pointing to the spot.
Jesic stood over the spot-kick and dispatched it comfortably into the bottom-right, sending Wright the wrong way in the process, before giving a choreographed celebration that the South fans did not appreciate, meeting it with plenty of boos.
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Solstice Photography[/caption]
South looked deflated after the goal and their tireless defensive work looked as though it was taking its toll, as the Stallions started to attack with ease in the latter stages of the half.
Jesic would capitalise on their dominance in the 40th minute, adding his and his team’s second when he found himself on the end of a Fernandez cross from the left, with the striker’s effort taking a slight deflection off South’s Hugh Ludford before it nestled in the back of the net.
South had a rare chance in stoppage time of the first half when Hallam managed to break into the Marconi box before laying-off to Darcy Hall but his effort was blazed high and wide, a chance that could have changed the half-time talks of both sides.
No matter what Ken Morton had told his players it came to light very quickly that Marconi were going to continue to dominate this match-up, their physicality and speed of play was too much for South to handle.
In the 56th minute Giorgio Speranza went close to scoring what would have been one of the goals of the tournament when his bullet of a strike from 35 yards cannoned into the upright.
As the half wore on Marconi went into cruise-control as the young South Hobart side struggled to keep their shape.
The Stallions would add their third in the 89th minute when substitute Damian Tsekenis sealed his sides professional performance when he nodded home following a Jesic corner, sending the Marconi bench into raptures.
The full-time whistle sounded five minutes later and judging by Marconi’s celebrations, they may continue to party long into the night.
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Solstice Photography[/caption]
It wasn’t a great outcome for the young South Hobart side, but one they can take pride in considering their young and depleted squad, something Ken Morton touched on post-game.
“I’m super, super proud of the young players who came in and did a great job,”
But he wasn’t too happy with the opposition.
“It was pretty much as we thought it would be. Long-flighted balls, batter you into the ground, bully you, bully the referee from the sides as well,”
“That’s how they play and they're very good at it. They’re very good with the long-flighted balls out of defence and they’re very quick upfront.”
Morton was thankful for the numbers who turned up to the match.
“I heard the last person came in 36 minutes in… they got behind us which was fantastic”
South are out of the FFA Cup and will now focus back on league action as the Marconi Stallions look forward to the draw for the round of 16.
Solstice Photography[/caption]
South looked deflated after the goal and their tireless defensive work looked as though it was taking its toll, as the Stallions started to attack with ease in the latter stages of the half.
Jesic would capitalise on their dominance in the 40th minute, adding his and his team’s second when he found himself on the end of a Fernandez cross from the left, with the striker’s effort taking a slight deflection off South’s Hugh Ludford before it nestled in the back of the net.
South had a rare chance in stoppage time of the first half when Hallam managed to break into the Marconi box before laying-off to Darcy Hall but his effort was blazed high and wide, a chance that could have changed the half-time talks of both sides.
No matter what Ken Morton had told his players it came to light very quickly that Marconi were going to continue to dominate this match-up, their physicality and speed of play was too much for South to handle.
In the 56th minute Giorgio Speranza went close to scoring what would have been one of the goals of the tournament when his bullet of a strike from 35 yards cannoned into the upright.
As the half wore on Marconi went into cruise-control as the young South Hobart side struggled to keep their shape.
The Stallions would add their third in the 89th minute when substitute Damian Tsekenis sealed his sides professional performance when he nodded home following a Jesic corner, sending the Marconi bench into raptures.
The full-time whistle sounded five minutes later and judging by Marconi’s celebrations, they may continue to party long into the night.
[caption id="attachment_12796" align="alignnone" width="615"] Solstice Photography[/caption]
It wasn’t a great outcome for the young South Hobart side, but one they can take pride in considering their young and depleted squad, something Ken Morton touched on post-game.
“I’m super, super proud of the young players who came in and did a great job,”
But he wasn’t too happy with the opposition.
“It was pretty much as we thought it would be. Long-flighted balls, batter you into the ground, bully you, bully the referee from the sides as well,”
“That’s how they play and they're very good at it. They’re very good with the long-flighted balls out of defence and they’re very quick upfront.”
Morton was thankful for the numbers who turned up to the match.
“I heard the last person came in 36 minutes in… they got behind us which was fantastic”
South are out of the FFA Cup and will now focus back on league action as the Marconi Stallions look forward to the draw for the round of 16.