For the second week in a row, Launceston City were the victims of an excellent second-half performance by a top-four side. Last week, City were in the match against the Hobart Zebras going into the break but were outperformed in the second half. This week, after being in the match and only 1-0 down at half time, they let two goals slip to lose 3-0 to an Olympia side looking to remain in touch with the Devonport Strikers.
The Olympia Warriors capitalised on a slow start from the home side and put their first goal away just ten minutes into the match. Bay Kurtz helped his side gain the early advantage when he tucked away a shot from inside the area. The move began when Joffrey Nkoso used some intricate footwork to beat his marker on the halfway line. The young attacker then drove forward and picked out Jack Ryan with a through ball to send him through on goal. However, Lachlan Clark read the move well and come out to deny Ryan before tipping away a follow-up shot from Wadawu. Unfortunately for City, Kurtz was first to the ball and put his shot away.
Throughout the remainder of the first half, City managed to work their way back into the game but couldn't put away any of their chances. However, in the second half Olympia turned it up a gear and City weren't able to keep up. Two second-half goals from Nkoso secured the three points for the second-placed side.
In the 64th minute, Jordan Scott played a lobbed ball across the field to Nkoso who brought the ball down with ease and ran past his defender. After beating his marker, Nkoso looked to take the ball around the keeper but was brought down in the process as Clark attempted to claim the ball. Despite the challenge, the ball still ended up in the net and sent the visitors 2-0 up. Shouts for a red card from the Olympia bench were ignored by the referee and play continued.
Olympia's third and final goal came when Nkoso finished off a well-worked counter-attack after City had pushed players forward looking for a way back into the game. Lucas Hill won the ball on the edge of his own 18-yard box, allowing Yost, Nkoso, and Mearns to link up and send Ryan through on goal. Ryan centred the ball to Nkoso who finished into the empty net and put the result beyond any doubt.
City will be looking to bounce back next week when they are at home again against Clarence. Olympia will face a tough task against a reinvented Kingborough Lions side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM7b8EpQseY
https://youtu.be/eySfzFoVGbQ