The Olympia Warriors secured their place in the Summer Cup Final with a 3-2 win over South Hobart at Warrior Park on Wednesday night, but they won't necessarily walk away thrilled with the manner in which they did so. Coming in as heavy favourites against an inexperienced South Hobart side, the Warriors were made to work hard by a plucky South Hobart team who had the better of the first half, before finding themselves overrun in the second 45 as the Warriors flexed their attacking muscle.
With all the player departures dominating the off-season discourse around South, they entered this encounter with a point to prove. Yet they made the worst possible start when Ewan Larby gifted the ball away at the back, allowing Jack Ryan to smash home the opening goal just moments after kick off with the first shot of the game.
Remarkably that shot would be the Warriors only attempt in the half, as they found themselves being outplayed by a South side who looked the sharper side in possession and more up for the contest than their hosts. With Declan Foley setting the tone up front as a hard working target man and Kobe Kemp/Bradley Lakoseljac pulling the midfield strings, they looked the more likely side to score for most of the half. A penalty won by Sam Berezansky afforded them the chance to draw level on 33 minutes, which Kemp stroked it home to make it deservedly 1-1, as South then went about pushing hard for the go ahead goal before half time.
Berezansky was particularly impressive, he appears to have had quite the growth spurt over the Summer and looks like being a key pillar in replacing the departed Walter and Hamlett in the South Hobart attack. He got in behind frequently and linked up well with his fellow attackers and midfield, whilst new American centre back Partick Kibler impressed in defence.
Only a good double save from Darby Randall kept the scores level, with the first a huge 1 on 1 block to deny Samson Juju after a lovely flowing move from the back by South and the Warriors could consider themselves fortuitous to head into the sheds on terms at 1-1.
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Berezansky impressed for South- PlessPix[/caption]
One suspects a few stern words were spoken by Andrew Brown at half time, but whatever he said certainly drew a response as Olympia came out with much more intensity about their play in the second half. It was no surprise Jackson Khasif was the supplier of the Warriors second goal, as he frequently terrorised the defence in the second half and his cross picked out Jack Ryan who blasted a sumptuous left footed volley home to make it 2-1.
As the game wore on, the Warriors began to take control of it and Nick Mearns should have made it 3-1 when he hit the post then blazed the rebound over the top.
It was the introduction of Jofrey Nkoso that would seal the result though, the tiring South defence unable to cope with his lightning pace and dynamic movement. He tore past the last line of defence after a long ball was knocked in his direction and rounded the keeper to make it 3-1 on 76 minutes and all but secure the Warriors place in the Summer Cup Final.
The final 10 minutes was a wide open affair and saw multiple penalties squandered by Olympia as they failed to drive the final nail into the coffin. Austin Yost and Adam Gorrie both missed from the spot, and it could well have proved costly when substitute Sam Tooze struck late for South, beating Randall from the angle in the sixth minute of additional time.
It was too late though, the whistle sounding seconds later and seeing the Warriors run out 3-2 winners in what proved an extremeness entertaining game.
It's rare the losing side walks away the happier of the two sides, but that may well be the case here. Whilst Olympia will take the win their first half performance was below what would be expected of such a strongly assembled squad, leaving them with plenty still to improve upon ahead of the season. South meanwhile will never be happy losing to their bitter rivals, but they can draw plenty of positives out of the performance given the inexperience in their starting lineup.
[caption id="attachment_13631" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Foley enjoyed a physical battle with the Warriors defence- PlessPix[/caption]
Berezansky impressed for South- PlessPix[/caption]
One suspects a few stern words were spoken by Andrew Brown at half time, but whatever he said certainly drew a response as Olympia came out with much more intensity about their play in the second half. It was no surprise Jackson Khasif was the supplier of the Warriors second goal, as he frequently terrorised the defence in the second half and his cross picked out Jack Ryan who blasted a sumptuous left footed volley home to make it 2-1.
As the game wore on, the Warriors began to take control of it and Nick Mearns should have made it 3-1 when he hit the post then blazed the rebound over the top.
It was the introduction of Jofrey Nkoso that would seal the result though, the tiring South defence unable to cope with his lightning pace and dynamic movement. He tore past the last line of defence after a long ball was knocked in his direction and rounded the keeper to make it 3-1 on 76 minutes and all but secure the Warriors place in the Summer Cup Final.
The final 10 minutes was a wide open affair and saw multiple penalties squandered by Olympia as they failed to drive the final nail into the coffin. Austin Yost and Adam Gorrie both missed from the spot, and it could well have proved costly when substitute Sam Tooze struck late for South, beating Randall from the angle in the sixth minute of additional time.
It was too late though, the whistle sounding seconds later and seeing the Warriors run out 3-2 winners in what proved an extremeness entertaining game.
It's rare the losing side walks away the happier of the two sides, but that may well be the case here. Whilst Olympia will take the win their first half performance was below what would be expected of such a strongly assembled squad, leaving them with plenty still to improve upon ahead of the season. South meanwhile will never be happy losing to their bitter rivals, but they can draw plenty of positives out of the performance given the inexperience in their starting lineup.
[caption id="attachment_13631" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Foley enjoyed a physical battle with the Warriors defence- PlessPix[/caption]