The Olympia Warriors have moved to the top of the NPL TAS table with a 3-1 win over the Glenorchy Knights. Rowan Heggie brought a dreary game to life with his stunning bicycle kick that gave the Knights the lead, before Joffrey Nkoso fired back within a minute. Jack Ryan then put the Warriors back in front before Nkoso's second goal, coming in stoppage time iced the victory.
With league-leaders Devonport dropping points last match, the Warriors went into this clash knowing they had the chance to go top.
Before the match got underway there was a short ANZAC Day service in which presidents of Knights, Olympia, Zebras and South Hobart laid wreath before all in attendance held a minute silence accompanied by the last post.
[caption id="attachment_10901" align="alignnone" width="4096"]
A solemn occasion- Solstice Photography[/caption]
Shortly after kick-off it was clear that the Warriors had gone back to a 4-3-3 after using the diamond in the last encounter with against the Knights just six days previous in the league, but despite the bigger ground and less midfielders to bypass the Knights struggled to play out from the back early on in the match.
Olympia were threatening for the first twenty minutes of the encounter, with a lot of the play going throw Joffrey Nkoso, but Knights were doing just enough to prevent their opponents from getting any shots away.
Nicholas Naden kick-started the best period of the match for Knights when he used his first-touch to flick it over Paul Stevens’ head, turning him in the process before his half-volley deflected out for a corner.
The tide was turning and Olympia’s attacking play became less and less frequent as the first-half wore on. The Knights missed a few half-chances towards the end of the first-half, but it was the referee that perhaps denied them their best chance.
In the 44th minute Naden attempted to turn Lucas Hill and looked like he had until the Olympia defender dragged him down, but despite the cries of penalty the referee waved on play.
The coaches would have had plenty to say to their squads at half-time in an attempt to liven them up, and whatever they said seemed to have worked.
There were half-chances for both sides early in the second-half, but ten minutes was the true definition of end-to-end football.
Warren Wadawu played an in-swinging corner which beat everyone including the keeper before it crashed into the far-post.
The ball fell out to the Knights who countered through Nowicki who latched onto a through ball and seemed to be in a one on one with the keeper before Bay Kurtz sprinted back to make a challenge, the ball rolling out for a corner.
Sam James whipped the corner in that found Rowan Heggie unmarked in the box, who latched onto the ball with a bicycle kick putting it in the back of the net with what will definitely be a contender for goal of the year.
[caption id="attachment_10934" align="alignnone" width="602"]
Heggie's goal was a stunner- Solstice Photography[/caption]
The lead lasted all of one minute, as Hill knocked a ball over the top of the Knights defence to Joffrey Nkoso who used his body to hold-off Tyler Harrison before smashing a volley that beat Lachlan Hart at his near-post.
Only one minute after that Ladic played Nkoso through after a one-two but his toe-poke was well-saved by Hart in goal.
Olympia would only have to wait until the 72nd minute to get their lead through Jack Ryan who caught onto a cut-back from Ladic, Ryan’s shot just getting the better of Hart who got a hand to it but couldn’t prevent the ball from rolling into the back of the net, with Tyler Harrison obstructing him somewhat.
Olympia managed to slow the game down after gaining the lead, keeping the ball without leaving themselves open at the back, much in the same way they played last week.
Knights only impact on the game late was substitute Nowicki picking up a yellow card in the 88th minute for giving a bit too much lip to the referee.
With the game looking all but over Nkoso capped off a good second-half performance for the Warriors by burning Toghill and beating the keeper one on one to seal the win in the 93rd minute.
Three points for the Warriors put them equal on top but Devonport can regain their lead on Saturday against Launceston City.
[caption id="attachment_10918" align="alignnone" width="4096"]
Solstice Photography[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_10917" align="alignnone" width="3190"]
Solstice Photography[/caption]
https://youtu.be/SQKrFTC6elI
A solemn occasion- Solstice Photography[/caption]
Shortly after kick-off it was clear that the Warriors had gone back to a 4-3-3 after using the diamond in the last encounter with against the Knights just six days previous in the league, but despite the bigger ground and less midfielders to bypass the Knights struggled to play out from the back early on in the match.
Olympia were threatening for the first twenty minutes of the encounter, with a lot of the play going throw Joffrey Nkoso, but Knights were doing just enough to prevent their opponents from getting any shots away.
Nicholas Naden kick-started the best period of the match for Knights when he used his first-touch to flick it over Paul Stevens’ head, turning him in the process before his half-volley deflected out for a corner.
The tide was turning and Olympia’s attacking play became less and less frequent as the first-half wore on. The Knights missed a few half-chances towards the end of the first-half, but it was the referee that perhaps denied them their best chance.
In the 44th minute Naden attempted to turn Lucas Hill and looked like he had until the Olympia defender dragged him down, but despite the cries of penalty the referee waved on play.
The coaches would have had plenty to say to their squads at half-time in an attempt to liven them up, and whatever they said seemed to have worked.
There were half-chances for both sides early in the second-half, but ten minutes was the true definition of end-to-end football.
Warren Wadawu played an in-swinging corner which beat everyone including the keeper before it crashed into the far-post.
The ball fell out to the Knights who countered through Nowicki who latched onto a through ball and seemed to be in a one on one with the keeper before Bay Kurtz sprinted back to make a challenge, the ball rolling out for a corner.
Sam James whipped the corner in that found Rowan Heggie unmarked in the box, who latched onto the ball with a bicycle kick putting it in the back of the net with what will definitely be a contender for goal of the year.
[caption id="attachment_10934" align="alignnone" width="602"] Heggie's goal was a stunner- Solstice Photography[/caption]
The lead lasted all of one minute, as Hill knocked a ball over the top of the Knights defence to Joffrey Nkoso who used his body to hold-off Tyler Harrison before smashing a volley that beat Lachlan Hart at his near-post.
Only one minute after that Ladic played Nkoso through after a one-two but his toe-poke was well-saved by Hart in goal.
Olympia would only have to wait until the 72nd minute to get their lead through Jack Ryan who caught onto a cut-back from Ladic, Ryan’s shot just getting the better of Hart who got a hand to it but couldn’t prevent the ball from rolling into the back of the net, with Tyler Harrison obstructing him somewhat.
Olympia managed to slow the game down after gaining the lead, keeping the ball without leaving themselves open at the back, much in the same way they played last week.
Knights only impact on the game late was substitute Nowicki picking up a yellow card in the 88th minute for giving a bit too much lip to the referee.
With the game looking all but over Nkoso capped off a good second-half performance for the Warriors by burning Toghill and beating the keeper one on one to seal the win in the 93rd minute.
Three points for the Warriors put them equal on top but Devonport can regain their lead on Saturday against Launceston City.
[caption id="attachment_10918" align="alignnone" width="4096"] Solstice Photography[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_10917" align="alignnone" width="3190"] Solstice Photography[/caption]
https://youtu.be/SQKrFTC6elI