The Hobart Zebras have produced a come from behind win to down Riverside 6-2 at KGV on Saturday.
Double’s to both Matthew Sanders and Adam Mckeown helped the men in black and white overcome a two-goal deficit to run out convincing winners in their last game of the season.
The game kicked off with the Zebras holding early possession, however it wasn’t long before the visitors found their way into the contest. Just three minutes in and Nil Sanz won the ball well in an attacking area, Sanz then found Mccarrager, however he hit just wide of the goal.
This chance sparked the Zebras into action, with the home side playing the ball around the box before a goal saving intercept by Humphrey saw the visitors prevent a goal.
It wasn’t long after this clearance that Riverside had found their first goal of the game, when Sanz struck in the 6th minute. This goal came after Sanz won the ball, before streaming down the right of the goal. His run created a three on two chance for the visitors, however Sanz didn’t need his teammates, hitting past Whatman to move the score to 1-0.
This goal did not change the pattern of the game with the Zebras continuing to hold the majority of possession. Adam Mckeown found himself on the end of two chances, however both went begging. Riverside had a great chance to find their second when Whatman spilled a freekick, however he collected well.
Moments after this chance the visitors would break through for a second, when Sanz won the ball. Sanz then found Campbell at the top of the box, with Campbell hitting a fantastic shot into the top corner of the goal to send Riverside up 2-0 with 23 minutes played.
Riverside almost had a third three minutes later when they took advantage of some poor defending, however Mccarragher headed wide of the goal. The Zebras had a chance of their own not long after, when Huigsloot, Sanders and Mckeown combined, however Hill was there to stop the ball.
This missed chance did not halt the Zebras as they looked to get back into the contest, and they soon found a breakthrough. In the 36th minute Adam Mckeown received the ball in the box, hitting past Hill well to move the score to 2-1.
Now back in the contest, the Zebras went about finding an equaliser, and it very nearly came through Edwards. Edwards had another opportunity on the cusp of halftime, only to be denied by a brilliant Jarrod Hill save, with the score staying at 2-0 as the teams went into the rooms.
The second half kicked off like the first ended with the Zebras searching for a second goal. Sanders hit a powerful shot on target just a minute into the half before Hill stood strong to deny Sanders again not long after.
The Zebras continued to push for their second and could not find a breakthrough, Huigsloot, Pace and Dillon each struck goalward to no avail, before Nicky Edwards struck into the bottom corner to bring the score to 2-2 with 71 minutes played.
With the scores now level the game was in the balance but it wasn’t long before some drama occurred. Just three minutes after finding the equaliser, the home side were gifted a golden opportunity when Sanders was controversially adjudged to have been brought down in the box. This foul saw the referee point to the spot, and Sanders made no mistake, putting his side ahead 3-2 to.
Not long after Sander’s first goal of the game, the Zebras captain turned from scorer to provider when in the 78th minute he shook off a foul to cross the ball into the back post. This pass found Adam Mckeown, with Mckeown’s strike having too much power for the hands of Hill and moving the score to 4-2.
Ten minutes after the Zebras fourth, they found a fifth, with second half substitute Matthew Pace producing a good finish after a long ball from Reid found its way to him. This goal extended the home sides lead to 5-2 and five minutes later the Zebras had a sixth.
The Zebras sixth goal of the game came after Walsh put the ball in the box, with Matthew Sanders striking for his second of the game and ensuring his Golden Boot triumph. This moved the score to 6-2 and that was how it remained, with the Zebras running out convincing winners.
Speaking post-match Riverside coach Alex Gaetani was happy with his sides first half but said that things in the second half did not go his sides way. He outlined that moving into next year his side need to be able to hold onto games when they get the lead, saying that whilst the penalty changed the contest, his side need to work themselves into a position where big decisions don’t impact their lead.
Overall Gaetani said that the clubs first year in the NPL has been a success. The goal was about playing a certain type of football that was competitive against top sides and the young playing group did this well, with the club believing it had the potential to be successful in the future.
Zebras coach David Smith thought his side played some good football, saying that “in the second half we just turned it on for 45 minutes” and labeling this half as one of the most complete performances they have had. Smith said that his side’s season was ultimately disappointing, but “it showed us where we’re at.” He outlined that they struggled against some midtable teams but fell against some of the other top teams.
When questioned about the Clarence – Zebras merger Smith outlined the positives for both clubs. Smith said that the lack of a home base for Zebras was one of the main reasons for a merger, along with both clubs needing volunteers. He also explained that the mixing of two unique club cultures would be a challenge, but hard decisions need to be made going forward, and said the older Zebras players could help the Clarence youngsters.
The result brings an end to the NPL season for both sides with the Zebras finishing in 4th and Riverside in 8th.