The Hobart Zebras avenged their Summer Cup defeat and showed the young Lions side might still be a little way off title contention just yet, as they claimed a big 4-0 win in their Saturday afternoon Super League clash. After a scoreless first half, the Zebras snapped into gear in the second, scoring 3 times in 13 minutes to power away before Allie Berry put the cherry on top with her stoppage time strike.
The Zebras are showing they’ve got something special in their locker up front, with Steventon, Nichols, Kannegiesser and Berry all hitting the scoreboard. For Kingborough, despite the strides they have made, they were brought undone by a familiar problem; a lapse in concentration that saw them concede three goals in a fifteen minute window.
The tension was rife from the kick off. Kingborough were out to prove they’re fighting for a spot at the top this season, while the Zebras were looking to bounce back from two losses, one at the hands of the Lions in the Summer Cup. The Zebras came out of the gates strong early on, looking to control possession across the park, however the Lions soon found their groove and the match opened up for both sides to attack.
It was a half of brick wall defences, clever midfield play and forwards unable to find the space necessary to really terrorise the goals. Both teams were able to move smoothly in the transition and work the combinations through the centre of the park, whilst backing up to defend well and recover. The forwards across the board found it difficult to get in behind the defence, with both sets of keepers happy to clean up the scraps. A couple of half chances presented themselves for both sides, but it was the battle between Mason and Davis bringing the best entertainment of the half. The defender seemingly getting the better of her defender throughout play.
Enter the second half, and the fresh legs of Kannegiesser would make an impact, adding a new threat on the right flank and a different mentality for the home side. Whilst Zoe Horgan controlled play during the first half for the Lions, the Zebras curtailed her influence in the second. Finding four goals in the second half to put the game to bed may be what’s talked about in this game, but it was the Zebras hunger in the midfield and willingness to concede two yellow cards to cut off any supply to the Lions forwards, that won them this match.
The deadlock broke in the 55th minute. After some initial confusion following a corner, the Zebras were given the opportunity to open the scoring from the penalty spot. Up stepped Steventon who delivered a repeat performance from last weekend, cleaning the cobwebs out of the top right hand corner to leave the keeper with no chance.
With a lead to defend, the Zebras found another level and continued to press. Meanwhile, whenever the Lions begun to build anything they were either cut out in the midfield, or met with a wall of defenders. Soon after the penalty, the Zebras struck again. Working the Lions line well, Rand put a ball through to Kannegiesser who dragged all the attention towards her. This attention meant a simple square pass to Nichols was all that was needed to give the forward some space to shoot, and she wasn’t going to miss, doubling the Zebras lead.
Not long after, Kannegiesser wound up doing it herself, forcing a turnover from the centre back, she ran clear through on goal. Her shot took a deflection from Gardner, who managed to get some gloves on the effort,but she couldn’t keep out the rocket of a shot.
With fifteen minutes of play remaining the Lions were cut down to ten players on the field, as Davis hit the deck in an off the ball incident. The centre forward walked off the pitch holding her hand to her head and having used all their substitutions already, the Lions chance of a late rally were shot.
Meanwhile, the Zebras showed glimpses of their ruthless 2017 best in stoppage time. Having already looked a threat moments earlier, the Zebras put the cherry on top of the cake. Off the back of quick play from a throw in, Berry managed to find the ball at her feet near the top of the penalty area. A quality finish was all it took to ensure her side saw out a very convincing 4-0 win over the Lions.
After a first half where both sides made compelling cases to be in the lead, in the second half the Lions simply looked to run out of options whilst the Zebras found another gear to skip away with the win.