Northcote City's James Kalifatidis celebrates scoring the equalizer, while a dejected Ryan Ollerton contemplates what could've been. Image courtesy: Peter Psarros
By Damien Walsh
Northcote City scored an extremely late equalizer and earning a point against the Green Gully Cavaliers in their Round 18 match at John Cain Memorial Park on Saturday.
Interestingly, the match was played under the watchful eyes of Melbourne Heart player, John Aloisi.
Northcote City kicked off and the game was underway. Both teams were giving away possession easily and could string together no more than three or four passes.
After 10 minutes the teams were able to produce some chances and the first one went to Northcote City. Jonathan Voulgaris took on a player and put in a great cross to the back post. Hayden D’Agostino was there but he failed to even get a touch on the ball.
The next chance fell to Trent Rixon in the 18th minute. Adriano Chiappetta chipped the ball forward for Rixon to run on to, he headed the ball out in front of him and past a defender and then chipped the keeper on the half volley. He was getting ready to celebrate and the fans started to cheer but then the ball bounced into the post and was cleared out of danger.
Rixon had another chance in the 25th minute when the ball was played for over the top. Once again Rixon nodded it forward past his opposition and hit it on the half volley, and once again he saw his shot go past the keeper. This time, however, his shot grazed the post and went out for a goal kick.
Green Gully’s first good chance of the game came in the 36th minute. Mathew Sanders chipped the forward to Graham Hockless, Hockless held it up in the penalty box and then laid it back to Sanders who hit it first time. Sanders’ shot was blocked and then cleared by the Northcote defence.
That was the last exciting play of the first half and the teams went in to the break still deadlocked at nil all.
The second half began much like the first, with both teams struggling to keep possession. Green Gully had the first chance, in the 56th minute they received a corner. The ball was crossed in but cleared by Northcote back to where it came from. The ball was played back in and this time was headed out towards the back post. Andy Vargas picked up the ball with his back to goal, he turned quickly and let fly from 15 yards out, and his shot sailed into the top right corner of the goal. The Cavaliers were now one- nil up.
Northcote almost got an equalizer 10 minutes later when Voulgaris had the ball on the right wing. He cut inside and played a diagonal ball through to Rixon, however, Rixon wasn’t quick enough and Nikola Roganovic came out and claimed the ball.
Vargas had a golden opportunity to score a second goal and put Green Gully up by two goals in the 70th minute. The ball was crossed in from the left wing and Chiappetta attempted to clear but the ball went straight to Vargas on the edge of the six yard box. Vargas had time to control and shoot, but somehow he managed to hit the crossbar and then the ball was cleared away from danger.
Five minutes later the Cavaliers had another great chance from a corner. Hockless whipped the ball in and Brent Fisher had a free header, but watched as his shot was saved by Northcote keeper Chris Theodoridis-Petropoulos.
Northcote were trying desperately hard to find the equalizer and it wasn’t until the first minute of injury time were they able to get it. A long ball was played out of defence by Northcote and James Kalifatidis set off to chase it down, a mix up by the Green Gully centre backs allowed Kalifatidis to nip in and get a touch on the ball, he then chipped Roganovic and the ball landed in the back of the net. Northcote had equalized with barely a minute remaining in the match.
A few kicks later and the referee blew his whistle for full time and the match ended 1-1.
The draw sees Green Gully remain in fourth position and Northcote City will either be in sixth or seventh position depending on other results. Green Gully will travel to Knights Stadium next Saturday to take on Sunshine George Cross. Meanwhile, Northcote will be battling it out with Dandenong Thunder at George Andrews Reserve, also played on Saturday.
Northcote City: Chris THEODORIDIS-PETROPOULOS (GK), Adriano CHIAPPETTA, Antoni JANKOVSKI, Nichloas CURTIS, Mark, MCGOUGH (Stuart NICHOLSON 69’), Trent RIXON, Harry KINIGOPOULOS, Hayden D’AGOSTINO, Eddie SOARES (Nick TZOULIS 87’), James KALIFATIDIS, Jonathan VOULGARIS.
Unused Subs: Nick GOUNTARAS, George PAPADOPOULOS, Paul SAVIO.
Yellow Cards: Voulgaris 39’, Jankovski 42’.
Goal: Kalifatidis 90’.
Green Gully Cavaliers: Nikola ROGANOVIC (GK), Daniel JONES, Steven BURTON, Timothy GOULD, Graham HOCKLESS, Nicholas ROBINSON, Mathew SANDERS (Gary WALES 74’), Ryan OLLERTON, Mile MEDJEDOVIC, Andy VARGAS, Brent FISHER (Michael ANDERSON 81’).
Unused Subs: Cameron DRAKE, Kyriakos GEROHRISTODOULOU.
Yellow Cards: Jones 44’, Hockless 58’, Ollerton 67’, Anderson 86’.
Goal: Vargas 56’
Last updated: Saturday July 17, 2010 9:38PM
Back