Devonport and South Hobart favoured to make Summer Cup Final

Photo:  Manny Hennicke will make his debut in goal for Clarence Zebras. [PlessPix] 

South Hobart and Devonport Strikers are the most fancied teams to contest next weekend’s NPL Summer Cup Final.

Tomorrow, in the final round-robin matches, South Hobart take on Glenorchy Knights at KGV Park at 11.45am, while Devonport host Launceston City at Valley Road at 6.30pm.

South Hobart have won their two games to date, while the Knights have won one and lost one game.

Knights did beat South Hobart in a pre-season friendly some weeks ago, but South Hobart coach Ken Morton dismisses any significance to that result.

He said it had been an even game with both teams having good moments.

South Hobart will not start Bradley Lakoseljac, the scorer of numerous goals in the tournament to date, but he should have a place on the bench.

Ewan Sloan has trained well, according to Morton, and should be in the squad, along with Jayden Hey.

Central defender Jack Bowman is unavailable, while new signing from Launceston City, Jaden Fidra, is not yet match fit and won’t play.

Joshua Schofield and Alex Brown will be in Morton’s plans for this match.

“We’re in reasonable shape, but we are short of six or seven really strong games in succession at this stage,” said Morton.  “WE haven’t been competing regularly at top level up until now.”

Photo:  Glenorchy Knights coach James Sherman said the expected hot conditions will need to be managed. [PlessPix] 

Glenorchy Knights coach James Sherman said he would have some player back after missing last week.

Knights were without Nick Naden, Hugh Undy, Daniel Schmidt and Austin Yost last week against Kingborough, so I would expect all four to be on view tomorrow,

“We’re facing good opponents and, despite a few niggles, I’d expect us to be at full strength,” Sherman said.

Sherman will need to pray for a huge winning margin against South if they are to make the final.

South look the more goal-hungry side, having scored 10 goals in two games so far, a performance not matched by the Knights.

Devonport Strikers have been the benchmark for the competition, having won both their games easily and not having concede a goal.

They should account for Launceston City and book a place in next week’s final.

In other games tomorrow, Clarence Zebras meet Kingborough Lions United at KGV Park at 3.45pm, while Riverside Olympic host Launceston United at Windsor Park at 2.30pm.

Clarence Zebras will have Manuel Hennicke in goal in place of the suspended Josh Jones.

Hennicke was signed from University, while Jones is suspended after collecting two yellow cards in the two games he has played.

Clarence Zebras coach, Brett Pullen, said:  “There are several players out due to suspension and injury, but that creates opportunities for others to push for spots.

“The Summer Cup has been an excellent opportunity to look at the entire squad and by the conclusion of the tournament I will have looked at more than 20 players.

“I’m expecting an exciting game against Kingborough and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Riverside Olympic and Launceston United have had a difficult time in this tournament to date and both will be keen to get a win on the board in normal time to boost morale for the coming league season.

 

Wellington Phoenix visit Tassie for the second time in a few months

Photo:  Yan Sasse shoots and opens the scoring for Wellington Phoenix against Western United on Friday night.  Wellington met Devonport Strikers in the FA Cup at Valley Road last season.  [PlessPix] 

Last Friday’s A-League game in Launceston (17 February 2023) was poorly attended.

I saw one figure of 2,500 mentioned, and another of 2,000.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it was less than 2,000.

There were plenty of empty seats.

Photo:  Half-time in Launceston, with Wellington Phoenix leading Western United 1-0. [PlessPix] 

The attendance was much less than at North Hobart, when Western United beat Sydney FC 1-0 on 21 January 2023.

Friday’s game was the first that Western United has lost in Tasmania in six outings.

Photo:  A section of the crowd at UTAS Stadium. [PlessPix] 

Wellington Phoenix was the better side, a fact readily acknowledged by Western United’s coach, John Aloisi.

Ufuk Talay has transformed Wellington since he took the reins in 2019.

His transfer policy has been sensible and he has signed some useful recruits.

Photo:  Ufuk Talay issuing instructions to his Wellington team during play. [PlessPix] 

Brazilian Yan Madeiros Sasse, Bulgarian international Bozhidar Kraev, and the Pole, Oskar Zawada, have been important and influential signings and they scored the three goals on Friday night.

The pitch at UTAS Stadium was in perfect condition.

I know it’s an oval, and some reckon the spectators are too far from the action, but it’s not the only such A-League venue.

And, there are plenty pf circular or oval stadiums overseas, with running tracks around them, so what’s the problem?

It would be lovely to have a rectangular stadium in Tasmania for football, but in the meantime, let’s just get on with it.

Photo:  Wellington's Bulgarian international, Bozhidar Kraev, gets past Western United's Neil Kilkenny.  Kraev scored a brilliant goal to put his side 2-0 ahead. [PlessPix] 

I hope there will be more A-League games here in coming seasons.

Our last attempt to get a Tasmanian A-League team was rejected because we don’t have a rectangular stadium.

That was a bit disingenuous, especially given the fact we had the money.

When you’ve got the money and they still don’t want you, it smells of bias.

Anyway, let’s hope future bids will have greater success.

Photo:  Wellington's Oskar Zawada (left) confronted by Western United's Japanese defender, Tomoki Imai. [PlessPix] 

In the meantime, there has been talk of a second division in Australian football, with the possibility of eventual promotion and relegation between the A-League and this proposed second division.

I am intrigued whether any Tasmanian clubs will put their hands up.

Photo:  Wellington's Alex Rufer tries to get past Western United's Tongo Doumbia. [PlessPix] 

The conditions are demanding.

For example, a club would have to have a suitable venue available for 12 months of the year, and the players would have to be paid 12 months of the year.

There will be many a potential slip between the cup and the lip, but let’s see what happens.

Photo:  Wellington's Callan Elliot (left) takes on Western United's James Troisi. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  A close shave for the Wellington defence. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Western United's James Troisi (left) attempts to cut off a pass by Alex Rufer. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Western United's James Troisi tries to keep pace with Wellington Phoenix's Bozhidar Kraev. [PlessPix] 

Photo:  Yan Sasse is congratulated by his Wellington Phoenix team-mates after his excellent opening goal. [PlessPix] 

Photo:  Western United's James Troisi (left) tries to outwit Wellington Phoenix's Callan Elliot. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Western United's Alessandro Diamanti (right) warms up before coming on as a substitute. [PlessPix]

Devonport and South Hobart look the goods in the Summer Cup

Photo:  South Hobart's Bradley Lakoseljac appeals for a foul. [PlessPix] 

How on earth did Clarence Zebras lose to South Hobart in their Summer Cup clash at South Hobart Oval on Saturday?

Clarence Zebras blitzed South Hobart from the kick-off and led 3-0 with not even half an hour gone through a Riley Dillon hat-trick.

Dillon opened the scoring in the first minute and added two more, in the 12^th and 29^th minutes.

The tide then began to turn and Rhodsie, standing beside me in the photographers’ possie at South Hobart Oval, said quietly:  “They’re panicking and they’re gonna lose this.”

Clarence Zebras had begun to play a dangerous game and their tackling became more and more rash.

That was highlighted when Sam Hills brought down Tobias Herweynen and conceded a penalty 10 minutes before the break.

South Hobart captain Nick Morton let Clarence Zebras off the hook by driving his spot-kick wide of the left-hand post.

Photo:  Nick Morton fires his penalty wide. [PlessPix] 

But, Morton redeemed himself when he reduced the arrears by scoring in stoppage time at the end of the half.

That provided South Hobart with the life-line they needed and when Iskander Van Doorne made it a goal the difference in the 69^th minute, it was game on.

Bradley Lakoseljac made it 3-3 in the 74^th minute and the home side never looked back after that.

Herweynen netted in the 78^th minute to put South Hobart’s noses in front and it was no surprise when Lakoseljac completed his brace 2 minutes from the end to give his side a 5-3 win.

South had two players cautioned  -  Jackson Dent and Lakoseljac  -  while Clarence Zebras had William Simaan sent off in stoppage time at the end of the game after he collected a second yellow card, and Dillon and keeper Josh Jones cautioned.

It was a costly exercise for the visitors as they also lost Argentine import Xuan Cappellino through injury in the opening half.

Photo:  Kingborough's Greg Downes has a dig at goal against Knights. [PlessPix] 

Kingborough Lions United continued their poor form when they succumbed 4-1 to Glenorchy Knights at KGV Park.

Lucas Dzelakowsi headed Knights into a 7^th-minute lead, while Daniel Goodluck made it 2-0 midway through the first half.

Kobe Kemp reduced the arrears with a goal for the Lions in stoppage time at the end of the first half and the Lions also struck the post.

Goodluck restored Knights’ two-goal buffer in the 56^th minute, while youngster Thomas Walpole completed the victory with Knights’ fourth 6 minute from the end.

Photo:  Kingborough's Simon Vivarelli shoots for goal. [PlessPix] 

Lions coach Alfred Hess started himself on the bench, but came on later in the game for Simon Vivarelli.

Knights were missing Nick Naden, Daniel Schmidt, Austin Yost and Hugh Undy, so their win was even more impressive.

Devonport Strikers continued their pre-season rampage with an 8-0 thrashing of Riverside Olympic away at Windsor Park.

Lachlan Van Neutegem hit a hat-trick, as did Spaniard Roberto Garrido, while Kieran Mulraney and Ali Dulleh each scored once in an impressive display by the North-West Coast powerhouse.

In the remaining game, also at Windsor Park in Launceston, Launceston City downed Launceston United 3-1 through goals by Toby Simeoni, William Humphrey and Joel Stone.

Aiden Rigby netted Launceston United’s consolation goal.

 

Photo:  Kingborough's Ahmad Othman weaves his way through the Knights defence. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Sam Hills brings down Tobias Herweynen to concede a penalty. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Clarence Zebras go 1-0 up in the first minute. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Kingborough's Keenan Douce wrongfoots Knights' skipper Eli Luttmer. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Clarence Zebras keeper Josh Jones beats an opponent to a cross. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Clarence Zebras keeper Josh Jones in action before a decent-sized crowd. [PlessPix]

Photo:  South Hobart's Tobias Herweynen gets a pass past Clarence Zebras' Sam Tooze. [PlessPix]