Olympia make it two wins from two outings in Summer Cup

Photo:  Kingborough's Kenneth Trac (left) battles for a high ball with Olympia's Jackson Khasif [PlessPix]

(NPL Tasmania Summer Cup, Warrior Park, Friday, 7 February 2020)

Olympia Warriors 3 (W Wadawu 23, J Ryan 39, B Hamlett 90+1)

Kingborough Lions United 1 (J Verdu Sanchez 36)

HT:  2-1   Att:  100   Ref: B Kopra

Olympia Warriors:  Randall  -  Hill (Mwabaru 60), Vandermey, Kobbayashi  -  Juma, Wadawu (Moschogianis 86), Feral, N’Koso (Yost 80), J Khasif (Sloan 69)  -  Hamlett, Ryan  (Sub not used:  Ross)

Kingborough Lions United:  Mackie  -  Douce, Cowen, Bighin, Verdu Sanchez (J Davis 75)  -  Nugent  -  Trac, Vivarelli, Kantzos (Hall 75)  -  V Turner (Kipnis 90), M Khasif (Thomas 85)  (Sub not used:  Hayers)

Photo:  Kingborough's Phil Kantzos with Olympia's Joseph Juma in hot pursuit [PlessPix]

Olympia Warriors won their second game in a row in the NPL Tasmania Summer Cup competition when they beat Kingborough Lions United 3-1 at home at Warrior Park last night.

The Warriors started with a 3-5-2 formation that sometimes became a 3-4-3 as they went all out in attack.

They should have scored in the opening minute when Ben Hamlett lifted the ball over keeper Lee Mackie, but the ball was cleared off the line.

A minute later, another goal-line clearance saved the Lions.

Photo:  Brothers Jackson Khasif (left) of Olympia and Moses Khalif of Kingborough battle for possession [PlessPix]

Kingborough were finding it difficult to launch attacks, let alone create chances, while Olympia’s Jack Ryan forced a good save from the Lions keeper.

Kingborough employed Luke Bighin and Danny Cowen to man-mark Olympia’s attacking pair of Ryan and Hamlett, but the task was far from easy as the fast Olympia duo constantly changed position.

Kenneth Trac was busy and useful in midfield for the Lions and he is proving a useful acquisition from University.

A set-piece on the left led to Olympia’s opener in the 23^rd minute.  Warren Wadawu delivered the ball into the box and Hamlett headed home his first goal for the club in his second outing after signing from South Hobart.

Photo:  Olympia's Joffrey N'Koso (left) is tackled by Kingborough's Kenneth Trac [PlessPix]

Kenneth Trac had a good chance for the Lions on the half-hour when Joffery N’Koso lost possession, but keeper Darby Randall pulled off a good save.

A minute later, Moses Khasif had another chance for the Lions when he worked his way past three opponents, but his shot was high.

In the 36^th minute, the Lions were level after admirable work from their Spanish signing, Javier Verdu Sanchez, who took a corner and after regaining possession drove home a low shot from the right-hand corner of the box.

Photo:  Javier Verdu Sanchez prepares to take the decisive corner [PlessPix]

Photo:  Olympia goalkeeper Darby Randall is beaten by Javier Verdu Sanchez's shot [PlessPix]

Photo:  Kingborough's Javier Verdu Sanchez celebrates his fine goal [PlessPix]

Ryan restored Olympia’s lead in the 39^th minute by lobbing the ball over Mackie from the right of the box.  It was his third goal in two games.

The second half began with Olympia again in attack and Mackie did well to save a Wadawu free-kick in the 49^th minute.

In the 67^th minute, Ryan was desperately unlucky not to  score when his powerful drive hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down and back into play.

On the hour, Olympia replaced Lucas Hill with Joseph Mwarabu and the substitute was a revelation.  His passing was precise and he read the game beautifully.

Photo:  Joseph Mwarabu, the dynamic Olympia substitute, in possession with Kingborough's Simon Vivarelli in pursuit [PlessPix]

In the 73^rd minute, Mwarabu fed Wadawu down the right and his pass to Hamlett saw the speedster’s low shot deflected for a corner.

Five minutes later, Mwabaru initiated an attack and finished it with a fierce shot that was saved by Mackie.

A minute from the end of normal time, Randall produced a good save from the marauding Keenan Douce.

Photo:  Kingborough's Keenan Douce in full flight as Olympia's Jackson Khasif tries to catch him [PlessPix]

A minute into stoppage time, Hamlett showed how to beat man-marking.  Rather than control the ball and try and get past his marker, when he did get onto the end of a pass just outside the box, he struck a superb first-time shot past Mackie to make the game safe for Olympia at 3-1.

Olympia still have four or five players to come back into the squad, so the omens for them are good at the start of the season.

Photo:  Olympia's Jack Ryan (right) charges Kingborough's Luke Bighin [PlessPix]

Photo:  Kingborough's Danny Cowen wins a header [PlessPix]

Photo:  Jackson Khasif and Moses Khasif in opposition [PlessPix]

Photo:  Kingborough's Vincent Turner crosses the ball as Olympia's Jackson Khasif can only look on [PlessPix]