Tuesday, May 31, 2022

South Hobart sweep Olympia aside in Lakoseljac Cup semi-final

Photo:  Olympia's Alex Homes has a bone to pick with South Hobart's Nick Morton because of his challenge on Olympia goalkeeper Connor McGuinness. [PlessPix] 

(Lakoseljac Cup Semi-Final, Empire Couriers Park, Saturday, 28 May 2022)

Olympia Warriors 1 (J Sammut 27)

South Hobart 6 (L Bighin 4, L Semmler 45+1, S Berezansky 47, J Lancaster 64, B Lakoseljac 78, 82)

HT:  1-2  Att:  100   Ref:  S Plomaritis

Olympia Warriors:  McGuinness  -  Allan, Holmes, Sloan, Simaan  -  Vivarelli (Clothier 77), Sammut, Houston, Cummins (Giri 64)  -  Barratt (Amari 78), Mamic  [Subs not used:  Turner, M Moschogianis (GK)]

South Hobart:  Hayers  -  Herweynen, Bighin, Feral, Semmler  -  Lancaster, Morton, Lakoseljac  -  Berezansky, Divin, (Higgins 71) Van Doorne  [Subs not used:  Attfield, Goodsir, Reid (GK)]

Photo:  Olympia's Anthony Mamic is all over South Hobart centre-back Loic Feral. [PlessPix] 

South Hobart qualified for the 2022 Milan Lakoseljac Cup Final by beating Olympia Warriors 6-1 away at Empire Couriers Park on Saturday night.

Earlier that day, Devonport Strikers also made it to the final with a 1-0 win over Kingborugh Lions United at Valley Road, the goal coming midway through the second half from a header by captain Kieran Mulraney.

South Hobart were faster, stronger and more accurate than Olympia and after leading 2-1 at half-time, added four more goals in the second half.

Photo:  A close call for the Warriors. [PlessPix]  

They took an early lead when Luke Bighin, a central defender, moved up for a free-kick and nodded home in a crowded goalmouth.

Joel Sammut equalised for the home side in the 27th minute with a nice shot into the roof of the net, but in stoppage time at the end of the first half, fullback Lachlan Semmler restored the visitors’ lead with a fierce drive inside the near post from an acute angle.

Before that, Bradley Lakoseljac  -  the trophy is named in honour of his late grandfather  -  smashed a great drive against a post.

Photo:  South Hobart's Sam Berezansky shrugs off Olympia's Ewan Sloan. [PlessPix]  

The Warriors must have had their morale dented by the goals coming in the opening minutes and virtually the last minute of the half.  It’s such goals at these crucial times that can knock the stuffing out of a side and bring them to their knees.

To add insult to injury, the second half was a mere 2 minutes old when Sam Berezansky’s low free-kick was fumbled by the keeper and it was 3-1 for South Hobart.

Photo:  South Hobart's Josh Divin surrounded by Warriors Brayton Allan, Alex Homes and William Simaan. [PlessPix]  

It could have been more as Iskander Van Doorne was causing havoc on the wings and twice hit the woodwork when he might have scored.

Two goals by Lakoseljac in the closing 10 minutes finished Olympia off.

Olympia tried their hardest, but their youngsters lack experience rather than willpower and they were over-run by a young South Hobart side that is an efficient and well-coached unit.

South Hobart and Devonport have been regular finalists in the past six years and they fully deserve to contest this year’s final.

Photo:  Lachlan Semmler about to score and restore South Hobart's lead just before half-time. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  South Hobart's Bradley Lakoseljac is brought down by Olympia's Joel Sammut (on the ground) as he tries to get past Simon Vivarelli. [PlessPix]

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looking at the pic the young Olympia gk needs some help with his angles.

Anonymous said...

In fairness to the young keeper he had just made a save and the ball rebounded to Lachie.