Clarence scrape home against the Lions

CLARENCE UNITED 2-1 KINGBOROUGH LIONS UNITED

This was virtually a youth match, with not many players on view on either side who were out of their teens.

Kingborough missed the injured Charles White, and Gary Upton, who has joined South Hobart.

There were only two incidents worthy of note in the scoreless opening half - Michael Palmer's fierce shot, which was well blocked by Michael Moschogianis, and Matthew Chapman's effort, which came back off the Kingborough crossbar.

The two Huigsloots then came to the fore for Clarence.

In the 43rd minute, Luke Huigsloot headed home at the far post to put Clarence in front, while eight minutes from the end, Jacob Huigsloot converted a penalty - awarded for Marc Iseli's foul on Stefan Hamilton - to make it 2-0.

Voss saved Jacob Huigsloot's spot-kick, but Huigsloot was first to the rebound and he smashed the ball home from close-range but an acute angle.

Iseli atoned for his misdemeanour by rattling home a consolation goal for the Lions, his shot from 20 metres in stoppage time giving Michael Moschogianis no chance.

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• Clarence United coach, Andrew Brown, said:

"I thought it was a fantastic effort when you consider there were three players over 19 years of age and no state players and no representative players.

"We deserved the victory.

"I was a little bit disappointed with the way we conceded towards the end. Maybe that's expecting a bit much out of the young boys."

• Kingborough Lions United coach, Geoff Freeman, said:

"It was our first game of the season and I'm not too disappointed.

"We probably let ourselves down with mistimed tackles. I'm not terribly pleased with that.

"But, I thought we played okay for the first game of the season.

"It was a nice goal by Marc to finish it off."

* * * * *

Clarence United: Moschogianis, Ling, Parker, J Huigsloot, Hunt, Toghill, Chapman, Hamilton, L Huigsloot, Knapek, Barron [Substitutes: Lewis, Phillips, Sweetten, McIntyre]

Goals: L Huigsloot 43, J Huigsloot 52 pen

Kingborough Lions United: Voss, Iseli, Andrews, Marchioli, Bevan, Wells, Palmer, McDonald, Schuth, Pearce, Bremner [Substitutes: Greg Freeman, Geoff Freeman, R Hinkley, Leaney]

Goals: Iseli 61

Ref: S Collins

Att: 300

Glenorchy Knights easy winners against University

GLENORCHY KNIGHTS 2-0 UNIVERSITY

Glenorchy Knights comfortably beat a University side that was missing the injured Julian Proud and which lost defender Iain Fletcher with a torn hamstring after just 10 minutes.

Knights were without Tony Dzelalija, Janko Begovic and Tom Huigsloot from last year's side, but introduced new signings Nektar Vavoulas, William Roberts, Mynonge Kamba. Tom Sherman, Shane Kent, Jackson Marsh and Jyeren Vienna-Hallam.

Amadu Koroma had his best game for the club since joining from New Town Eagles midway through last season

Koroma and Sherman both went close for the Knights before Koroma put them ahead in the 17th minute with a low drive inside Martin Piesse's left-hand post.

Four minutes after the break, Marsh headed home Roberts's left-wing cross to make it 2-0.

Midway through the second half, Jade Clay was unlucky when his shot came back off the bar. Vienna-Hallam was the first to reach the rebound, but Piesse turned his powerful drive over the bar.

With 10 minutes remaining, Vienna-Hallam was put clean through the defence, but he shot wide.

The Knights produced some excellent passages of one-touch football and, on this performance, will be a side to challenge for honours.

They lost Eddie Mohamed with a serious knee injury shortly after he came on as a substitute.

Knights goalkeeper Ben Peter did not have a save to make.

University had just one substitute. Coach Scott Gallacher said he had several players to come into the squad.

Former Hobart Olympic player Oliver Venettacci made his debut for University after a couple of seasons out of the game.

Both teams observed a minute's silence before the match in memory of the Victorian bushfire victims.

* * * * *

• Glenorchy Knights coach, Eamonn Kelly, said:

"I was pleased with the first half. We played some good football in the first half. The ball was on the ground.

"In the second half, we got lazy and we started to lose a bit of shape.

"But, first-up win, good run-out, good hit-out, so we played well.

"We had some good build-ups and that's what we've worked on. We're going to play attractive football this year."

• University coach, Scott Gallacher, said:

"We were expecting that. The boys tried their best but couldn't score.

"We've plenty to come yet.

"They gave of their best."

* * * * *

Glenorchy Knights: Peter - Wiggins, Grundy, Vavoulas, Clay - Kent, Fielding, Kamba, Roberts - Koroma, Sherman [Substitutes: Vienna-Hallam, Green, Marsh, Mohamed]

Goals: Koroma 17, Marsh 34

University: Piesse - Fletcher, Wilkinson, Merry, J Andrews - Wilson, Summers, Procter, M Andrews - Venettacci, Temby [Substitute: Besley]

Ref: I Colhoun

Att: 300

Melbourne Victory to host grand final

Melbourne Victory beat Adelaide United 4-0 before 34.736 spectators at Telstra Dome tonight to qualify for the A-League grand final.

Melbourne won 6-0 on aggregate against a very disappointing Adelaide outfit.

Carlos Hernandez was the man of the match, scoring once and making the other three goals.

He had only arrived in Melbourne this morning after a marathon flight from Costa Rica after playing for the Costa Rican national side against Honduras on Wednesday.

Hernandez put Archie Thompson through for the opening goal in the 10th minute.

Hernandez made it 2-0 in the 24th minute and then set up Danny Allsopp for the third a minute before the break.

Tommy Pondeljac added the fourth in the 48th minute from a Hernandez cross.

The Costa Rican came off on the hour mark, having done his job.

Adelaide had two chances - from Cassio and Christiano - but both were saved superbly by Michael Theoklitos.

Cassio was sent off 10 minutes from the end after foolishly collecting a second yellow card.

Adelaide will meet Queensland Roar next weekend in the preliminary final at Hindmarsh Stadium.

South Hobart steal goalscoring honours

South Hobart trounced New Town eagles 6-0 in their Group B match before a large crowd on the opening day of the Premier League section of the Summer Cup competition at South Hobart today.

Eagles had no answer to South’s 4-2-3-1 system, characterised by good one-touch play and retaining possession of the ball, which resulted in three goals in each half.

David Abbott, who played as the lone striker, netted the opening and closing goals, while strikes by Greg Downes, Liam Scott and Jonathon Ladic, together with an own-goal by Ben Whitehall, completed the tally.

Hobart Zebras are second in Group B after drawing 1-1 with Hobart Olympic and then earning the bonus point by winning the penalty shoot-out 4-3.

Dwayne Walsh, Zebras’ new signing from Clarence, put his side in front in the 8th minute from Ricky Self’s pass, but Paul Kaproulias equalised with a penalty, awarded for Daniel Lapolla’s foul on Adam Hedge, seven minutes after the break.

Josh Thorpe and Ben Crosswell hit the Olympic woodwork, while Fred Assenheimer and Akuel Guot missed good chances for Olympic.

Thorpe, Crosswell, Walsh and Henry Fagg netted penalties for Zebras, as did Dmitri Nester, Assenheimer and Guot for Olympic, but three consecutive saves by Troy Kaden - against Kaproulias, Peter Tsakiris and Robert Lebski - gave Zebras the win.

Olympic’s keeper, Nester, was also in excellent form and saved spot-kicks from Aaron Brazendale and Kurt Engels.

Glenorchy Knights are top in Group A after a comfortable 2-0 win over University, Amadu Koroma netting the first in the 17th minute and new signing from Nelson, Jackson Marsh, heading the second from Will Roberts’s cross four minute after the interval.

Clarence United is second in the group following a 2-1 win over Kingborough Lions United.

After a goalless opening half, Luke Huigsloot headed Clarence in front midway through the second period, while Jacob Huigsloot punished Marc Iseli’s foul on Stefan Hamilton by converting a penalty to make it 2-0 eight minutes from the end.

Iseli redeemed himself by grabbing a consolation goal for Kingborough in stoppage time with a ferocious 20-metre shot that gave keeper Michael Moschogianis no chance.

Northern Rangers looking for second win in Steve Hudson Cup competition

The second round of the northern Steve Hudson Cup competition will be played on Sunday.

Prospect Knights meet Northern Rangers in the first match and a Rangers victory is the most likely outcome.

Rangers won their opening match last weekend and have had over 42 players at training.

“Team captain Sam Luck, as well as Gareth and Todd Hingston will be selected to stabilise the team and to ensure that the system used in training be applied in the game,” said Rangers coach, Roslan Saad.

“We have selected new players to look at their ability. The boys are experiencing a new system of play and thus will take a while to get used to it.

“Still, we aim to be in the top four of the Hudson Cup.”

Mark Ambrose will make his first appearance since the Tasmanian under-21s were in action against A-League youth sides.

Other inclusions will be Brad Langerak, Amos Gbasie, Andrew Nicholson, Duncan Lee, Rhys Prestidge, Luke Tuma, Moe Bami, Sultan Ali, Sam Nugteren, Chad Honey and Gareth Otley.

Tuma, from last season’s under-18s, and Dubai students Ali and Bami will be making their debuts.

Paul Bremner and Derek Schipper are still unavailable, while Thataetsile Kakadumane only returned from Botswana this week and is not yet match fit.

Chris Gaskin is still in New South Wales.

The second match on Sunday pits the Tasmanian Institute of Sport against Riverside Olympic.

TIS managed a creditable 1-1 draw with Launceston City last Saturday, while Riverside Olympic were given an 8-1 hiding by cup-holders South Hobart.

Taroona take on Launceston United in the day’s third contest, while Launceston City meet South Hobart to round off the day’s program.

“We've kept most of the squad together from last season, with only a few guys trying their luck elsewhere,” said Taroona coach, Ben Horgan.

“Chris Cox and Cian Carey are both a lot fitter than this time last year and, hopefully, will have a better run with injuries because the rest of our team is still very young.

“It was great to finally get a win last weekend against Prospect Knights in the Steve Hudson Cup, but, once again, we made life difficult for ourselves, missing chance after chance and conceding two very soft goals.

“There will be a few changes to the team this week, though, as although we are getting good numbers at training, quite a few players are unavailable this early in the season with other commitments.

“We had a few new players last week making their first senior starts, including Llewyn Tubb and Darragh Carey, and they both played very well.

“Darragh is working this weekend, unfortunately, but Llewyn will keep his spot at right back.

“Sam Johnson will return in defence against Launceston United, which will free up Cian Carey to move into midfield, which is where I'd prefer to have him because he gives us a lot of drive there.

“We've also recalled Hangover Hill's cult favourite and perennial leading reserves goalscorer, Alex Edwards.

“He will be among the substitutes, but is always dangerous when you need a goal.”

South Hobart will have been in action on Saturday against New Town Eagles in the southern Summer Cup competition and coach Ken Morton is likely to field a different looking side against Launceston City.

South Hobart should still be too strong for a City side that is in a rebuilding phase.

Queensland Roar into preliminary final

Queensland Roar beat Central Coast Mariners 2-1 at Suncorp Stadium this evening to win the minor A-League semi-final 4-1 on aggregate before 24,000 spectators.

"It was a good, solid performance from the team," said Roar coach, Frank Farina.

"We're playing with a lot of confidence."

The Mariners had enough of the play to do better, but Roar's incisive counter-attacking spelled danger throughout the match.

Michael Zullo was one of Queensland's most effective players and he went close in the 8th minute with a powerful low drive from the left.

In the 18th minute, Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic did well to save a shot from Mitch Nichols, who had been put through after a one-two with Zullo.

A minute later, the Mariners went close after a free-kick from the right found Dylan MacCallister at the far post, but his header was blocked by Roar keeper Liam Reddy.

In the 21st minute, Matt Simon's shot was beaten out by Reddy and the Roar counter-attacked immediately and scored.

Vukovic parried a shot by Sergio Van Dijk and McKay was first to the loose ball. He chipped it back into the middle, where a poor clearing header went only to Massimo Murdocca, whose fierce shot was turned in by Nichols to make it 2-0.

Zullo went close in the 29th minute when he switched wings, but his shot from the right went just wide.

The Mariners had Nigel Boogaard and Paul O'Grady booked in the closing stages of the first half as the visitors became increasingly frustrated.

McKay made it 2-0 four minutes after the break. He was released down the left by Nichols and beat Vukovic at his near post.

It could have been 3-0 in the 52nd minute, but Hyuk-Su Seo's shot was turned onto the post by a diving Vukovic.

Nicky Mrdja pulled a goal back for the Mariners in the 64th minute when he squeezed a low shot under Reddy, who should have stopped the ball.

"No complaints," said Mariners' coach, Lawrie McKinna. "Queensland were the better side over the two legs."

Southern Summer Cup kicks off on Saturday

South Hobart begin their trophy hunt for 2009 at South Hobart at 3.30 pm on Saturday, 14 February, against New Town Eagles.

South will have new signing Gary Upton in midfield, but will be without strikers Billy Gasparinatos and Julius Ross.

Igor, signed from Glenorchy Knights, may take his place in midfield for South, but some reports have him out of the State and in Brisbane.

Coach Ken Morton said his players had benefited from their pre-season trip to Melbourne and should be ready for this encounter.

New Town Eagles will miss State representative goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford, who sustained a knee injury in a recent practice match.

Andrew Savage has come out of retirement and will be in goal, while Cormac Collins is available again after studying in Launceston last season and should play in attack.

Jacob Kavanagh, the former Beachside forward, will also be in the Eagles line-up and he has impressed coach George Krambousanos.

The experienced Richard Delara will be in midfield to counter Upton and their tussle should cause sparks.

Former South Hobart striker Alex Gordon has also joined Eagles but will miss this game because of injury.

Krambousanos, who is in his second stint as Eagles coach, said he has a young and enthusiastic team, which will give a good account of itself.

Glenorchy Knights and University commence the day’s program at 11am and the Knights should repeat their success of last weekend, when they beat University 4-3 in a practice game.

They had half their team missing in that game, but all will be back for this competitive match.

The Knights have also recruited well. They have Shane Kent from Metro, Nektar Vavloulas from Olympic, William Roberts and Tom Sherman from Taroona, Jackson Marsh from Nelson, and Mnyonge Kamba from Clarence.

University’s Julian Proud netted a hat-trick in the practice match and he is obviously the man the Knights defence will have to watch.

Hobart Olympic will have Akuel Guot from Hobart United in their ranks for the match against cup-holders Tilford Zebras at 2pm.

Guot scored goals galore last season and this is his first crack at the top flight, but having scored more than a goal a game for United, he should be up to it, even against sterner defences.

Olympic, who also have a new midfielder from Greece, will be competitive against a Zebras outfit that will unveil new signing Dwayne Walsh, a State representative striker from Clarence United.

Clarence United take on Kingborough Lions United at 12.30 pm and, with both teams evenly matched, a penalty shoot-out could be the method that decides the points.

Both sides will be young, so this should be an energetic, fast and keenly contested match.