Inner West Allstars 4 Sydney City Eagles 2

A brace of goals from Adrian Vizzari and Lachlan Wright kept the Allstars in the hunt for a grand final spot with a fine victory over old foes the Sydney City Eagles in a tense and exciting elimination minor semi final at Menai indoor centre.

The Eagles shaded the possession and the goal attempts in the opening minutes with Isaac Waddick shooting just wide and a Chris Zeballos long range shot tipping the crossbar and skidding over.

The Allstars seized the lead when Jacob Di Mento sped down the left side and his cross was handballed by a covering Eagles defender. Adrian Vizzari stepped up and crashed the penalty shot into the net.

The Eagles got back on level terms when they were awarded a freekick just outside the area. Chris Zeballos smashed the ball through the wall and into the net to level the game at 1-1.

The Eagles keeper was out quickly to brilliantly fling a foot out to deny a Lachlan Wright swivel and shot.

With the scores level the Eagles were looking the hungrier and were forcing the play more.

Keeper James Gullotta saved smartly from an Isaac Waddick shot, Chris Zeballos went on a mazy run only for his shot to be blocked by Gullotta. Leo Carle was injected into the game and his presence in attack was a constant cause for concern featuring a sweet backheel for Waddick to shoot just wide.

But the deadlock could not be broken and both sides went to the break at 1-1

The Allstars opened the second half with Jacob Di Mento going close in the opening minute, but it was the Eagles who grabbed the lead when Leo Carle seized on a loose ball and set off down the left flank at pace and slammed an inch perfect shot into the net from an acute angle for fabulous goal.

There was immediately more urgency and a quickening of pace from the Allstars. The Eagles keeper made a great block to deny Daniel Fogarty and then force the follow up for a corner.

With the game going from end to end it was the Allstars who levelled the game. The Eagles defence was caught momentarily napping when a quickly taken kick-in from the corner went straight to Lachlan Wright who slammed the ball home to make it 2-2.

The game was now being played at a frenetic pace. A Chris Zeballos effort was saved by Alex Riccio in goal, Lachlan Wright hit a long range shot just wide, Alex Riccio made two further smart saves and the Eagles keeper saved a fizzing effort from Shervin Adeli.

The Eagles almost took the lead when a shot from Isaac Waddick was stopped just in time from rolling over the goal line by keeper Alex Riccio. Then Chris Zeballos had a shot from a very acute angle tipped onto the post by Riccio.

With 5 minutes remaining the Allstars got the decisive breakthrough when Lachlan Wright sped down the left flank and hit a marvellous inch perfect shot on the angle past the keeper to make it 3-2.

The Eagles were throwing everything at the Allstars in search of a late equaliser. Chris Zeballos went close and Aaron Cimitile had a last minute shot turned away for a corner.

In the dying seconds the game was put beyond doubt when Adrian Vizzari coolly slotted home a sixth foul penalty to make it 4-2.

The Eagles will bow out but competed hard and had the equal of chances through out the game.

There’s likely to be cheers all round as the Allstars celebrate Adrians and Lachlans birthdays and the prospect of a great game next week against the Quake. The Allstars have a mixture of experience and raw talented youth and will pose a problem or two for Quake next Saturday.

Source : Football NSW
Published : 9/2/2009