Pagewood Botany FC 3 Redfern Raiders 2 The inexorable inevitability of victory

Before I spend my next lines talking about this beautiful game, let me say that as a soccer fan (crazy I might add) a defeat made me feel the most sad person in the world, but the victory always taste better, and today, it was a big cake. 

Pagewood had today they're first sem-final, but after all, you can take "semi". This was a final, with the 5 letters. 

A lot of people came to support and they enjoy a very attractive match, in front Redfern, with a balance of a victory for each team. A very ordered team with a very strong midfield, with "jack sparrow" commanding the ball and keeping the strategy. A team that is usually dangerous in high balls, just one of the weak points of Pagewood. The defence, is more flexible and fast but they lack a few inches, and that was a point the keep a look at today. 

Ross was back in the middle, and the best new, Mikee was ready to play after a injury that keep him out for a few weeks. Sun, no clouds and faith, what a beautiful morning was that.

Ilusion and a good mentality to play a semi-final, after a long and great season, where the reds are been the "Undefeated" and leaders most part of the league, but 3 defeats in a row, some of them unexpected (Queens Park) create a kind of bad mojo, what whas happening? Against Redfern (1-2)  they played good, but they lost, same against Heffron, the first 45min where fantastic, but in both games, single actions change the course of the game. 

The less desired start 0-1 Redfern strikes first.

Redfern start the game with a different vocation than usual, instead of be that back strike kind of team, they played more vertical, and moving the ball fast in between the lines. This constant approaching to Sam's zone was not a positive sign. And in one of those, a ball inside the area, a few bounces and the ball die's in the feet of a Redfern player in front of the goal. 0-1 and nobody happy with that. 

Although that Ross and Ian in the midfield, where doing a incredible job workin together and fighting like tigers, it was no speed enough attacking. With Redfern attacking with every effective, Pete and Kenny had to cover to much area in the field, defending and going back up all the time, is too much expenditure of energy, the fact that in those minutes, Redfern had Pagewood close in his own field, was leaving to alone Jason and Evan. Even with this, the reds managed for get some chances, after a good combination in between Ross and Evan. Later, Jason tried too, but he had the same fortune. 

Substitutions, and Marco put the cojones 1-1

The captain and Jason, decide to move the bench, with Beau and Marco. The catalan was extra-motivated for this game, and he played probably his best game, at least in the first half. He changed the moral of the team and participate and associate with everybody. Specially with Ross, Jason and Kenny. In one of those, Stu, ai Stu! The silent men. He is not very noisy, shy you can say? but he apart from be a great defender, he has talent kicking, he put a cross inside the area and Marco, coming just behind Jason and in between 2 defenders, hit the ball half head half shoulder, but in! Goal of courage and hunger and very celebrated with the whole team! The red's where back! The game did a 360* change. Now Pagewood was playing what we call the tiki-taka. Basically consist in a fast circulation of the ball, and a terrible pressure when they don't have it. Now put names, like Ross, Ian, Kenny, Marco...And he oportunities will come in threes. The reffery take chance that could change the score, after that Ross was tackled, Marco catch the ball alone and in the sprint, but the ref didn't let him finish. 

Foff had a great chance after a beautiful free kick from the red scottishman but the ball when out and the draw was still being the score

The defence was now becoming much more secure, with George and Cam comanding the lines. Coverings where doing with order, and with this, the team went to the half time. If that first half was 10min longer Pagewood will be winning.

Oh Captain my Captain... 2-1

The second half start in the same way that the fisrt finish, Pagewood in Kamikaze mode, and looking for that 2nd goal. Ross, bought new boots for the finals, and today was his birthday, so something good had to happen. 

In one of those attacks, Pagewood get a corner, and voila! Ross put a ball in the center of the area, just behind the penalty mark, and who was there? The captain. The boss. He took the chance and score a massive goal! How easy is sometimes isn't! 2-1 and Everyone was hugging Ian. 

More and more chances where happening. Ross understood to the perfection what was Redfern weakness, the side backs, he provide an insane amount of balls to Beau and Kenny. 

Even Marco had the sentence in one of his favourites, he catch a ball from nowhere with a highway for his sprint but his shoot when to centered and the keeper take it to corner. Just before, the keeper refuse a powerfull shoot from Evan when everybody was yelling. Definetly the keeper keep Redfern on board. 

Being honest, Pagewood didn't have any moment of fear in the second half, until...until the ref decide to take a penalty for a nonsense pushing in the area, that was one of those penaltyes that was decided for the redfern player.

2-2 Undeserved draw, and time for a reflexion

Sam choose the right side, and jump well, but Mr Sparrow did a nice kick, and put the 2-2. Undeserved but this is a semifinal after all. The team didn't loose his composture, and they keep doing the job. Today every line was well connectred, defence, midfield and strikers, they all played like a unit, and that's why they didn't loose they're faith. 

Jason had another chance just before the end, but his ball went kissing the corner of the goal. With this, the ref sign the end of the game, and after a quick talk in the side the team was ready for play...but the ref had another interesting thing to say. It's golden goal. Whoever score in 30 min they win. Bravo! a Russian Rulette before the penalty shoot.

3-2 Epic Jason, the road to the glory is now shorter.

I can't tell you how long did we play in this first half of the extra time, but my guess is that not more than 5 minutes.

This team was decided to win, no matter what, and well, Alexander the Great said one time "The fortune smile's to the brave's". Another fast attack and a corner for Pagewood. Ross take it again, and of course he create the 3th goal. Ball to Jason inside the area (very similar than the one of Ian) but a bit closer this time. He catch the ball in the first touch and destroy the net and put the entire team on a massive victory yell, happiness and joy, and a big clap for Redfern, they deserve as well a recognition for be there. Jason with 13 goals is been our best striker by far, but lately he was missing the goal. Today he get what he deserved, and what a goal! He's today the men that put the team in the next round with his goal. But behind him is a whole squad that have the same recognision, starting for Sam, and ending in whoever that is in the bench. We all played together today, and this is what happen, the inexorability unevitability of the victory.

Gentleman's, playing like this, we can beat everybody. 

Congratulations team, Congratulations

0-1 Redfern 1-1 Marco (Stu) 2-1 Ian (Ross) 2-2 Redfern 3-2 Jason (Ross)

MVPLeaderboard  

Ian Buchanan 19 points

Ross Hall 14 points

George Nittes 11 points

Marco Paredes 11 points
Jason Simoes 10 points
Cameron Lau 6 points

Matt Foffanni 3 points

Kenny Librata 2 points
Beau Docking 2 points
Evan Madonis 1 point

Stuart Marsh 1 point

Peter Nittes 1 point

Goal Scorer leaderboard

Jason Simoes 13 goals

Marco Paredes 7 goals

Evan Madonis 4 goals

Ian Buchanan 4 goals
Ross Hall 3 goals

Beau Docking 3 goals

Kenny Librata 3 goals

Peter Nittes 1 goal

Assistance leaderboard

Jason Simoes 6 assistances

Ross Hall 6 assistance

Marco Paredes 3 assistances

Evan Madonis 2 assistances

Stuart Marsh 1 assistance

Danny Pasusuwan 1 assistance