Walter Pless on Football

Hobart Olympic v Metro Match Report [Premier League, Athletic Centre, Saturday, 21 June 2008]

By Walter Pless
_____________________________________________________

Hobart Olympic 1 (Backhaus 63)
Metro 1 (S Kent 77)

HT: 0-0 Att: 100 Ref: I Colhoun

Hobart Olympic (4-4-2): Nester - C Tsakiris, Y Mohamad, Vavoulas, Tsimiklis - Backhaus (Meredith 67), Richardson, Mason, Lebski - Grillas, Djekanovic (Bulis 78) [Substitutes not used: E Tsakiris, Plomaritis] [Coach: F Shaw]

Metro (4-4-2): McKenna - Herring, Chaffey, Rahni, Curran - Farley, McQueen (S Kent 67), Hope, Marney - Jackson, Dawes [Substitutes not used: Robb, Ramedge, Land] [Coach: A Abdaltam]
_____________________________________________________

This was not a great game, but the outcome had huge ramifications for the two teams, as well as for others in the competition.

The 1-1 draw put Hobart Olympic on top of the ladder, a point ahead of South Hobart, but the latter can gain an outright lead now if they beat sixth-placed Clarence United the following day.

The point moved Metro 5 points clear of bottom-side Taroona with 7 games remaining. Taroona lost 4-1 away to New Town Eagles, which lifted them up a place to seventh and dumped Kingborough Lions United down a spot to eighth and in danger of a relegation play-off.

The second half had a little more life than the first.

In the 53rd minute, Metro’s Jason Dawes was put through the Olympic defence and looked certain to score, but he shot wide of the target.

Olympic took the lead in the 63rd minute when Kosta Grillas took a free-kick from just outside the box on the right.

Metro goalkeeper Michael McKenna, a former Hobart Olympic custodian, fumbled the ball and Ben Backhaus pounced to tap it into the net.

In the 77th minute, Metro were level after being awarded an indirect free-kick inside the box following Youssef Mohamad’s dangerous play against Stuart Hope.

Wayne Jackson tapped the free-kick short to substitute Shane Kent, who rifled it into the roof of the net.

Dawes had two excellent chances to win the match for Metro before the end, while Olympic almost snatched victory minutes from the final whistle when substitute Michael Bulis’s magnificent shot was saved at full-length and in spectacular style by McKenna.

______________________________________________________

• Hobart Olympic coach, Farrell Shaw, said:

“We started flat and finished flat.

“There was no spark whatsoever and the only two players who looked as if they were trying to do something were Kosta Grillas and Youssef Mohamad.

“Everyone else was just flat.

“I was a bit puzzled with their goal. I mean, the free-kick was there, but I don’t know why he made one decision, two decisions, three decisions, but having said that, it was in the box anyhow and disappointing.

“Mike McKenna cost them a goal and he saved them a goal, so things worked out nicely for them.”

• Metro coach, Ahmed Abdaltam, said:

“I’m very happy with that point.

“I think the boys had a good game today following on from the game against Taroona.

“We played well, especially in the second half.

“We could have had a win, but we got a point playing against the top team.

“It’s a credit to the boys. They’re working hard and I just hope we can stay in the top league.”
________________________________________________________

STATISTICS

HOBART OLYMPIC METRO
16 Goal Attempts 12
4 Shots on Target 2
6 Corners 3
18 Fouls Committed 17
4 Off-Sides 2
0 Yellow Cards 1 (Jackson 75)
0 Red Cards 0

Hobart Olympic:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Mason 2 0
Tsimiklis 1 0
Djekanovic 1 0
C Tsakiris 5 0
Grillas 3 1
Vavoulas 1 1
Richardson 1 0
Backhaus 1 1
Bulis 1 1

Metro:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Herring 1 0
Farley 1 0
Dawes 5 0
McQueen 1 1
Hope 1 0
S Kent 3 1