Adelaide University Soccer Club
Match Report by T Gissing

 

09/06/2012

Adelaide University (0) vs (0) Adelaide Comets
Abandoned due to injury & failing light

In a frustrating day for the Blacks, the Bs bowed out of the cup competition losing to Stirling 2-1. A last minute penalty saw Stirling snatch the game and take home the victory after playing the majority of the second half with 10 men. Not to be outdone for drama, the As game was a tight affair that ran 0-0 all the way to the death of extra time. Only for the game to be called off when a uni substitute broke his leg contesting for a 50/50 ball. The replay will take place sometime in the next few weeks. 

 

            Starting Line up                     Bench

            Sam White                              Stephen Harris 
            Nick Kalatzis                            Alex Reade
            Oliver Gissing                          Shaun Kasteslijn
            Andrew Norman
            Paul Decelis
            Michael Decelis
            Rasoul Ahmady
            Alistair Shimman
            Chis Hewitson
            Cameron Shields
            Dimitrius Kalatzis
           

It’s another cold afternoon at the uni grounds and the pitch is beginning to show signs of wear as the season is now into full stride. The Blacks make the first effort on goal, with a couple of half baked efforts towards goal but nothing is seriously threatening so far. Cameron gets a great shot away after getting on the end of a loose ball coming out of the Comets penalty area but it’s deflected away. 15′ minutes in and the Blacks are having the better of it so far, but not holding possession well. Olly’s making some decent runs down the right and combining with Mike who is getting dragged wider than usual. Getting on the end of a long ball, Chris heads on target but he can’t get much force behind it and it’s gathered easily by the Comets keeper. Rasoul is getting a lot of a work at left back, constantly being forced to chase back and gather bouncing balls. The right flank seems to be the go-to wing, offensively speaking, for both sides with the Comets wide players showing some pace. At the 30′ minute mark, Chris shows off his impressive gas tank in chasing down a Comets attacker deep into the Blacks defensive half and dispossessing him. Moments later though, Comets have a good chance of goal that forces an impressive save from Andy. Coming into half time the Comets are making the better chances but the high frequency of free kicks is breaking up the rhythm of the game and making it a somewhat laborious affair for the neutral. The final Uni shot of the half falls to Paul who lashes at a half volley after the ball was cleared out of the Comets area but the shot is well wide. Half-time comes and brings an end to a tight 45 minutes of football.

 

Half-time

Adelaide Uni (0) – (0) Adelaide Comets

 

The second half kicks off and the Blacks look sharper from the get go. The half-time talk appears to have had an effect. Paul manages to find space deep and wide in the attacking half and tees up Mike who whips in a cross. The ball finds Ali but he can’t keep his header down and it goes over. Moments later, Olly is chasing down a ball in the Comets penalty area and after a few bites at winning the ball, dispossesses the Comets defender and gets away a deflected cross which loops tantalisingly over towards the back post to find Rasoul in plenty of space. Again he can’t keep his header down and it’s still 0-0, but the Blacks should be ahead after that chance. The Comets get their own chance to go in front at the 52′ minute mark when a cut back ball finds an unmarked attacker on the edge of the box who shoots over the bar. Both teams are struggling to keep the ball on the deck here. The wind is beginning to pick up now with a cold breeze blowing from the west, making spectators shiver even more profusely. The game is being conducted at a high intensity, but both teams are messy in possession. A Comets player goes into the book, followed by another yellow card at the 65′ minute mark. Evidently the referee will not stand for any overtly cantankerous behaviour out there today. Following the card, there’s a moment of controversy when Andy spills a ball at the back post which seems as though it will certainly bobble into the back of the net when Sam comes flying in on the slide to clear back out. There’s appeals from the Comets players for the goal to be awarded, but the majority of players are in no position to see it. Only Sam and Andy will know for sure whether they got away with one there. The protests die away fairly quickly and the game continues. Paul is continuing to take knocks as he is putting on a gutsy, physical effort in the mid-field. Comets have two more decent chances with a well hit free kick that just misses the goal and a volley which also fails to hit the target. Rasoul makes way for Shaun late in the second half, just before Olly is away in the box with the goal to his left he turns on the ball and beats his man, but the final shot is anti-climatic and doesn’t seriously trouble the opposition keeper. It seems destined for extra-time here.

 

Full-time

Adelaide University (0) vs (0) Adelaide Comets

 

Extra-time begins much as the game left off, with both teams snatching at half chances but still unable to break the deadlock. Alistair is fouled midway through added time and appears to be struggling to shake off the knock. He makes way for Alex moments later, after the long game is taking it’s toll on a number of players. It’s still very physical out there but there’s not much by way of beautiful football.

 

Into the second half of extra-time now and Olly gets away down the right hand side and cuts a ball back for Shaun. He attempts to side foot on target but the ball is caught under his feet and Comets clear. Another Comets player goes into the book for an accumulation of fouls. There’s some tired legs out there now and maybe only penalties can split the teams. Comets have a great chance as their striker is in on goal, under pressure from a Blacks defender, he can’t properly bring the ball under control and shoots wide. The game is brought to a screeching halt when Olly plays a ball inside to Alex in the middle of the park, but the pass is heavy and leads to a contest for the ball. Alex arrives later than the Comets player who wins it on the slide, but makes heavy contact with Alex’s planted leg with his follow through. Alex goes down and it’s clear that he’s hurt badly. Their certainly didn’t seem to be malevolent intent in the challenge, but after an intermission, it’s obvious that there’s a serious injury to the Uni player and the ambulance is called. The referee makes the wise, albeit regrettable, decision to call the game a no contest. We’ll have to do this one all over again in a replay. Thoughts are with Alex Reade as the frost-bitten spectators make their way home.

T. Gissing