Sydney Olympic has run out of steam for 2018,
after recording back-to-back losses for the first time this season, in what is
the most crucial part of the year. The poor results of the last several weeks has
seen us relinquish top spot and all indications suggest that we have thrown
away our chance to finish top.
We started off brightly and we were the better side throughout the first-half
in what has to be said, was a half of limited goal-scoring opportunities. When
we did find ourselves in good positions, the final pass or cross was poor and
on other occasions, we were too scared to actually shoot the ball and tried to
play intricate passes basically inside the 6-yard box. The first-half was a
battle for the most part, but as we went to the half-time break dead-locked at
0-0, I myself, was at least confident we would put away a chance in the
second-half and claim the victory.
The second-half was pretty much more of the same but with the added rise in
desperation levels from both teams. Both sides created chances but both goalkeepers
were in good form and kept the scores at 0-0. We had 1 unbelievable chance and
thought we had scored, only for Rockdale’s goalkeeper to pull off a ridiculous
save from close range. With 15 minutes remaining we went behind, Paul Henderson
pulled off a nice save, but a Rockdale player reacted quicker than anyone else
to put away the rebound. We pushed in the closing stages for the equaliser, but
it was not to be our night and we had gone down 1-0.
Along with the poor run of results, Sydney Olympic has simply stopped scoring,
not that we were a free-scoring team in the first place, but the goals and even
the chances have certainly dried up.
As mentioned at the top, this team looks to have run its race for season 2018. Despite
having plenty of reasons to be motivated yesterday, (Maintaining ladder
position, Will Angel’s 200th match, the big Olympic support that turned up and many
many others), we just did not want it enough, as sad as it is to say.
In the first 11 rounds of the season we were incredible, but ever since the start
of the second-round of matches, our form and results have dipped. The 7 matches
from rounds 12-18 has seen us record a frustrating sequence of L-D-W-D-W-L-L,
worrying to say the least.
After leading the competition with as much as a 7-point lead over everyone else
at one stage, we have slipped to 2nd. Maybe we will be better as hunters than
the hunted, but I won’t hold my breath for a remarkable form reversal.
The (once again) thin squad coupled with the long injury list has finally taken
its toll, usually this collapse happens much earlier in the season, so we must
at least be grateful for that.
Just to put it into a little bit of perspective, along with the season-ending
injuries to Hagi Gligor, Jake De Marigny and Paul Katsetis, the likes of George
Timotheou, Zac Mackenzie, Jason Madonis were also missing from yesterday’s
match and it was obvious.
Next week is a Bye round as the Waratah Cup Final takes precedence. It
definitely is a good thing as the break is needed and we do have plenty of
injuries, but it is disappointing that we are limping our way into this break
on the back of consecutive defeats and are limping towards the end of the
season.
In the Club Championship, the U18s lost 2-0, the U20s won 2-1.
Our next match is on Saturday Night, July 21, an away match against Sydney FC’s
NPL team, at Lambert Park. Kick-Off is at 7.45pm. It simply is must win now.
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