Sydney Olympic is the first team into the 2018 NSW
NPL Grand Final, after seeing off Sydney United in the Major Semi-Final on
Sunday Night. A hat-trick from Alejandro Sanchez and 1 from Jason Madonis did
the damage for the Blues.
Despite the score-line and what appears to be an easy, straight-forward victory,
it was anything but in the opening stages of the first-half. We were under the
pump early on and could well have gone behind inside the first 10 minutes. The
opposition had a couple of good chances to take the lead, but fortunately for
us we were able to dodge these bullets. We were looking a little rattled,
before we finally composed ourselves and got ourselves into the match. Somewhat
against the run of play, we managed to hit them with a dagger after a great
poacher’s goal from Alejandro Sanchez. Mid-way through the first-half Sydney
Olympic found itself in front. From this point on, we dominated the rest of the
first-half, we capitalised on this dominance by getting our 2nd goal of the game
via a Sydney United error, and Jason Madonis was on hand to take full advantage
to put us 2-0 up. Not even 60 seconds later we had our 3rd and Alejandro
Sanchez grabbed a double, as he was found with a good pass before doing the
rest to smash his shot home and put us 3-0 up. It was the opposition who now found
themselves shell-shocked. We had chances to extend our lead in the closing
stages of the first-half, but at the half-time break we had to settle for our
3-0 lead.
As expected, Sydney United came out the hungrier at the start of the
second-half, looking to claw back the deficit. To their credit, they did create
a few opportunities, but some good defending by us kept them at bay and kept
our clean sheet. Just as they were looking to get on top, 20 or so minutes into
the second-half, we hit them with the sucker-punch as Alejandro Sanchez broke
free, beat his defender and then finished with a plomb for his hat-trick and put
us into an unassailable 4-0 lead. We were on fire and could have quite easily
made it 5 or 6, but we just lacked that little bit of composure, maybe we were
too excited. The last 15 or so minutes of the match were end-to-end, as the
opposition went searching for a miracle and for some quick goals, but they left
themselves open at the back for counter-attacks. We easily could have scored a
few more goals, but everybody was satisfied enough at the full-time whistle with
the 4-0 victory and securing a spot in the Grand Final.
We were the better side overall and deserved the victory. Form is all about
timing, and we are playing very well at the right time of the season, led of
course up front by the revelation that has been Alejandro Sanchez.
We here and most Sydney Olympic Supporters have been saying for some time now,
that we have had a good enough XI, all be it with a lack of squad depth, but in
this league, you need a quality striker who can make the difference in the
important matches, and we definitely have that this season.
The Grand Final this year will be held at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday September 9th.
We will now wait to see who we face from the Winner of the Preliminary Final
this coming weekend, APIA Leichhardt or Sydney United.
Whoever it might be, all Sydney Olympic Supporters should be at the Grand Final
to push the team to victory, see some good football and to salute the players
on what has been a fantastic season up to this point.
Obviously beyond the Grand Final, we are also involved in the end-of-season National
NPL Finals Series. The draw which has already been done, sees us host Perth SC
(Azzuri), the Western Australian Minor Premiers in an Elimination Final on the
weekend of the 15th/16th of September.
COME ON OLYMPIC!
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