After what feels like 7 very long years, Sydney
Olympic are once again Champions after claiming the NSW Championship, defeating
old rivals APIA Leichhardt 3-1 at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
We set the tone very early on in this Grand Final, taking the lead only a few
minutes into the contest. A beautiful ball over the top found a free running
Alejandro Sanchez, who’s pinpoint cross found an unmarked Radovan Pavicevic at
the back post and his diving header, put us 1-0 up and sent the Sydney Olympic
Supporters into early ecstasy. We continued to dominate proceedings, but very
soon after this good early spell, APIA Leichhardt gained a foot-hold back into
the match and began to play their own game. The contest ebbed and flowed and
APIA did create a couple of opportunities to equalise during this period, but
we defended brilliantly, a theme which would be repeated throughout the entirety
of the day. But it would be us who would add to our lead, another great through
ball once again found Alejandro Sanchez, who beat the offside trap and then
rounded the APIA goalkeeper to finish expertly and put us 2-0 up, a fantastic
goal. Both teams created chances leading up to half-time but at the half-time
break, Sydney Olympic took a deserved 2-0 lead into the sheds.
It was a much more subdued beginning to the second-half. But as if realising
the gravity of their own situation, APIA soon sprung back into life and pushed
forward looking to get back into the match. They put us under pressure and got
themselves into good enough positions to maybe score, but they never really
threatened with any actual clear-cut chances, as our defence pretty much snuffed
out every attack. After weathering this assault, we created several more opportunities
and had it not been for APIA’s goalkeeper, we might have found ourselves with a
4 or 5 goal lead. With 15 minutes to go, we hammered the final blow into the
2018 Grand Final, as Alejandro Sanchez once again popped up to score his 2nd
goal of the afternoon and extended our lead to 3-0, as O-LYM-PIC, O-LYM-PIC,
O-LYM-PIC rang around Leichhardt Oval just like in the old days, it really was turning
into a special day. A late controversial penalty awarded against us in injury-time,
somewhat dampened the mood for a minute or 2, before that was all quickly
forgotten as the referee blew for full-time and we could celebrate another
Championship.
It was a truly magnificent afternoon to see so
many Sydney Olympic Supporters come out to support the players and the club, the
sighting of many a classic Sydney Olympic shirt being worn by many people
around the ground also was brilliant to see.
When Abbas Saad was drafted in to coach the side a week before the start of the
season, if anybody had said we would go on to claim the Minor Premiership and
win the Grand Final, I would have advised them to go seek some medical help
immediately.
But it has become a reality and Abbas Saad must take a lot of the credit for
these accomplishments and must also take a lot of credit for convincing
Alejandro Sanchez to stick around at the club after the departure of Gorka Etxeberria,
who was the one who initially brought Alejandro to the club.
Just quickly on APIA, commiserations to them,
they have had a big last 2 seasons, deep runs in the Waratah Cup, FFA Cup,
Minor Premiership race as well as back-to-back Grand Finals. The loss of one of
their most important players at the back end of this season hurt them and they
definitely looked a fatigued side there on Sunday at Leichhardt Oval. Best of
luck to them in the FFA Cup.
Of course, the season is not quite over yet for Sydney Olympic either, as we
have the National NPL Finals Series to look forward to. A competition which
involves the 8 other Minor Premiers of the other State Federations. The winner
of this particular tournament earns a spot in the 2019 FFA Cup Round of 32,
avoiding the need to play the 4 or so midweek qualifiers next season.
It all gets under way this coming Sunday Afternoon, September 16th. as we host
WA Premiers, Perth SC at Lambert Park, Kick-Off is at 3.30pm
Congrats! Great to see the club thriving on field and good luck next season!
ReplyDeleteBtw, what Sydney Olympic's home ground situation? I've looked into it and can't get my head around it.
The Seniors train and play at Belmore?
The juniors train and play at Belmore?
Why are there games at Valentine park?
What's the long term home situation?
Would appreciate some clarification out of interest.
Manny.
The club is based at Belmore and has been since the end of the NSL and obviously we were at Belmore before the Shire move in the NSL too.
DeleteThe Men and Women play at Belmore (on Belmore Sports Ground and next door at Peter Moore Park)
The recent Women's Grand Finals were at Valentine, the girls do not play there.
All the juniors boys and girls, train at a couple of locations (not ideal)
We had a lease agreement at Belmore from 2010, for 25 years, not sure if that has changed.
As for the future, the last 3 years the club has been in talks with Marrickville Council (now Inner-West Council) to redevelop parts of Tempe Reserve as a permanent base for all facets of the club, those discussions are on-going and we will see by January 2019, whether we have a green light for that, or it has been rejected.
Legend! Thanks!
DeleteSouth managed a 40 year lease,
West Adelaide managed a new ground,
Floreat Athena mayhave secure a $3m upgrade,
now fingers crossed for Olympic!
Manny