It is season over in 2019 for Sydney Olympic, as
an inconsistent and at time frustrating year wrapped up at Lambert Park on
Sunday Afternoon, as we defeated the SFC NPL Team in the final regular season game.
Quickly on this particular match at Lambert Park, it seemed like all the air
was let out of the place before a ball was even kicked. Everybody was aware of what
needed to happen, what needed to go our way, for us to make the Top 5 and play
Finals Football but you’d have to say, not many were optimistic it was going to
happen.
Anyway, we held up our end of the bargain as we dominated the match from start
to finish. Inside the first 5 minutes we had opened the scoring through Jack
Stewart. Not long after this we made it 2-0 as Alejandro Sanchez finished off
well, breaking his goal scoring drought in the process. Not long after this,
the opposition fluked a goal back totally against the run of play and at the
half-time break we were leading 2-1.
Midway through the second-half, Alejandro Sanchez got his 2nd goal of the
afternoon, following some nice work from Jinya An, one of our best players all season,
who crossed it for him to finish and make the score 3-1.
That is how the score remained at full-time, the positive was we ended the
season with a victory, the negative was hearing that Sydney United had beaten
Manly by the same score-line across town. Meaning it was season over.
You would have to say that overall, this season has been a failure and a
massive disappointment for all concerned, supporters, players, coaches, board,
given we were Champions last season and we could not back it up this season.
No doubt that this season, injuries have played their part in wrecking it. But,
after that poor start to the season, we were chasing our own tails for the rest
of it and it is just too even of a competition, to be having to play catch-up
for most of it.
The World’s longest off season now begins, there is plenty of time between now
and the time the next season begins, which will be some time next March, to get
things right at least on the pitch.
For sure, several players will be on their way out, if not already gone and
several others will be coming into the squad, we will just have to wait and see
who they end up being and lets all cross our fingers that the club brings in the
right players.
We all hope that someone other than Stevie Wonder will be in charge of
recruiting during the off-season.
A lot of question marks remain both on and off the pitch for Sydney Olympic.
In the Club Championship the 18s won 3-1 and the 20s lost 2-0. We have ended up
in 6th place. Thankfully, starting from next year, the Club Championship will
no longer count as part of any promotion or relegation.
For the Sydney Olympic women’s team, they lost 1-0 to the Northern Tigers in
their Semi-Final, but by virtue of finishing 2nd during the regular season,
they will have another chance this weekend. They will play the Illawarra
Stingrays in an Elimination Final on Sunday.
Monday 12 August 2019
Monday 5 August 2019
Sydney Olympic 2-1 Sydney United
Sydney Olympic kept its slim Finals hopes alive yesterday,
after recording a gutsy come from behind, 2-1 victory over rivals Sydney United
on Sunday Afternoon, at Belmore Sports Ground.
We started the match off well and had a couple of great chances to open the scoring, but once again, we could not capitalise on our good build up play. As has been the case many times this season, after we fail to put away our chances, we were once again sucker punched on the break. An opposition player was put through on goal, it was questionable whether or not he was actually onside, but nevertheless, we were punished on the half-hour mark and were now down 1-0. We tried hard to get back into the game during the closing stages of the first-half, but it was not to be and at half-time we were down 1-0.
Fortunately, we did not have to wait too long in the second-half to get back on level terms. As 5 minutes in, substitute Jack Stewart was found inside the box, before slotting the ball away to bring us level at 1-1. 5 minutes after our equaliser, we turned the match on its head as we were fouled inside the box and earned a penalty, Jason Madonis stepped up and put it away with ease to put us into a 2-1 lead. It was a lead that we would not relinquish and it was a well-deserved 3 points.
Coincidentally, this match signified the first time this season, where we were able to overturn a deficit after trailing at half-time.
It was a good performance, a well-deserved victory and it keeps our slim hopes of making the Top 5 alive.
Next week is the final regular season game of the season, against Sydney FC’s NPL team, on Sunday Afternoon August 11, at Lambert Park, Kick-Off is at 3pm.
For us to make the Top 5, a couple of things need to happen:
- Firstly we must take care of business and beat Sydney FC’s NPL team at Lambert Park on Sunday and;
- Somehow hope that Manly, who have nothing to play for next week, either beat or at least get a draw away at Sydney United. Highly unlikely.
There has been much talk, that Paul Henderson will hang up the boots at the end of this season, if true, he has been a magnificent servant for the club. Only 5 players have played more matches for Sydney Olympic and he has won 2 Championships and 2 Minor Premierships with the club.
This reason alone, should ensure plenty of Sydney Olympic Supporters head out to Lambert Park on Sunday.
In the Club Championship the 18s lost 1-0 and the 20s won 3-0.
On the women’s side of things, they lost to the NWS Koalas 3-2 on the weekend, but after the 22 Rounds they managed to finish 2nd on the ladder and will play Finals this year, in their 1st season in the NPL 1 competition. Well Done.
We started the match off well and had a couple of great chances to open the scoring, but once again, we could not capitalise on our good build up play. As has been the case many times this season, after we fail to put away our chances, we were once again sucker punched on the break. An opposition player was put through on goal, it was questionable whether or not he was actually onside, but nevertheless, we were punished on the half-hour mark and were now down 1-0. We tried hard to get back into the game during the closing stages of the first-half, but it was not to be and at half-time we were down 1-0.
Fortunately, we did not have to wait too long in the second-half to get back on level terms. As 5 minutes in, substitute Jack Stewart was found inside the box, before slotting the ball away to bring us level at 1-1. 5 minutes after our equaliser, we turned the match on its head as we were fouled inside the box and earned a penalty, Jason Madonis stepped up and put it away with ease to put us into a 2-1 lead. It was a lead that we would not relinquish and it was a well-deserved 3 points.
Coincidentally, this match signified the first time this season, where we were able to overturn a deficit after trailing at half-time.
It was a good performance, a well-deserved victory and it keeps our slim hopes of making the Top 5 alive.
Next week is the final regular season game of the season, against Sydney FC’s NPL team, on Sunday Afternoon August 11, at Lambert Park, Kick-Off is at 3pm.
For us to make the Top 5, a couple of things need to happen:
- Firstly we must take care of business and beat Sydney FC’s NPL team at Lambert Park on Sunday and;
- Somehow hope that Manly, who have nothing to play for next week, either beat or at least get a draw away at Sydney United. Highly unlikely.
There has been much talk, that Paul Henderson will hang up the boots at the end of this season, if true, he has been a magnificent servant for the club. Only 5 players have played more matches for Sydney Olympic and he has won 2 Championships and 2 Minor Premierships with the club.
This reason alone, should ensure plenty of Sydney Olympic Supporters head out to Lambert Park on Sunday.
In the Club Championship the 18s lost 1-0 and the 20s won 3-0.
On the women’s side of things, they lost to the NWS Koalas 3-2 on the weekend, but after the 22 Rounds they managed to finish 2nd on the ladder and will play Finals this year, in their 1st season in the NPL 1 competition. Well Done.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)