The last group-stage Super Saturday of the Australian Championship was overflowing with drama and excitement, highlighted by a stunning Wollongong Wolves performance against Marconi Stallions.
Needing six goals to earn a Quarter-Final spot, the Wolves miraculously fell just one short, while earlier in the afternoon, Avondale FC and Preston Lions played out an exciting 1-1 draw.
Avondale FC 1-1 Preston Lions
Avondale FC and Preston Lions drew 1-1 in an exhilarating match at Avenger Park.
This all-Victorian encounter began in electric fashion, with both sides creating their fair share of opportunities without finding the back of the net.
Preston Lions, who needed a win to ensure their Quarter-Finals status, struggled to dominate the first half, with Avondale having the majority of chances in the opening 45.
Just moments into the second stanza, the home side had a golden chance to find their opener, but somehow couldn’t finish off a 4v2 situation, before Scott made a sensational second save in quick succession, denying Avondale once more against Abdallah in a one-on-one.
But moments later, they finally found their opener, as Blake Carpenter was found beyond Preston’s backline by Luca Tevere, and converted calmly to give the NPL Victoria Premiers the lead.
Following their goal, Avondale continued to build momentum, with Bruno Fornaroli finding the wrong side of the side netting from close range, before Tevere forced Scott into yet another save with a stinging long-range effort.
But, after 15 minutes of the home side consistently threatening to double their lead, Preston Lions astoundingly found an equaliser down the other end, with a brilliant cross from Romero finding the head of Jonas Markovski, who brilliantly found the back of the net to level the scores.
The next big chance once more fell the way of Avondale, with Carpenter almost finding a miraculous second goal, as he struck the woodwork with a bullet from outside the box.
The last ten minutes were dominated by Preston, who were desperately searching for their three points, but couldn’t find a winner, and will be nervously awaiting the result of Canberra Croatia’s clash with NWS Spirit tomorrow afternoon.
Wollongong Wolves 5-0 Marconi Stallions
Wollongong Wolves have fallen just short of Quarter-Final qualification after a thrilling, extraordinary match at Collegians Sports Centre.
Wollongong needed six goals to leapfrog Marconi and qualify for the Quarter-Finals, and they came out firing, finding their first after just 12 minutes courtesy of Lachlan Scott.
The Wolves were creating consistently against a usually resolute Marconi defence, but just couldn’t convert on multiple occasions throughout the middle stages of the first half.
Sebastian Hernandez was looking particularly likely, having a multitude of shots on goal, but somehow just couldn’t find the back of the net, and on the one occasion he did beat James Hilton, Tass Mourdoukoutas was on hand to make a remarkable clearance to keep the deficit to just one.
But on the verge of halftime, Wollongong found their second, with a cutback from Isaac Danzo finding Nicholas Olsen, giving them a dream to take heading into the second stanza.
And, just three minutes after halftime, Wolves found a third, with some beautiful interplay between Olsen and Scott releasing Hernandez, who finally found his goal, bringing them halfway towards their aim in this turbulent fixture.
After a lull, Scott earned himself a brace off a goalmouth scramble, and suddenly, the Wolves needed just two more goals to progress to the Quarter-Finals.
And the momentum was continuing for Wollongong, with some individual brilliance from Tate Russell adding a fifth, leaving the home side needing just one goal to progress.
The last 10 minutes were utterly exhilarating, with the Wolves continuing to excite, and almost finding their desired sixth goal, with Banri Kanazumi just rushing an effort from close range.
But Wollongong fell just short, bowing out of the Australian Championship in style, while Marconi will have to regroup before heading into their Quarter-Final next weekend.