This is probably the end for the Canberra team in its hopes of reaching the
playoffs for the 1995/96 season. A win was needed, but unfortunately, the team
returned from Melbourne empty handed.
The main perpetrator of the result was New Zealand import, Vaughn Coveny who has
brought his goal tally up to 9 goals. His timing in when to score has been great
for Souths including the decider in each of the teams last two wins and the all
important goal when Souths took out the Johnnie Walker Cup back in January.
Things weren't all Souths way on Sunday. Canberra should have taken the lead early
on when South's goal-keeper Michael Petkovic decided to play with the ball in his
own six yard area. When put under pressure, his hasty clearance went to Norman Kelly
who volleyed the ball towards goal. Fortunately, Petkovic recovered to palm the ball
the over the bar. Coach Arok was not overly amused!
The home team were not so lucky a few minutes later when Michael Musitano slid down
the right hand touch line and sent a cross into the box for Marko Perinovic to
connect and blast home a header. Given the continuous pressure the Cosmos had been
putting on, this was a rather deserved goal.
The goal spurred on the home side and through the taunts of the spectators,
equalised in a rather spectacular way. Paul Trimboli sent the ball accross the goal
where Michael Curcija was. Curcija, facing the wrong way did a reverse volley that
surprised everyone, including himself and the unfortunate Tony Giannasca as it
lobbed into the far corner.
More luck was to fall Souths way when an attempted clearance rebounded off Coveny's
chest from extremely close range and bounced over the unfortunate Giannasca and
into the goal. This closed the half with the home team 2-1 up.
The momentum continued with the home side and ten minutes into the second half Kevin
Muscat pushed through a clever through ball for Coveny to latch on to. One on one
with the keeper he calmly placed the ball wide of Giannasca and inside the
far post.
Finally, the visitors returned to how they were playing early on and strated to put
some pressure on the locals. Midway through the half this pressure was rewarded when
Alex Castro played a sort of 1-2-3. He passed a ball to Paul Dee who's shot was blocked
by Con Blatsis but rebounded back into the path of Castro who continued his run. The
poke in was rather easy and now the game became interesting again.
With Souths looking down the barrel of themselves losing a possible win, they defended
stoutly and parried away numerous attacks. In fact a minute or so into extra time,
replacement player Bill Damianos had a chance to make it four, but his volley with
only Jason Dunn to beat fell straight to the defender.
So, Souths gained the valuable three points and are still in with a small chance of
making the playoffs while the Cosmos struggled to get another draw and will have
to improve, both inplay and luck before they meet UTS Olympic on Wednesday.
For another match report, here is the Wollongong vs Sydney United
report.