On a fine and mild evening at Belmore I entered the ground to find new programmes on sale of quite a good standard but after getting ripped off for food and drink, I made my way to the stand to find a small group of Breakers supporters (but none of the Rowdie variety - all in Newcastle getting ready for their game v. The Media next Friday night during the Glory match). I managed to catch 1/2 hour of the NYL match.
When the teams took the field I noted that Sterrey had kept the team which did well against Marconi last week and Culina had made more changes. The inclusion of Durakovic (as sweeper) for his second game and Bouhoutsos in goal were notable too.
The first half started slowly with Sydney Olympic pushing up early but their reputation for a physical game continues as they reacted to Breakers raids. Emerton / Tome / and Cardozo were interchanging up front and causing problems so it wasn't until the 12th min that the Breakers made it into the area. Over the next 15 mins there was just one chance at both ends as the midfield battle raged. Buonovaglia laboured up front with no support, but the Breakers were quite well holding their own. Olympic's frustration at this was evident by the first yellow, given to Brennan for a wild tackle on Sprod. Slowly the complexion changed and in the last 10 of the first half Olympic gradually got on top. Firstly Durakovic pushes up and his glanced header finds Cardozo with Catlin off his line - shot, goal: 1-0. Breakers try to rally but McManus loses the ball in a tackle and there's Scotty Thomas to bang in a goal against his old club. 2-0. The whistle finds some very quiet Breakers supporters and I relay the bad news to Rui Melo when he rings.
The second half has an entirely different ambience. Even at 52 mins the Breakers are clearly livelier and the inclusion of Tancheski adds some bite. A long range free kick from Pryce sees Bouhousos spill it and luckily gather again. The Breakers push up but there are still only pop guns where cannons are required. By 78 mins Olympic are reduced to a series of speculative shots from long range. It seems that rather than go on with it they realised they need to defend the lead. The only real chance is when Emerton misses a sitter under pressure from Catlin. The Breakers continue to pressure, now with more men forward. The Olympic crowd are getting very vocal about the refereeing and the number of free kicks going to the Breakers way. Tough! Eventually the pressure pays off and as a ball is cleared it falls to Freddy Umlil's head and he sends it screaming into the net past the Olympic keeper. Unlike the game 2 seasons ago the Breakers can't pull it back to 2-2, and it runs out as a win to Olympic - made in a 15 min spell in the first half. The Breakers fans enjoyed the 2nd half, and the boys were not disgraced - but you can't stay in the EC on smiles and pride alone!
Best for the Breakers - hard one. I will think about that as it was a team performance.
BTW The NYL game ended Olympic YL 0 v. Breakers YL 3 (scorers Mansley, Bauer, Sanderson). That puts the Breakers back on top, one point clear of Spirit YL. who also won yesterday. Excellent!