Venue: AIS Athletics Field Canberra
Ref : the legendary Con Diomis
Crowd: about 200
I don't have the team lists as obviously there was no programme and no admission fee either. But I can tell you that the young Socs opened the stronger. The backline was particularly impressive with Kisnorbo, Madaschi and most of all Milicevic looking supremely confident on the ball. The only other starting players I can name for us were Vasilievski from M Knights, Josh Kennedy and Scott McDonald in the forward line and Michael Ferrante of West Ham playing in midfield. I had the pleasure of sitting near Ferrante's father who naturally enough tensed up whenever his son got possession.
Rangers got back into the play after our strong opening 10 minutes and the half finished pretty even with few scoring chances, apart from 2 free kicks skimming the cross bar of the visitors. Towards the end of the half big Lubo absolutely crunched into a shoulder charge on an opponent who fell nastily onto the turf then clutched his shoulder or collar bone. The Rangers man went off never to return.
But the second term belonged to our friend Con Diomis. Disappointed by the lack of scoring he decided to make himself the star with not one but two very debatable penalty decisions to the home team. I'm sure the first was a dive but can't tell you who it was - possibly McDonald - Ferrante converted with a low shot.
Despite the crowd being half made up of ex-Pats I could tell that even us Aussies joined in the giggling and groaning that followed both decisions. The second came after a fine run by the towering captain Milicevic from the back but was ended by a theatrical dive. This left Rangers looking pretty hapless as Ferrante once again converted to make it 2-0.
There followed Diomis arguing with the Rangers coach about how close the latter should stand to the sideline and probably how loudly he could abuse the former. The coach gave in finally, moved back to his seat and the game continued.
About this time a whole swag of Aussie subs came on including Wayne Shroj and Nick Carle. The latter at last scored a real goal for the side with a looping header after a cross from the right in the dying moments. At the whistle a couple of Rangers die hards sang 'we'll support you ever more' which I suspect wasn't aimed at the whistleblower.
As I said the defense had looked good even when the excellent Madaschi went off at halftime. Midfield was at least as creative as the more mechanical Rangers players; but those forwards of Kennedy and McDonald will need more time together. Maybe with Cansdell-Sherriff and especially Di Iorio back for the real games we will look better in that department.
Frank Farina was in one of the boxes watching the game. Graham Arnold sat a few seats behind me and Tom Sermanni was naturally thereabouts too.