SEU defeat Kanwal 5-0 in match of the round
Southern and Ettalong United defeated Kanwal 5-0 in Premier League in the soccer "match of the round" on Saturday, July 27.
The clash between second and third-placed teams saw Southern, back playing at home for the first time in nine weeks.
They were looking to get the points in front of their local supporters who braved the cold.
Kanwal started the match well, but only eight minutes in, Southern defender Jack Jenkins advanced down the right of the field and clipped a ball over the Kanwal defence.
Southern's Brock Van Aalderen latched on to the pass, drove into the box only to be taken out by the Kanwal defender and a penalty was awarded.
Set piece specialist Jacob Lepre calmly sent the Kanwal keeper Kurtis Mahon the wrong way and finished in the opposite corner for a 1-0 lead for the home side.
The game developed into a back-and-forth battle, with both sides putting some good passing sequences together, despite the tricky playing conditions.
Kanwal came very close to equalising in the 30th minute when a low cross from the Kanwal right side was initially dealt with by Southern goalkeeper Alex Wardle.
Received by the Kanwal left winger, Wardle made another superb close-range save.
Kanwal would pay for this missed chance just two minutes later, when young Southern attacker Jack Wilson evaded a few tackles and drove forward, only to be fouled 30 yards from goal.
From the resulting free kick, Lepre again showed the danger he possesses, curling a firm strike over Mahon and high into the net, doubling his team's lead and taking his personal tally for the season to 13 goals.
Kanwal came out of the sheds after half time determined to claw their way back into the game and were making things difficult for the home defence.
Attacking down the flanks, the Bulls flighted multiple crosses which caused chaos in the Southern box, though each time the home defence and goal keeper were able to scramble the ball away.
Kanwal goal keeper Mahon also came up with some big moments, none bigger than at 65 minutes, when Southern captain Todd Balneaves curled a 60m long ball up and around the Kanwal defence.
Jack Ellwood fired his first-time strike towards goal from 10 yards, only for Mahon to make a brilliant block to keep the Bulls in the game.
It was Southern who managed to get the next goal in the 70th minute.
Alfie Martin managed to beat his opponent, drive to the byline and square the ball to young attacker Van Aalderen, who made no mistake from two yards and gave the Lions a commanding 3-0 lead.
Five minutes later, Van Aalderen had a great opportunity to get on the scoresheet again after a Balneaves long throw was flicked on by Ellwood, but Van Aalderen could only direct his header onto the base of the far post.
Van Aalderen did eventually add to his tally for the day 10 minutes from full time, when from a midfield throw-in, substitute Nathan Baker flicked the ball over the Bulls' defence to the speedy Van Aalderen, who rounded the goalkeeper, to score his second of the day.
The scoring didn't end there.
On 89 minutes, Southern were again able to break up a Kanwal attack at halfway and
Baker expertly dinked the ball past the onrushing keeper into the empty net to round out the goals for the day and send the local crowd home happy.
Match official was Jasper White.
SOURCE:
Website, 29 Jul 2024
Central Coast Football