Ten Man Mustangs Claim Canale Cup
Mitchelton 2 (McVey 60'; Sarasol 84')
Capalaba 1 (Fellows 19') HT 0-1
Played at Walton Bridge Reserve
Gabriel Sarasol's superb late solo goal sealed a memorable second half comeback for Mitchelton who claimed their first Canale Cup success with a 2-1 success over Capalaba Bulldogs on Saturday night. Sam Fellows put the Bulldogs ahead with a well taken strike shortly after the quarter hour mark but Capalaba were unable to capitalise on their first half dominance. Josh McVey levelled proceedings on the hour after Jake Mitchell pounced on a defensive error from Liam Fisher. McVey quick to pick up the ball in the box and slot it past Bulldogs' keeper Sam Chandler, courtesy of a heavy deflection off Capalaba skipper David Roby. The Mustangs were without their top scorer Ben Njie who returned to the UK for a wedding, but already buoyant from their Mount Franklin Women's Premier League side having earlier taken out the Elaine Watson Cup, The Teralba Park side were determined to make it a memorable double.
Mitchelton captain Nick Bernardi departs the field after being sent off.
They didn't have it all their own way though and shortly after McVey's equaliser, captain Nick Bernardi 'took one for the team' when deliberately tripping Fellows who sprinted onto Jackson Stubbins misplaced back pass beyind his own defence; with Fellows looking destined to beat Kevin Downes when bearing down on goal before Bernardi's intervention. It was a simple decision for Referee Nathan MacDonald to make, with the Mitchelton skipper already heading towards the exit sign as the red card was promptly issued. There's no doubting it was a turning point in the game but Geoff Hurford's side were unable to make the man advantage count before paying the ultimate price with just over five minutes remaining. Chris Griebsch picked up a loose ball deep in his own half before setting Sarasol on his way who made a fifty plus metre run, evading four Capalaba defenders, before calmly slipping the ball beyond Chandler from twelve yards out. The defending was questionable at best but there's no taking away from goal which was simply sublime. It would ultimately prove to be the winner with the Bulldogs unable to take the game into extra time, capping off a successful day for Mitchelton and turning the usually purple hew of Walton Bridge Reserve into a distinctly vivid green as the large Mustangs support started celebrating long into the night.
Mitchelton FC - Canale Cup WInners 2016.
It's been a long wait for the club to finally secure top level silverware in their 98 year history, and they've now seen both their women's and men's sides claim three in two weeks. All that's left now is for coach Leo Sirianni's outfit to make the Flight Centre Premier League Grand Final for a chance of adding further bling to the trophy cabinet. And on this form, they could well do so.
FB Media Player Of The Match: #11 Josh McVey - Mitchelton.
The lively striker has been instrumental to their recent form and he shone in this encounter with his jinxing runs and trickery that posed a constant threat to Capalaba.
Team line-ups
Mitchelton: Downes (gk), Bernardi (sent off 67'), Kleibo, Griebsch, Griffin, Mitchell, McVey, Sarasol, Stubbins, Shade, Willoughby. Subs: Wenck (rgk), Carseldine, Lawson, Lloyd, Yoshikoshi. Capalaba Bulldogs: Chandler (gk), Azzawi, Coulson, Dunn, Fellows, Fields, Fisher, Roby, Thompson, Watt, Wemyss. Subs: Jones (rgk), Finlay, Hirayama, Ray, Smith.
Referee: Nathan MacDonald
