Couesnon Double Save Sends Virginia To Grand Final
Virginia United 2 (Puddefoot 71’, Geddes 90’) Tarragindi Tigers 2 (Gorrie 14’, 90+3’) After extra time.Virginia win 4-3 on penalties.
HT 0-1
Played at Albert Bishop Park
History repeated itself for Virginia United when they went into their second penalty shootout in a week and this time emerged as victors after drawing 2-2 with Tarragindi Tigers at Albert Bishop Park on Friday night. Tarragindi were first onto the scoresheet when James Gorrie took advantage of acres of space in the box and powered home a close range header taking the away side into the break with a 1-0 lead. Just when it was looking as if that might be the fulltime score, the wonderfully named Paddy Puddefoot met a set-piece built on the training ground and volleyed the home side back into the contest. Capital League 3 has a knack of producing drama-filled contests and this one was about to the follow the trend. In the last minute of normal time, Michael Geddes finally beat the offside trap and with his first touch lobbed Robbie Weaver and sent the noisy crowd into raptures as the ball squeezed inside the post. Three minutes later, elation turned to deflation for Virginia when Georgie Katahanas fired in a great cross from the night which Gorrie met eight yards out and deftly flicked across the keeper for his second headed goal of the night. Extra time couldn’t separate the sides and when Weaver saved United’s third penalty of the shootout, Tarragindi were on the verge of a Grand Final but Chris Couesnon wrote himself into Albert Bishop Park history with two brilliant low saves in a row. Alex Nicolaidis calmly sent Weaver the wrong way with his spot-kick and the gallant Tigers’ season was officially over. Make no mistake, this was a real finals contest with tackles flying in all over the place and referee Joey Lee forced to distribute yellow cards like prawn chips at a Chinese takeaway. Whether that leaves anyone missing the GF through suspension remains to be seen. Any player heading in to a 50/50 challenge was guaranteed to get hit hard but there was very little aggravation with both teams willing to give as good as they got. Adding to the feel of the occasion was some spectacular last gasp defending at both ends of the ground with at least two seemingly certain goals cleared off the line. Having won the title and lost on penalties last weekend, no one can deny United deserve a shot at the double and on the balance of play tonight they also deserved to eventually run out winners of this game. Next Sunday at 4pm, they will be looking for revenge and a second piece of silverware when they travel to Elder Oval, Annerley to take on Toowong.
FBMedia Player Of The Match: ST/CM Michael Geddes - Virginia United
This could easily have been awarded to a dozen or more players, but Geddes endless running and willingness to get into good positions had a big impact. Team line-ups Virginia Utd: Couesnon, Leny, Murphy, Kehoe, Tobok, Harbeck, Passaris, Baker, Pitt, Puddefoot, Geddes. Subs: Cordery, Kranjic, MacDougal, Nicolaidis, Usher.
Tarragindi Tigers: Weaver, Burchell, Wilkins, Waller, Stuart, Gorrie, Jimenez, Klarwein, Swatton, Hustwayte, Farr. Subs: Eldred, Katahanas, Wall, Darvill.
Referee: Joey Lee
