Eagles Soar Into Round 5
Southside Eagles 3 (Tobun 41'; McCoy 67' pen; Robson 85') Brisbane Phoenix 1 (Tshitenga 90') HT 1-0 Played at: Memorial Park
Their first game as Brisbane Phoenix has ended in disappointment for the Capital League 2 outfit after Capital League 1s Southside Eagles progressed to the Preliminary RD5 draw for the Westfield FFA Cup with a 3-1 success on Tuesday evening. Thomas Tobin's opener against the run of play put the hosts ahead near the end of the first half after Phoenix had looked the livelier of the two teams. Scott Cowden, who'd been guilty of a string of cheap turnovers, cut the ball back for Tobin who's powerful strike flew into the top left corner leaving Phoenix keeper Chris Parsons stranded. Eagles extended their lead from the penalty spot midway through the second half after Cowden had been tripped by Schon Hansen when threatening to hone in on goal. Ethan McCoy sending Parsons the wrong way to make it 2-0. The tie was put to bed shortly before the end when Nathaniel Tobin headed home from close range when ghosting in at the far post from a corner. Phoenix grabbed a late consolation close to full time when substitute Blaise Tshitenga guided the ball home from close range but it was too late to mount any kind of comeback at that point. Eagles coach Roger Hunter considered his side fortunate to go into the break in front after they were in general, outplayed by Phoenix although the visitors were dealt an early blow when Afrahim Bayen had to be replaced after just 5 minutes when he picked up an injury. Alistair Pase looked a class above on the ball and he was first to test the keepers when forcing Eagles stopper Matt Tubbs to tip aside his 6th minute low shot. Eagles went closest to opening the scoring soon after when David Maclot's free kick just before the quarter hour mark, cannoned back off the left upright. After going behind late in the half, Phoenix had a great opportunity to level when Nelson Babey was put through one on one by Pase only for the striker to butcher his touch inside the box as he looked to tee himself up with the ball rolling harmlessly to Tubbs. The second term saw a more determined Eagles side emerge although it was Phoenix's own defence that nearly extended the hosts lead when Maclot's strike from just inside the box after a good run, took a heavy deflection off centre back Tim Richards before hitting the side netting much to his and Parsons relief. It took a spot kick to finally put daylight between the two sides when Cowden was brought down. Ethan McCoy making no mistake from 12 yards sending Parsons the wrong way. With the game in it's final ten minutes, we nearly witnessed one of the goals of the season. Parson's goal kick only reaching Eagles' Jacob Mengotti and as the Phoenix keeper had his back turned rueing his kick, Mengotti struck the ball from some 40 yards out only to see it crash against the crossbar.
Two minutes later though, any doubts Eagles had was dispelled when Tobin headed in from close range to settle the nerves. Phoenix's late consolation changed nothing as Eagles ran out deserved winners with there second half turn around. In truth, Pheoneix rarely tested Eagles keeper Tubbs for the majority of the game although they transitioned quickly in attack and had they taken there chances, it could have been a different story. Phoenix will now turn their attention to promotion from Capital Legaue 2.
Coaches Remarks:
Roger Hunter - Southside Eagles: "First half we were the poorer team. We started slow and didn't dictate the play like we had discussed pre-match. We got a lucky goal against the run of play. But fortunately, what we did well last year, we did tonight and that's grounding out results when we're not playing well. We changed shape second half and controlled the game." Stephen Starr - Brisbane Phoenix: "First half we were in the game and had a couple of good chances. Second half though, Eagles showed that bit of quality you'd expect from the level they're playing at. But we battled away. Our focus is on promotion to Capital League 1 although a win here would have been a bonus."
FB Media Player of the Match: Jacob Mengotti - Southside Eagles.
Forgetting the first half where the game was littered with errors, Mengotti rose for the second term and nearly scored one of the goals of the season.
Match Stats:
Possession: 59% - 41% Shots on target: 10 - 5 Shots off target: 1 - 4 Corners: 7 - 7 Free Kicks: 9 - 15 Penalties: 1 - 0 Offside: 3 - 3 Yellow Cards: 1 - 2 Red Cards: 0 - 0
Team line-ups
Southside Eagles: Tubbs (gk), Bretag (Robson 71), Cowden, Maclot, McCoy, Mengotti, Patten (Nilsen 56'), Porch (Taylor 53'), Spall, Stuckey, Tobin. Subs: Warren (rgk), Johnson, Nilsen, Robson, Taylor. Brisbane Phoenix: Parsons (gk), Abonga, Adam, Babey (Bwormoi 60'), Bayen (Louis 5'), Hansen, Hussein (Tshitenga 69'), Pase, Richards, Vedelago, Zunic. Subs: Aman, Bwormoi, Louis, Tshitenga. Referee: Jim Bellos
