Gorillas In Penalty Shootout Win To Reach Grand Final
Shuto Kuboyama put North Pine ahead in the first half..
North Pine 1 (Kuboyama 17') Brisbane Knights 1 (Davidge 90+4') AET - North Pine win 5-4 on penalties HT 1-0 FT 1-1 Played at: Bob Brock Park
It was almost time for Cinderella's coach to turn back into a pumpkin when North Pine progressed through to the Capital League 1 Grand Final following a penalty shoot out win over a gallant Brisbane Knights at Bob Brock Park on Saturday night. Shuto Kuboyama's deft touch put the Gorillas ahead just after the quarter hour mark before the game was forced into extra time following yet another late late show from Knights when Jacob Davidge tapped home deep in added time. The stage was set early for a physical encounter when North Pine's Chris Culleton picked up an early caution after clattering through Claudio Romano. Both sides battled hard throughout the contest as the hosts at times rode their luck to the fullest. A Jay Reid free kick saw Michael McKinnon's header loop onto the top of the crossbar before North Pine struck soon after. Knights looked to have cleared from a corner when Andrew Lincoln's speculative ball back into the box was deftly touched past Knights keeper Evan Pearse by Kuboyama to put the Gorilla's ahead. Knights thought they'd levelled towards the end of the first half when Ashley Shore latched onto a low cross and slipped the ball past Daniel Hyde in the North Pine goal, but the assistant's flag was raised for what appeared a tight call. Shore had another chance in first half added time but was unable to squeeze the ball home form a tight angle after a good run into the box saw him cut back in at the goal line with Hyde to beat. North Pine emerged the better side early in the second half. Ashley Christiansen picking up Danny Spencer's through ball but pushing his shot just wide of the post. Kuboyama forced a superb tip over save from Pearse on the hour with a powerful half volley before Jay Brindell-South should have hit the target when ghosting in at the back post to meet Christiansen's deep cross, right back though only finding the side netting to his frustration. The best chance of half for Knights came near the end of normal time when substitute Kiza Lubenda was put through on goal but his effort across goal drifted wide of mark. Knights of course are the masters at late comebacks as has been the case countless times this season and it was no surprise when they levelled deep into added time. A long throw from Romano caused havoc in the box and despite Hyde blocking an initial effort, Davidge was on hand to tap in from close range to the delight of the travelling Knights faithful. A minute later Knights should have sealed passage into next weekend's Grand Final. Lubenda again guilty of wasting a golden opportunity when he was one on one with Hyde. The Knights' striker though firing his effort straight at the North Pine stopper with the game poised for an extra thirty minutes. The visitors dominated the extra time period but Hyde was equal to the task when producing a good save to deny Matt Lyell's powerful effort from the edge of the box. A short time after Romano went close with a header that drifted agonisingly wide of the upright with Hyde beaten. Kuboyama forced a good save from Pearse as the hosts struggled to create many clear cut chances.
Knights captain Jay Reid was unable to lead his side to next weekend's grand final.
Knights were again denied by the offside flag in the second period of extra time when Lubenda was adjudged to have been in an offside position before heading in from a Jay Reid free kick. Lubenda almost snatched victory at the end of extra time but Hyde was on hand to block his effort. Knights went into the dreaded penalty shootout lottery with the nightmare of having recently been knocked out by Rochedale Rovers in the semi-final of the Pig 'N' Whistle Canale Cup and that nightmare was set to continue for coach Dave McEvoy's side. Both sides converted each of their first four spot kicks before Romano seemed to take an eternity with an excessivley long run-up before firing his shot down the middle of the goal that Hyde comfortably parried away. Danny Spencer was left the task of converting his kick which he duly obliged, sending Pearse the wrong way and sparking celebrations in front of the North Pine clubhouse. It's never a nice way for a season to conclude and Knights will consider themselves unfortunate that their giant killing exploits and rallying for big games ant bear them any silverware in 2017. The Gorillas will now face league champions Taringa Rovers in the Grand Final next weekend at AJ Kelly Park.
Coaches Remarks:
Wayne Heath - North Pine: "Obviously being a semi final, both teams gave everything they could. I think there were some very weary boys there at the end who were struggling to stay on their feet for both sides. It was a great game for the supporters and it was good that we got over the line tonight." Dave McEvoy - Brisbane Knights: "I felt we didn't turn up to be honest. First half we were terrible. Second half they got their game together. North Pine defended well, they're a physical team and well organised and are hard o break down. They fight for the second ball like no other team in the league. On a small tight field it was very hard to get at them. I'm not going to say they deserved to win but they deserved to go to penalties and it's then 50/50. A cup semi-final loss on penalties. A league semi-final loss on penalties… I bloody hate penalties."
FB Media Player of the Match: Daniel Hyde (North Pine).
The young keeper kept his side in the game with a number of good saves as well as the vital shootout save that ultimately saw his side progress to next weekend's Grand Final.
FB Media Match Stats:
Possession: 47% - 53% Shots on target: 6 - 10 Shots off target: 6 - 8 Shots off woodwork: 0 - 2 Corners: 4 - 8 Free Kicks: 20 - 23 Offside: 6 - 7 Yellow Cards: 2 - 3 Red Cards: 0 - 0
Team Line-ups
North Pine: Hyde (gk), Brindell-South, Christiansen (Manley 90'), Culleton, Kuboyama, Gillies (Spencer 51'), Lincoln, Masters, Neeve, K. Scriggins, Shoniwa (Russell 71').
Subs: Stipanovic (rgk), Heath, Manley, Russell, Spencer.
Brisbane Knights: Pearse (gk), Cobley (Lyell), Davidge, Hairsine (Sadick), Harm, McKinnon, Reid, Romano, Shore (Lubenda), Vrbesic, Wolsey.
Subs: Farquhar (rgk), Lubenda, Lyell, Sadick, Simic. REFEREE: Rebecca Durcau
