Rovers Claim Extra Time Grand Final Triumph

Taringa Rovers 3 (Karamabasis 10’, 119’ pen; Sekulic 92’)

North Pine 2 (Kuboyama 40’; Parker 101’ ) AET HT 0-1 FT 1-1 Played at: AJ Kelly Park

Taringa Rovers were pushed all the way but finally took home the silverware when they beat North Pine 3-2 in a pulsating Capital League 1 Grand Final at AJ Kelly Field on Saturday evening. Taringa had all the possession for most of the first half but were caught unawares by Shuto Kobayama who produced a goal to remember with a raking shot in from the left which left Taylor McGill rooted to the spot. After the break, neither team really threatened until the equaliser arrived in the 76th from the boot of Sean Karambasis, who hit a cracking volley straight down the centre of the goal. Into extra time and substitute Milan Sekulic immediately cracked open the North Pine defence and put Taringa in front but only until the 99th minute when long time Gorillas stalwart Craig Parker brought a huge cheer from the crowd with an equaliser. A game teetering in the balance was finally decided when Karambasis was brought down in the box and stepped up to score his second of the evening from the spot. With the match all but over, Danny Spencer received his second yellow card and spent the final five minutes in the dressing sheds. A game lacking inspiration provided some excellent entertainment purely on spectacular goals, and plenty of them, in front of a massive crowd with standing room only around the grandstands. Taringa have been the best team in Capital League 1 all year and probably deserve the spoils of victory but no one can say that North Pine weren’t in the game purely through determination. So two trophies head to Jack Speare Park as Rovers plan for next year’s Flight Centre Premier League and they’ll be relieved, if nothing else, to have finally gotten over the line.

FB Media Player of the Match: Sean Karambasis (Taringa Rovers)

Karamabasis not only scored twice but continually looked the one player from both teams capable of cracking open a solid defence.

FB Media Match Stats:

Possession: 50% - 50% Shots on target: 9 - 2 Shots off target: 7 - 8 Shots off woodwork: 1 - 0 Corners: 12 - 6 Free Kicks: 16 - 16 Offside: 3 - 3 Yellow Cards: 2 - 2 Red Cards: 0 - 1