QSL CLUB profile
Devil Wayne Knipe takes on Olympic's Mark Fisk. Photo: www.offsidephotos.com.au
Olympic Byrned by Devils
Monday, 07 September 2009
Olympic FC have bundled out of the Hyundai QSL finals series after suffering a 1-0 loss to Redlands City Devils.
An impressive second-half goal from former Olympic player Danny Byrne and a late penalty save from Devils shot-stopper Mitch O’Brien sealed the win for the Cleveland-based side and sent them into next week’s Grand Final to play Brisbane Strikers.
Both sides made their intentions known in the opening encounters, with early chances for both teams.
Hyuk-Su Seo’s fifth-minute free kick was teed up to Jack Petrie, who’s shot rocketed just over the cross bar.
Just three minutes later, Hyundai QSL Golden Boot winner Russell Woodruffe went close with a header after a perfect delivery from Graham Fyfe off a free-kick.
Olympic had the game’s next real chance when winger Andrew Oar dribbled around O’Brien, but the angle was too tight and the ball travelled over the line before Oar could attempt a cross or shot at goal.
Frenchman Jean-Charles Dubois then had an opportunity for the Devils – a swift run down the left wing saw him cut inside Olympic defender Nick Hulme but his shot was straight to the arms of ex-Devil Matt Ham.
End-to-end football continued until half-time, with Woodruffe again almost heading home and Alex Panic chipping O’Brien in the Devils goal but both attempts found the netting.
Panic almost found himself in a one-on-one position with O’Brien just before the break but a timely clearance from man-of-the-match Graham Fyfe sent the ball to safety.
Three minutes into the second half, Redlands were stunned at how the ball stayed out of the net after three shots in the box were brilliantly saved by Ham in the Olympic goal.
Ham palmed the first fierce shot from Chris Bale into the path of Danny Byrne who’s two quick shots pulled out a couple of impressive point-blank saves from Ham.
After a scramble in the six yard box, the ball eventually went out for a goal kick.
Just moments later, the Devils got the reward for their relentless pressure, when Danny Byrne slammed the ball into the top right hand corner from the edge of the box.
The goal must have felt even sweeter for Liverpool-born Byrne after making the move from Olympic to the Devils early in the season.
Five minutes later, a clash with an opponent forced Devils skipper Ryan Bridge to make an early exit from the game, and his replacement U21s player Scott Bow proved to be a credit to his side, making a number of important tackles.
Olympic made a change of their own minutes later, replacing hardworking defender Shane Robinson with speedy Nzube Okafor.
However, Okafor’s time on the pitch was short-lived when five minutes after his arrival he was judged to have tackled with his studs showing and was given an immediate red card by referee David Wiebe.
Down to ten men, Olympic’s determination didn’t falter but Redlands kept the majority of the possession.
They had a golden chance to double their lead with 15 minutes to go, after a run by Dubois was squared to Wayne Knipe who sent the ball sailing way over the cross bar.
Knipe, who was having a quiet game by his usual standards, had another opportunity minutes later when he received the ball just outside the box, turned and sent it sailing towards the top corner, butHam got the slightest of touches to tip the ball over the bar.
The game’s defining moment was five minutes from time when Olympic were awarded a penalty after an infringement in the box, but a clinical save by O’Brien from Jack Petrie’s attempt meant that Redlands were to be the team to challenge the Brisbane Strikers in the Grand Final.
There were few chances in the dying moments of the game, as Redlands threw all players behind the ball and tried to hold onto their lead and with even four minutes of injury time, Olympic were unable to find an equaliser.
The result means that both the Hyundai QSL and the QSYL will now be contested between Brisbane Strikers and Redlands City Devils.
More...
- Olympic crushed by Strikers
- Logan too strong for Olympic
- Olympic struggle against Strikers
- Olympic overcome QAS challenge
- Olympic Comfortable
- Olympic continue to shine
- Olympic Perf-Eight!
- Olympic Comfortable
- Olympic cruise to 4-0 victory
- Olympic looking forward to season start
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