Geelong Soccer Club President credits Coach for success

John Didulica
07Mar08

THE most closely contested Century 21 Cup ever reaches its climax this Sunday when favourite Geelong SC takes on rank outsider Hoppers Crossing from at Bell Park Sports Centre.
When the two sides met earlier in the competition, Hoppers served up an lucklustre 1-0 win which was in no way a sign of the dream runs the sides more recently had into the final.
Since that match, the youthful Geelong has emerged as the best team of the tournament scoring three times against both the Breakwater Eagles and the North Geelong Warriors, while matching the undefeated Geelong Rangers in the semi-final.
Hoppers Crossing built on its shock first-up win, remaining unbeaten throughout the Cup with its combination of combativeness and capacity to score the wonder goal.
Geelong president Will Talev said the appointment of new coach Bob Stojcevski had been the major factor in Geelong having its best chance to lift the trophy in six years.
``He ruffled a few feathers when he arrived (and) shook the squad up a bit by making every player fight for his spot in the side,'' Talev said.
``Some of the guys that had been around the club for a while weren't used to that.
``The fact that only one player from last season's squad, captain Steve Nikolovski, is guaranteed a place in the starting 11 is testament to Stojcevski's approach.''
Three of last season's regulars in Nik Bosevski, Andrew Longo and Oktay Yilmaz are likely to compete for the spots left vacant because of suspensions to Zoran Ristevski and Matios Gorosito.
Geelong has a nervous wait on the availability of its two leading goalkeepers.
Regular number one keeper Bobby Gjorsevski and loyal lieutenant Romeo Purlija both have pre-existing, but unrelated personal commitments.
If both miss, Geelong's Cup chances will rest on the fragile shoulders of 16-year-old Alek Kitanovski, with the final doubling as his senior debut.

Geelong SC upsets Geelong Rangers in semi-final penalty thriller

John Didulica
03Mar08

GEELONG SC's off-season progress is nearing completion after an upset victory over Century 21 Cup favourite the Geelong Rangers in their semi-final last night at the Bell Park Sports Centre.
It took a gripping penalty shoot-out, which eventually finished 6-5, to decide the victor after the dour match between two evenly matched teams ended in a 0-0 draw.
The reward for Geelong is a position in the Century 21 Cup final against Hoppers Crossing next Sunday night.

Like last Friday night's nail-biter, the match would be decided as night engulfed the terraces but this time the match could not be decided during the 70 minutes and the failing light would only add to what had already been a dramatic evening, particularly during a combustible second half.
Each side would convert its opening five penalties with aplomb but the poisoned chalice would pass to Rangers' new recruit Jason Malesic, who lifted the winner's trophy last season.
Malesic's shot would be superbly stopped by Geelong's bear-like keeper Bobby Gorcevski, the custodian swatting away the strike to give team-mate Jamie Porter the opportunity to win the tie for his side.

Porter, a new face at Stead Park, immediately ingratiated himself with the home fans, making no mistake and sending his side wild with delight and into its first final in three seasons.
The biggest talking-point of the second half and the match would be the two red cards issued by referee Frank Sarcevic, Geelong's impressive new wing-back Matt Garasito and Scott Davison both seeing red and watching their teams play out the tense finale.
Most of the goal-mouth action was reserved for the shoot-out, with scoring chances at a premium for the match, Troy Hardy coming close late in the match but unable to prevent the tie from slipping into the unpredictability of penalties.
James Blackburn and Stuart Begg would both score for Geelong Rangers, but their contributions would be cancelled out by two of Geelong's stalwarts, Steve Nikolovski and Nik Bosevski converting.

Hardy finished Rangers' complement of five from five before Kwaabe One steeled himself and converted the most tense shot of the lot.
Like many of the world's best players before him, the keeper would get the better of Rangers' sixth shooter - Jason Malesic - and Geelong stood triumphant.