Bonnyrigg White Eagles cruised into the semi-finals of the Playstation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series with a thumping 6-1 success over Cooma Tigers at the AIS Athletics Track in Canberra. The NSW League Champions had to come from 1-0 down however before storming to victory with a scintillating second half display to which the Tigers had no answer.
After a cagey opening it was Cooma who took the lead with only ten minutes on the clock. Robbie Cattanach orchestrated it with a defence splitting pass over the top of the White Eagles defence for striker Jordan Lando to run onto. Lando’s first touch appeared heavy but he stretched to reach the ball ahead of the onrushing James Chronopolous and stab his effort past the Eagles’ ‘keeper and into the net.
That seemed to spur on the visitors who were level within twelve minutes. Throughout the match the Tigers’ defence struggled with the aerial threat of the NSW representatives and the goal was a direct result of their inability to compete in the air. Tynan Diaz was the provider, curling in a beautiful delivery which was begging to be headed home and Dylan Fox duly obliged, nodding into the net from close range.
And the Eagles almost had the lead on the half-hour. Another superb free-kick caused havoc in the Cooma defence and was deftly headed past Tigers’ stopper Jack Pettit but, to the relief of the home support, the goal was chalked off for offside. Cooma responded via a long-range Cattanach effort that was pushed away by Chronopolous as the half ended all-square at 1-1.
Bonnyrigg came out firing after the interval and a brace of goals within three minutes of each other swung the momentum of the game inexorably in their favour. From a corner in the 54 th minute Cooma once more failed to deal with the aerial threat and Nikola Zonjic was able to steal in unmarked and head firmly past Pettit from six yards. Two became three within minutes as Aaron Peterson took advantage of some hesitant defending to slot home.
By now the White Eagles were showing their power and they went further ahead in the 63 rd minute with a cracking finish. Pettit could only clear a poor back-pass straight to Diaz who coolly picked his spot from thirty metres and cracked a beauty back over the head of the back-pedalling Cooma number one.
There was still more to come from the rampant White Eagles as Peterson was left unmarked on the penalty spot to swivel and pick his spot with nineteen minutes remaining and extend the lead. And the visitors racked up a sixth in the 79 th minute as Peterson turned provider, finding substitute Terik Ercan who in turn laid it on a plate for Alexander Doyle to bring up the half dozen.
Playstation 4 National Premier Leagues – 2014 Finals Series
Cooma Tigers 1 (Jordan Lando 10’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 6 (Dylan Fox 22’, Nikola Zonjic 54’, Aaron Peterson 57’, 71’, Tynan Diaz 63’, Alexander Doyle 79’)
Statistics
Cooma Tigers: 24. Jack PETTIT, 3. Jordano SAN MARTIN, 4. Iain ELLIOTT, 5. Jeremias IBARRA, 6. Aden JOHNSON, 7. Goran JOSIFOVSKI, 8. Jordan LANDO, 9. Robbie CATTANACH, 10. Dejan SANTRAC (17. Jared TONINI 73’), 11. Stephen DOMENICI (15. Daniel ROBERTS 66’), 16. Phil YARNOLD (21. Sime CELESKI 73’)
Substitutes not used: 12. Domenic COLUCCIELLO, 14. Stefan TODOROSKI
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 1. James CHRONOPOLOUS, 4. David VRANKOVIC (17. Mitchell OSMAND 68’), 5. Chris TADROSSE, 6. Nikola ZONJIC, 8. Alexander CANAK (26. Terik ERCAN 71’), 10. Tynan DIAZ, 12. Dylan FOX, 14. Jordan CRIGHTON (24. Alexander DOYLE 66’), 16. Howard FONDYKE, 19. Aaron PETERSON, 21. Bo Hyun CHUN
Substitutes not used: 2. Alexander MANSUETO, 22. Liam GOBBO
Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: 3. Jordano SAN MARTIN, 5. Jeremias IBARRA, 7. Goran JOSIFOVSKI, 11. Stephen DOMENICI (Cooma Tigers)
Match Officials: Luke WITHELL (referee), Owen GOLDRICK, Adam POWERS, Gary VANDEBURGT (4 th Official)
Attendance: 288
Image Courtesy of Capital Football