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Central Park run-in to the end of the season starts in this game with a double-header against The Usual Suspects at Regent Secondary on Sunday and with the rematch at the same ground next weekend. Sharks are chasing for at least the playoff spot and a win looked to be on the cards with a strong selection available for the game. TUS however had other ideas when against the run of play, they took the lead shortly after Stefan's miss from the spot and they went to take a 2-1 into half-time. Second-half was the Serbian show as Marko and Stefan shared 5 goals between them as they romped home with 3 points notching a 6-3 win over TUS.
Sharks started its first of 5 games in 4 weeks against TUS as the boys in yellow looked to a strong selection of players available for selection. They took the early initiatives and in less than 5 minutes, Naoki managed to break free from his marker but he pulled his shot wide with only the custodian to beat. Shortly afterwards, they created a couple of chances but the likes of Aaron, Naoki and Stefan were unable to capitalise on it. TUS however were easily dangerous on the wings as they kept the pressure particularly on the left but the winger found Zhuoneng a rather handful defender to deal with. Nonetheless, the pressure at the other end paid off when Charlson marauding run was stopped short inside the box. Up step Stefan who looked to bury his 3rd from the spot this year but somehow, it was well-wide off the right post. That seemed to deflate the team and just as quickly, TUS took the lead at the other end after some slack marking by the defense. Sharks however got themselves back in the game when at the other end, TUS made a hash of some slopping passing and Aaron was quick to capitalise on it to level the score. As the clock ticked by for half-time, a miscommunication by Charlson and Michael gave the opposition the lead when the former's backpass trickled into the net with Michael nowhere near his post. The manager had seen enough after that and send on the visiting Serbian, Marko 'The Bear' Jankovic for the fast tiring Aaron. That seemed to stabilise the attack with both Stefan and Marko combining well upfront. The latter had an opportunity to level the game just before half-time but he misses from 6 yards, much to the disgust of himself as the referee blew for half-time.
Second-half belongs to the Serbian pair as they ran TUS defense ragged. With only 5 minutes into the half, Stefan found Marko with an exquiste thru ball. Though the latter's shot was feeble, it slipped under the body of TUS custodian to tie the score 2-2. That seemed to set the pace and tone of the game as TUS were put on the backfoot for much of the half as the likes of Stefan, Marko, Jeremy, Naoki and Heng Li seemed to tear TUS defense apart at will with Yus providing defensive cover for his much pacy teammates. It wasn't long before Sharks took the lead after Naoki unselfishly found 'The Bear' in the box and he made no mistake with only the custodian to beat. A minute later, it was one of the team goal of the year when Yus won the ball in midfield and stroke it to Naoki who exchanged a one-two with Stefan, the Japanese winger put his pace into motion as he left his marker chasing his shadow before finding Jeremy in the middle. With the goal on sight, he put Stefan up for the shot and the Serbian finished the move with a placed shot to give his team a comfortable 4-2 lead. At the other end, an enforced change for Vincent meant that Jensen had to be called into action and the change seemed to put the defense under pressure as TUS stole a goal off from a throw-in to put the tie back in contention.
With the score at 4-3, Sharks looked to be on the backfoot and needed to pull another goal to make the tie save. Up step Marko who made a fine run and his compatriot Stefan made a defense-splitting pass. The Bear had all the time in the world to grab his hat-trick but he wasted no time to finish the move sending the custodian the wrong way as he gave his team a 5-3 lead. The Serbs show didn't end there when Stefan scored a fantastic individual goal before the end of the game. Coming in from deep, his almost notorious rainbow turn left his marker bewildered and with the defenders backing off, he took the opportunity to use his body feint and quick feet to good effect and found himself clear with only the custodian to beat. He finished the move in style opting for power as it found the back of the net for his team's sixth of the game.
The beaming manager commented, 'It was a defensive horror show in the first half but the second half was a joy to watch particularly Sharks fourth goal. That was just the kind of goal you would pay to see. The Bear only came on to do one thing, to score and he did that with a hat-trick. The team looks forward to his return soon. |
