Roy Hay

Geelong won the 2015 Diversity Cup after a penalty shoot out against Corio at Hume Reserve on Sunday night. At the end of normal time the teams were locked at one-all and the match committee and the two teams decided to go straight to penalties rather than risk the game finishing in the dark if extra-time were played. It was a sensible decision.

Fourteen of the 22 players in action in the Diversity Cup final. Click on pictures to increase their size.

The game itself was very even as both teams had good creative moves that resulted in a number of chances at either end, but for the first hour neither could break through. Geelong’s Michael Boyar was clean through but squeezed his shot just wide of the right hand post. At the other end a Corio corner was headed back across goal and Justin Hanns’ header was somehow cleared off the goal line by the Geelong defence.

Justin Hanns of Corio (left) and Michael Boyar of Geelong tussle for the ball

Tackles went flying in and a number of players were booked, and there was what the Scots would call a ‘stramash’ in the middle of the park. That means there was lots of pushing and shoving and posturing, then the players got on with the game. The stalemate was broken by two goals inside 90 seconds. Corio’s Hanns fed a lovely through ball to Andrew Palmieri who rounded the Geelong keeper Sam Versace and put his side ahead. Geelong hit back straight away setting up Jasmin Ikanovic at the other end, who also took on and beat the opposing Corio keeper Alec Kitanovski to equalise.

A short downpour took the heat out of a match that threatened to boil over, but the rain made the pitch slippery and difficult for players to keep their feet. Referee Mitko Nikolovski who celebrated 40 years in the game as player and referee, had his work cut out to keep the peace, but did so. Jimmy Watson of Corio showed some lovely skills out on the left skinning two defenders but his cross was just too high for the leaping Paul McGlounan who had the goal at his mercy. At the other end Alen Paleka got on the end of quick Geelong riposte but lifted his shot over the bar. So it went to penalties.

Louis Bentley of Geelong had his shot saved by Kitanovski after Palmieri converted for Corio. McGlounan and Steve Vangelovski scored, then Jordan Nelson of Corio had his effort saved and Michael Boyar from Geelong leveled the scores once again. Next up were Steve Luczo of Corio and Ikanovic of Geelong and both scored, but when Jayden Kinces of Corio missed it was left to Tom Langman of Geelong to convert the winning penalty.

Geelong players celebrate their Diversity Cup win

In the match for third place Geelong Rangers were just to strong for North Geelong Youth, running out winners by seven goals to three. It was four–nil to the dark blues at the interval with goals to Lars Halse, Mathias Gorisito, Ryan Calder and an own goal.

Action from the Geelong Rangers versus North Geelong match for third place.

The teams got three goals each in the second half, with Rangers’ ones coming from Evan Black, Panagiotis Vasileiou and Matthew Long. For the tired and plucky North youngsters, Frank Modica, Max Muscat and Matt Humphries got the goals. It must have been a long time since a match produced ten goals with ten individual scorers.

Geelong Rangers versus North Geelong Youth

Roy Hay

Corio and Geelong will contest the final of the Diversity Cup on Sunday 22 February after Geelong survived a tense battle with North Geelong’s Youth team for the final spot. Corio and Geelong both have ten points, while North finished on eight. Geelong still have a game to play.

Geelong eventually won three-two against a plucky North team which came within a few minutes of drawing the game. Early on Geelong dominated and had several chances to score. Nathan Munoz got the ball past North keeper Joel Gawne but then squeezed his shot across the empty goal. Jasmin Ikanovic swiveled on the ball and fired just wide. But eventually striker Vedran Stojanovic sprinted through beating two defenders and the keeper for the opening goal for Geelong after 20 minutes.

Antony Banovac (30) of North Geelong Youth closes down Jasmin Ikanovic of Geelong (Click on photos to enlarge them)

North’s Seb Hessman got through on goal only to be denied by Geelong keeper Sam Versace in the 33rd minute, but a couple of minutes later Milan Sekulic equalised from a cross on the right. Geelong restored its advantage after Stojanovic hit the cross bar with a thundering shot and Ikanovic headed home the rebound. It appeared that would be the decisive goal, but in the gathering gloom North mounted a series of sweeping attacks. One of them seemed to have been repelled but the ball broke to Antonio Mikulic who struck an even harder volley and though Versace got his hands to it the ball went into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Action from Geelong versus North Geelong Youth

Another goal and North’s youth would be in the final, but in a breakaway Stojanovic pulled off one of the goals at the death which was his signature contribution at Corio last season. Geelong depend heavily on his speed and skill and will be a force in the coming league season as a result.

Antonio Mikulic of North Geelong takes on Vedran Stojanovic (7) of Geelong

In the early game, Lara fielded an understrength team as its top players had taken part and won an FFA Cup match yesterday. The lads who took the field were no match for a rampant Corio team who banged in ten goals without reply. Corio’s scorers were Jordan Swaney with a hat-trick, Nathan Cook and Liam Nelson who got two apiece and Jordan Nelson, Kristian Edwards and Steve Luczo.

Action from Corio versus Lara at Hume Reserve

Rhett Joy in goal for Lara made a couple of blunders but saved a penalty kick and was helpless for most of the goals conceded.

These matches were originally scheduled for Friday night, and the first one actually began before a thunderstorm broke over Hume Reserve and both games were called off. So the matches due to be played on Sunday night will now take place next Friday. Bell Park will play Geelong Rangers at 6 pm, followed by Lara against Geelong. Bell Park currently in last place with a single point could even make the play-off for third place with a win over Rangers, but the dark blues will be favoured to get at least a draw which would ensure its place. All that assumes that Lara will not pull off the upset of the tournament and beat Geelong.

Roy Hay

In what was expected to be one of the games of the tournament, favourite Geelong and Corio shared the points in a three-all draw at Hume Reserve on Sunday night. The scoreline was only part of the story as Geelong finished with nine men after Steve Vangelovski and Patrick Colliar were sent off.

Geelong got the perfect start when Ben Ward caught a square Corio defence asleep and chased down a long ball forward before beating keeper Alec Kitanovski in the 5th minute. It took Corio till the 23rd minute to get on terms. A corner on the right was cleared but only to Paul McGlounan who lobbed it back in and Vangelovski got the last touch before the ball entered the net.

Six minutes later there was another scramble in the Geelong goal area and McGlounan could not get enough purchase on his shot to give Corio the lead. Somehow the ball was hacked clear and belted downfield, where Jasmin Ikanovic was in the clear. The stocky striker ran on to score Geelong’s second goal.

Geelong defence crowd out Corio in the first half. (Click on the picture to enlarge it.)

Four minutes after the break Ikanovic was again involved heading against the woodwork and Alan Paleka knocked in the rebound. At three-one ahead Geelong should have closed out the game but Corio had a good break down the right wing ending with a cross which McGlounan converted.

There were signs of panic in the Geelong defence and keeper Sam Versace handled the ball outside his own penalty area only for Steve Luczo to put the resultant free kick just over the bar. Then with fifteen minutes left to play there was another incident in the goal area and the referee, Steve Kolar, awarded a penalty and sent off Vangelovski for his second bookable offence. Jordan Swaney blasted home the penalty kick.

The pressure on the Geelong backline was growing and Patrick Colliar was sent off for an overzealous two-footed challenge out on the touchline. Geelong made a series of substitutions and coach Mike Cooper instructed the remaining outfield players to regain the shape they had been practising in training. The message got through and Geelong saw out the rest of the game without conceding another goal. Corio’s players would have been disappointed that they did not take advantage of their extra numbers in that last 12 minutes.

Rangers keeper Hayden van der Chys punches clear as Ronnie Clayson covers him.

In the early game, Geelong Rangers recorded its first win of the tournament by three goals to nil against Lara. Panagiotis Vasilieu, Andrew Maclean and Mathias Gorosito scored for the dark blues. Lara had an excellent spell of pressure towards the end but could not break through for a goal despite several set pieces involving free and corner kicks.

Waiting for the ball to drop. Geelong Rangers defends one of a series of corner kicks.

Next Friday Corio plays Lara in the early game at 6 pm, followed by North Geelong Youth against Geelong at 7.20 p.m. The round robin concludes on Sunday with Bell Park against Geelong Rangers followed by Lara versus Geelong.

Roy Hay

Geelong’s Diversity Cup, the local pre-season tournament is in full swing at Hume Reserve, Thompson Road, North Geelong on Friday and Sunday evenings. This weekend North Geelong Youth beat Geelong Rangers by three goals to two in an entertaining and see-sawing match on Friday. There was a huge contrast of styles as the North youngsters played a close-passing build up from the back, while Rangers had a much more direct approach. It was the dark blues who took the lead from a long ball out of defence which cut through the centre of the North backline. Monga Bertin sprinted away reaching the loose ball just before North keeper Hamish Flavell to open the scoring in the 28th minute. Five minutes later Alessandro Stefano equalised with a lob over Rangers’ keeper Lyndon Malesic at the end of a multi-pass movement down the left. Two minutes more and North was ahead after a series of shots were blocked by Rangers defenders and James Hidic pounced on the last of these.

Action from North Geelong Youth versus Geelong Rangers (click on photos to enlarge)

Rangers hit back seven minutes after the break Matthew Long crossed from the right and Daniel Siketa finished off from close range. North scored what proved to be the winner on the hour mark. Stefano set up Matt Humphries for a neat finish. It is an excellent move by North Geelong to field its next generation of youth players in the tournament while the seniors are engaged elsewhere. The idea of the Geelong Advertiser Cup when it was started was that it would be a development competition and give coaches a chance to see the emerging talent at the clubs ahead of the league season.

Paul McGlounan sets up for a shot for Corio against Bell Park keeper Angelo di Mauro

In the second game, Corio proved too strong for a plucky Bell Park team winning by three goals to one. The first half was goal-less as the all whites defended stoutly and tried to hit on the break on several occasions. Eight minutes of the second half had passed when Corio made the breakthrough. Paul McGlounan found himself in the clear directly in front of goal to score the opener. Two minutes later Steve Luczo doubled Corio’s advantage after a scramble in the goalmouth. In the 55th minute Bell Park got a goal back after some excellent pressure by Matthew Demo and Matthew Elson who had just come on as a substitute put the ball past Daniel Ellul. Angelo di Mauro in the Bell Park goal had an excellent game, saving several net-bound efforts including two in the 62nd minute. But even his heroics were not enough as Jayden Kinces put the third effort into the net.

Tonight (Sunday) Geelong Rangers backs up against the unbeaten Lara at 6 pm, followed by tournament favourite Geelong against Corio in what should be one of the matches of this year’s event at 7.20 pm.