Since its inception in 2008, CroatianSoccerReport.com has gained a massive following in the Croatian diaspora throughout the world, but most notably in North America. Considering this is THE definitive website for news on all things related to Croatian soccer in the English language, we have always felt there was an audience we weren’t reaching. The staff and writers here have made it part of our agenda for 2010 to reach out to our friends in Australia, and what better way than a recap of this year’s Friendship Cup between Sydney United and the Melbourne Knights.
Melbourne Knights (White) and Sydney United (Red)
A hat-trick from Sydney United’s Luka Glavaš has secured the 2010 Friendship Cup with the Melbourne Knights putting in a very firm display against the more fancied 2009 NSW Champion.
The game opened with a flurry of possession for the home side but it was the Knights who looked the more dangerous on the counter-attack.
Pre-game hand-shake
Melbourne Knights
Liam Cannell surprised the experienced United defense in the fourth minute when he cut in behind stalwart Joe Vrkić only to see his shot from just outside the box rattle Vedran Janjetović’s upright.
Sydney’s new signing Shane Lyons fought for control of the midfield with new Knights signings Ivica Praiz and Ben Surey, while up front the potent duo of former Sydney Olympic striker Michael Cindrić and the pacey Glavaš caused many headaches for the Knights defence marshalled by Daniel Rocco, Bryan Bran and Ryan Filipović.
The Knights drew first blood just before the break when Ivica Praiz put the ball onto the head of ex-Grenoble FC (Switzerland) striker Jean-Charles Dubois to send the traveling Knights contingent into raptures.
Supportive fan-bases were behind their respective clubs
Going into the break David Zdrilić’s men were stunned with what had seemed to them on paper, a walkover. Knights coach Ivan Duzel was content with his side’s efforts in the first half and asked for more of the same, while David Zdrilić and his assistant Richard Plesa blasted their players for being run over the park by the lively Knights.
The message was heeded as Elsid Barkhousir was granted a very dubious penalty two minutes after the break. Glavaš did not hesitate putting the ball past Ante Loncarić.
20 minutes of sustained United pressure took its toll on the tiring Knights who arrived by coach from Melbourne earlier that day, taking the lead thanks to some brilliant work from substitute Ante Tomić to keep the ball in play, feeding it through to Elsid Barkhousier who produced a sublime low cross for the well positioned Luka Glavaš who slotted home his second of the evening.
With the game looking as though it would finish as 2-1, Knights coach Ivan Duzel made a triple-substitution – bringing on new signings Josip Magdić, Tommy Ples and Scott Lucas.
The aggressive Magdić found space late in the game to beat two defenders and cross the ball just over Canadian-Croatian striker Ples to Liam Cannell who headed the ball powerfully past United substitute Roy Bell which left the home fans deflated.
Although the Knights showed much spirit in equalizing after being run over the park by a rampant United for 20 minutes straight – it was not to be as Glavaš snatched an injury time winner sending the Edensor Park crowd into a frenzy.
The BOKA Stand at King Tomislav Sports Centre (Home of Sydney United)
United player-coach David Zdrilić was pleased with his side’s composure in coming from behind:
“I was very impressed with the Knights side today. They destroyed us in the first half and could have been a few goals up but it was not to be. I’m proud of my boys who didn’t give up as I knew that the Melbourne boys would drop off towards the end of the match due to the fatigue associated with travel. People were telling me before the game that they had lost their whole team from last season and had only retained three players from that squad. Obviously we would have been confident in beating a side that has only just come together. It’s a credit to Ivan Duzel who has assembled a very competitive and well organized side that will do well this year. I wish them all the best.”
Knights coach Ivan Duzel echoed Zdrilić’s sentiment: “I think we did very well today. I just hate conceding in the last minute and losing the game like that – but this has been a great learning experience for the team. They performed well for each other and the fans and I am confident that we will do well this year.”
~Story created by Ivica Peroš with reports and pictures from Melbourne, Australia
@A. Banovac
I was shocked to see a "Banovac" on the site. Welcome. I have some Banovac family. Where are you from? Shoot me an email, paluka81@yahoo.com
@ MelbCro,
Just 1 hour ago I went to Elcho Park in Geelong to watch a friendly between Melbourne Knights and North Geelong Croatia, who play in the 2nd Division. Melbourne Knights came out with a close to full strength team and were very lucky to come away with a 1-1 draw against a North Geelong lacking many players. I, on the night, was very embarassed to be a loyal Knights fan. The quality was sloppy, the players lacked heart and the 18 year old Knights keeper will definantely saying his prayers tonite after only letting in one goal.
But there were many good signs. Firstly it is always great to see Knights make a trip down to Geelong to play against a fellow Croatian team. Secondly, it was great to watch the North fans applaud Knights off the pitch and MCF ( Melbourne Croatia Fans ) do the same for North. Also, for a friendly game 8 weeks before the start of the season, the tournout was magnificent. Always good to see Knights help out our Crotralian brothers.
@ Ziva, Melbourne Knights and Sydney United are both Semi-Professional clubs. The Knights play in the Victorian Premier League and United in the New South Wales Premier League, these two leagues are the second tier of football in Australia only behind the national competition the A-League. So the players do get paid, and the top players in the respective state leagues do get paid quite well.
The standard of football isn’t great, on some days it can be pretty poor but a lot of that is due to some really sub standard fields that get played on. But to be honest a lot of people criticise the football too harshly.
@ dan, not too sure why you think the future is so bleak for the Knights, the clubs done a lot of work in this pre-season with the new board. There is a strong focus on taking the club back to the community, which has seen a great symbolic step in having the Grb return to the club emblem. The club has also recruited well, including the signing of Toronto Croatia's Tommy Ples. The club will have a strong season and will surprise many.
It was great to see the 2 clubs playing eachother and it was a great night, but it is sad to see how far the clubs have gone downhill.
Over 100 Australian national team players have come through these 2 clubs (not to mention Simunic, Seric and various other internationals) and what do the FFA do? completely kick them out of top flight Australian football. No respect and acknowledgment of what they have done for football in this country.
Attendances are generally low, a couple of thousand people is considered a great turnout. Quality of football isnt much. All these clubs can hope for is some sort of Cup competition whether its pre season or during the season. But that will be a long way off if it were to happen.
Hey ziva, I live in Melbourne and watch the knights at times. To be honest skill level is very average. Ever since the cancelation of the NSL (national soccer league) is pretty much been downhill for both clubs. In total attendence is well down since the NSL days, as the knights stadium used to get a full stadium of people. These days they're lucky if they get a patch of peole sitting in the stands watching the games. The sponsors are still there but obviously with reduced cash flow since the NSL. The a-league has already indicated that they're not even going to concider taking knights or united as it has strong ethnic backgrounds within the clubs. To be honest who knows what's going to happen with knights in particular as they had such a poor season last year in the state league and god help them if they fall into the second division.
Has anybody here ever been to a game down under? I've seen pictures and heard stories that their supporters are top-notch.
Za Dom Spremni
I know both teams have seen better days in Australia, but with the creation of the A-league the two teams are now in provincial leagues. If anyone from Aussie is reading this, how is the level of play in those leagues and do these guys make any money playing for these sides.
Melbourne and Sydney United are the two best croatian clubs in the diaspora, that is for sure. But, its a shame the Aussie soccer officials fucked both teams years ago by making them remove their ethnic names and for a time their symbols. It is a shame we have nothing like that here in N. America with our diaspora clubs. Lack of a youth system, fans, interest, etc…