Blacktown City, 7:30pm Wednesday 21st August 2019 (Minor Semi-Final)

Due to the powers that be at NSW football, the grand final will be played at the new Parramatta stadium. I have no issue with the game being held there, per se. What I do have an issue with is forcing teams to play 2 games in 5 days. If Croatia were to beat Blacktown they would also be forced to play again on Saturday, making it 3 games in a week. With the FFA Cup against WSW the following Wednesday, this then means we will have played 4 games in 10 days. Fully professional teams would never have this schedule; it’s not fair on the players whatsoever. Given that all of these games could go to extra time as well (and the first one did), it makes it all the more ridiculous. Anyway, rant over! It was another massive game out at Seven Hills for a place in the preliminary final against either Wollongong or APIA, who were playing on the same night. I couldn’t wait!

Working in Macquarie Park, it was only a 30 minute bus ride to Lily’s restaurant and function centre. I got there very early, just after 6, which gave me time to order a pizza ($10, fantastic value) and a beer and talk football with some of the esteemed members of the SUS who had also arrived early. It has to be said that they are some of the best supporters. There are not many clubs who could say at this level they have a healthy away following at all, let alone on a Wednesday night after work. Everybody knows everybody, it’s a great feeling of belonging and passion for the club. The songs started in the restaurant bar, and then at around 7:20 we took the short walk across the car park to the stadium. There was a queue for tickets and by the time we got in, my other mates had turned up and there was already a long line for beer. The same thing happens every time at Lily’s. They don’t seem to remember that we will bring a load of thirsty supporters and it takes ages to get served as the beer and plastic cups run out. That, coupled with the fact that we were at the other end of the ground in the usual spec, meant that little drinking was going to get done. Probably for the best on a school night. Vrljic gave up on the bar and we walked over with Matt. Sumo was late. We took up our usual spec on what was a mild night.

Match Action

We barely had time to breathe when the ball was in the back of the Blacktown net! Tariq Maia took on two defenders and slid the ball across to Simonoski to fire home from close range! By this point, the number of Croatia supporters had swelled and it was pandemonium. The away following were still contemplating the opening goal when the Blacktown number 15, Mason Versi, took the ball around Fragogiannis on the goal line and was taken out – penalty. Manos went the right way but was beaten by the pace and it was 1-1. Blacktown looked sharp and were, amazingly, awarded a second penalty less than 5 minutes later when the same player was downed by Fragogiannis. If the first one looked a penalty, this to me looked a bit soft but either way, the referee pointed straight to the spot. Surprisingly, a different player stepped up and blasted the ball over the bar, much to the relief of the Croatia faithful who lapped it up.

Less than 4 minutes after the penalty miss, a corner was looped in by Grant Lynch and Blacktown were 2-1 up. Croatia were looking in trouble as Blacktown looked the better on the park and poured forward at every opportunity. But just as it looked as the game was getting away from them, a mazy run in the area by Simonoski (?) resulted in him going down and the referee pointing to the spot for a third time in 15 minutes! Simonoski sent the keeper the wrong way to level it up at 2-2. The Croatia fans barely had time to take this latest twist in when Leroy Jennings out jumped two defenders to give Blacktown the lead again. 3-2 to the home side after less than 18 minutes. I have been watching football for 30 years and I can’t say I’ve seen such a mad opening to a game in my life. The game had to slow down and it did. Croatia eventually managed to get a foothold as half time came, but Blacktown were looking good.

The away support

The second half started much as the first had, end to end but Croatia were having the better of it. Pertakis was replaced by Antelmi 10 minutes after the restart. The pace he brought to the game had Blacktown working overtime and the complexion of the game changed. Croatia were now making all the running as Blacktown's sharpness on the ball faded away as they began to sit deeper and wait to hit on the break for the killer goal. Fortunately, Croatia’s persistence paid off with 15 minutes remaining. A corner was swung in from the left and Tomislav Uskok thumped it home through a sea of bodies to level the scores at 3-3 in front of a rabid SUS. Blacktown created one more chance of note that went begging until Croatia had an effort cleared off the line in the dying minutes. The referee blew his whistle and we were on for extra time for the second time in 5 days.

Full time drinks

Extra time started as normal time ended – Croatia were still in the ascendancy as Blacktown played hopeful long balls. It was clear that the next goal may win it and after about 10 minutes of the first period, Croatia took the lead. And what a finish by Antelmi it was. A great cross in seemed covered by two defenders, but Antelmi ghosted in between them and flicked the ball past the keeper to send the away support berserk. In keeping with the game, before anyone could catch a breath, Maia took the ball and surged forward and let fly from 30 yards with a dipping, swerving effort that flew into the top corner to give Croatia a barely believable 5-3 lead going into half time in extra time. The second period left Blacktown little option but to throw men forward to try and save the game and after almost getting caught on the break a few times Matt Sim took advantage of some poor defending to lash home the sixth and seal the game. He celebrated with the SUS as the game was now won. But before my nerves could start recovering, less than 2 minutes later another break ended with Sim smashing home a seventh from close range to finish it off in style: 7-3! After conceding 4 times in extra time in the cup a few years back here, and losing 2-6, this was sweet.

The players thank the supporters

There was a mini pitch invasion at the final whistle as a load of Croatia kids mobbed Manos. The players came over to celebrate and thank the supporters on what was a quite incredible evening of football in Seven Hills. I hope I have done this game justice in the report. There was far too much going on to get it all in! At the end of all that I got home at about 11:30 at night, and we now have a trip to Wollongong on Saturday for a place in the grand final! I hope to see you all there, Sydney Croatia Ole Ole Ole…..

In the latest of the interview series, I interview long time fan Steve Govic (Goba) below.

What was the first game you attended at King Tom?

The year was 1984, against Sydney City (Hakoah)

Who is your favourite player in the history of Sydney Croatia?

Vedran Rozic (1984-89) a great servant to the club, he returned to Croatia in 1991 and later became president of Hajduk Split

Where is your usual spot at the match?

In front of the scoreboard. It is still not working, next season I am told.

Will there ever be promotion/relegation in Australia?

Not for a long time, it will be resisted for as long as possible.

I am a jersey collector, what is your all-time favourite Sydney Croatia jersey?

The Taubman’s jersey, made by Patrick. An all-time classic, worn by the likes of Lamond & Arnold.

VB or Toohey’s New?

VB

What is the biggest game of the season for you?

Olympic, Marconi & Hakoah

Are we singled out by the FFA?

Yes, even at the junior level.

What is the best game you have ever been to at King Tom?

Sydney City, 1986. We won 2-1. Graham Arnold scored the winner in front of 5,657.

Are the Cevapi any good at King Tom?

The best.

What makes the game at King Tom such a good experience?

People have been coming for years, no matter what the division we are in. There are kids here, the next generation of supporters. It’s the best.

Would we survive in the A-League?

I think we would survive, but it would not be at King Tom, they would never allow it.

Should we change the name back to Sydney Croatia?

100% Yes. No Question.

The classic Taubmans jersey