Vista vs. Golden Eagles
Having progressed to this round Vista found themselves facing a well reputed team in Golden Eagles. Fortunately one of our current players was an ex player of Golden Eagles so we had enough information to build a decent setup and plan to win this game. The game started how we’d imagined and technically we were far superior to Golden Eagles but we were well aware that their energy levels would not fade so clinical finishing was key.
Early in the half we were awarded a penalty via great work from Aaron Southard and Omari Delgado converted the penalty. Vista weren’t in the same form as the previous season/’s and our confidence wasn’t flowing as per usual but we hoped that with what we would describe as the better players that we’d be able to score enough goals to comfortably play the second half in cruise control. This wasn’t the case. Through sheer desire and our lapse in concentration Golden Eagles scored not once, but twice throwing us into a panic. Not only did these goals affect the performance but also we lost players through injury.
We made the necessary substitutions and shored things up defensively with Tristan Thomas and Andrew Dalhouse joining the backline. Vista continued to pressure and a free kick found it’s way into the box and off a Golden Eagles player’s leg into the path of Andrew Thompson who fired away. The remainder of the game was scrappy but exciting to say the least. A disallowed goal for Golden Eagles and missed chances by Vista meant the game would go to penalties.
At 3-3 in penalties it went down to sudden death and after our goal a retaken penalty, which the Golden Eagles player initially scored, meant that Vista grabbed the win. Overall not a decisive performance and we were pretty fortunate.
Goals: Omari Delgado (Penalty), Andrew Thompson
Assists: N/A
M.O.M – Adrian Browne