Canberra Cosmos v Preston

These statistics were written and researched for the OzSoccer archive by Nick Guoth and Greg Stock.

At the completion of their Victorian Premier League season, the Melbourne side Preston made a two game tour of the ACT They played two friendly games in two days, this is the second match.

Played : Sunday September 21 1997 Venue : Deakin Oval, Canberra

Canberra Cosmos
Barney Smith, Ivan Zelic, Marko Perinovic (Toplica Popovich 46'), Paul Dee (Frank Catalano 46'), Dale Wingell, Ante Moric (Tom Haythornwaite 46'), Norman Kelly, Andrew Ravenello, Ilija Prenzoski, Harry James, Tony Lemezina (Peter Buljan 46') 0 - 2 Preston
Lineup Unavailable
Goals : 29' 39'

Attendance : approx 300

The Canberra Cosmos had their first run on home soil yesterday in front of a crowd of around 300 (maybe) at Deakin Oval. They played the Victorian Premier League side Preston. Preston had, only the previous day, beaten up on 1st Div champions Capital City Suns 6-0 in the wet at Hawker Oval.

The Cosmos lost the services of Musitano, Rodrigo and Roberts prior to the game starting. Barney Smith was in goal instead of Giannasca as TG has timed his wedding for the day of the first game and will be out for 2 games.

The match started with James and Lemezina up front, Moric, Kelly, Ravenello and Prenzoski in the midfield, Wingell, Dee and Perinovic at back with Zelic as sweeper.

Canberra played the ball tight and applied most of the pressure. They could have scored a couple of times but really lacked a finisher. Meanwhile 2 mistakes led to 2 goals at the other end. In the 29th minute Lemezina sent a ball back into the defence, but only found an opposing attacker coming back from being in an off-side position. That generated a one-on-one and the score became 0-1.

Less than 10 minutes later Perinovic slipped with the ball at his feet and an attacker hounding him, the attacker gobbled up the chance, and although Smith saved the ball onto the post, the followup saw the visitors double their lead.

At the break we saw Tom Haythornwaite come on for an injured Moric, Popovich for Perinovic, Frank Catalano for Dee and Buljan for Lemezina. The locals continued their pressing in attack, but still could not generate a goal.

In the 78th minute a Preston defender handled the ball in the area and the Cosmos had a penalty. Buljan took it and calmly slotted it into the right corner. BUT, three Cosmos players had infringed into the area and the referee ordered the kick to be retaken. Buljan went the same way, the keeper saved the shot and then saved again when Wingell followed up.

The locals continued to attack throughout but just could not put the ball away and the final score was 0-2. There were some signs of good players, including Wingell, Dee and Haithornwaite. There is a real problem up front, the worst being that Harry James still has not scored a goal this season. A few more players from interstate are being looked at.

At the completion of their Victorian Premier League season, the Melbourne side Preston made a two game tour of the ACT They played two friendly games in two days, this is the second match.
Played : Sunday September 21 1997				Venue : Deakin Oval, Canberra
Canberra Cosmos Barney Smith, Ivan Zelic, Marko Perinovic (Toplica Popovich 46'), Paul Dee (Frank Catalano 46'), Dale Wingell, Ante Moric (Tom Haythornwaite 46'), Norman Kelly, Andrew Ravenello, Ilija Prenzoski, Harry James, Tony Lemezina (Peter Buljan 46')	0	-	2	Preston Lineup Unavailable Goals : 29' 39'
Attendance : approx 300
The Canberra Cosmos had their first run on home soil yesterday in front of a crowd of around 300 (maybe) at Deakin Oval. They played the Victorian Premier League side Preston. Preston had, only the previous day, beaten up on 1st Div champions Capital City Suns 6-0 in the wet at Hawker Oval. The Cosmos lost the services of Musitano, Rodrigo and Roberts prior to the game starting. Barney Smith was in goal instead of Giannasca as TG has timed his wedding for the day of the first game and will be out for 2 games. The match started with James and Lemezina up front, Moric, Kelly, Ravenello and Prenzoski in the midfield, Wingell, Dee and Perinovic at back with Zelic as sweeper. Canberra played the ball tight and applied most of the pressure. They could have scored a couple of times but really lacked a finisher. Meanwhile 2 mistakes led to 2 goals at the other end. In the 29th minute Lemezina sent a ball back into the defence, but only found an opposing attacker coming back from being in an off-side position. That generated a one-on-one and the score became 0-1. Less than 10 minutes later Perinovic slipped with the ball at his feet and an attacker hounding him, the attacker gobbled up the chance, and although Smith saved the ball onto the post, the followup saw the visitors double their lead. At the break we saw Tom Haythornwaite come on for an injured Moric, Popovich for Perinovic, Frank Catalano for Dee and Buljan for Lemezina. The locals continued their pressing in attack, but still could not generate a goal. In the 78th minute a Preston defender handled the ball in the area and the Cosmos had a penalty. Buljan took it and calmly slotted it into the right corner. BUT, three Cosmos players had infringed into the area and the referee ordered the kick to be retaken. Buljan went the same way, the keeper saved the shot and then saved again when Wingell followed up. The locals continued to attack throughout but just could not put the ball away and the final score was 0-2. There were some signs of good players, including Wingell, Dee and Haithornwaite. There is a real problem up front, the worst being that Harry James still has not scored a goal this season. A few more players from interstate are being looked at.