This game was not the game the spectators wanted to see. Mind you, it was just a surprize to
see over 2500 in the first place. What could only be described as the worst publicised game
of the season, the Canberra crowds showed their support and showed this even though National
Media said the game was either not on or started at 7:30pm.
Unfortunately, as a spectacle, the game did not live up to the what it should probably have
been. The Cosmos clearly missed the influence of Paul Wade in the midfield to settle things
down and help put the players in the right frame of mind. Meanwhile, Melbourne were here to
play and win, and overall were probably unlucky not to leave with the three points.
I've read a number of media reports on this match by members of the Press who weren't at the
match and they all seem to have left out a player who I though was probably the best or close
to it on the field. I'm talking about right back Vinko Buljubasic. No one really noticed him,
because he was free on the right hand side throughout the game. He set up all three goals. The
first, he took the free kick. The second, he provided the through ball and the third, he provided
the cross. So why does he not get any recognition?
To the match and this was a special match for two players. First it was the return of young local,
Joe Simunic to Canberra and after tonights performance, I'm sure Mike Lyons is wishing he
could have coaxed Joe to play for the Cosmos. The other player was new signing Njegosh Popovich,
the third of the Popovich brothers to join the team.
It was a slow start with the ball residing in the Cosmos half most of the time. Melbourne had
some close chances but then recieved a free kick for hand ball just outside the right corner of
the penalty box. Buljubasic crossed the ball and Ice Kutlesovski, who had come on for an injured
John Markovski 15 minutes earlier, stretched his head out in between a few defenders and put
it past Mautone. Only seven minutes later and a through ball by Buljubasic found Tomislav
Pondeljak racing down the left hand side and just beating the off-side trap. Pondeljak, turned into
the area and shot the ball low and past Mautone at the near post. This was 2-0 after only one
third of the game.
The Knights continued to pepper the Cosmos goal over the next 15 minutes, but then Mike Lyons
decided that enough was enough and brought off a full back and put on a forward. This was done
a few minutes before half time. Although it did not have much effect before half time, it did
after the break. Paul Dee was able to get the ball wide on the right hand side and his cross
provided a nightmare for any set of defenders. Andrew Marth was the unfortuante one who whilst
trying to clear the ball, kicked it into his own net.
With the goal, the tide started to turn and the game became somewhat more even. Both sides had
a few chances and then after 20 minutes in the half, Buljubasic was again left free on the
right and allowed to send a long cross to the far post for a lurking David Cervinski to head
the ball past Mautone and restore the 2 goal cushion. But only 7 minutes later, the best
goal of the match occured when Castro picked up the ball in the middle of the park. He first
played a 1-2 with Marko Perinovic and then a second 1-2, this time with Tony Lemezina. All that
was left was to use his strength, round Juric and put the ball into an open net.
The rest of the match up until the last minute of extra time flowed slowly with both sides
trying to get a result. Then a scramble in the penalty area saw Marko Perinovic lying on the
ground in front of the goal. The ball bounced out to Lemezina who's shot went to Michael
Musitano. He volleyed the ball towards goal and before Juric could get his hands on it, Marko,
whilst still on the ground, use his knee to volley it past Juric and into the goal. The
crowd went wild as this goal was given. What they didn't notice was that Perinovic was lying
clearly in what appeared to be an off-side position.
The final score of 3-3 was probably not really deserved. Melbourne played a lot better. Best
on the park were Buljubasic, Simunic and Castro.