Tuesday, 1 September 2009 12:20 PM
By Paul Mavroudis
South Melbourne’s Women’s side has progressed to the WPL preliminary final after defeating Sandringham 3-2, with the dramatic winning goal coming in the 2nd half of extra time.
South were lucky not concede a goal in the opening minutes, clearing a goal bound shot off the line. Soon afterwards Christie Tangalos sent the home side ahead, putting away a corner at the back post.
Sandringham then lifted their game, and the home side struggled to get the ball through the midfield. Still, it took until the 41st minute before the visitor’s equalised, poor marking at the back post from a free kick seeing Sandringham draw level.
South went into the half time break with their lead restored however, after the visitors gave away a late penalty, with Aimee Benton tucking away the spot kick.
The 2nd half was more of an end to end affair, with numerous chances spurned at each end. In the death throes of regular time, Sandringham made the most of a goalmouth scramble to send the game to extra time.
Rather than be deflated by that late goal, South maintained their composure in extra time. Five minutes into the 2nd half of extra time, South launched a swift counterattack, with Jade Barnden managing to outpace the defender on her inside and slip the ball past the Sandringham goalkeeper just inside the far post.
With the rain pouring down and time running out, the visitors threw everything they had, and nearly snatched another equaliser, but South prevailed, and will meet the loser of the Box Hill – Heidelberg match for a shot at the grand final.