A first half wonder strike from Mitchell Scazzariello was enough for Port Kembla to earn a 1-0 win over Wollongong Olympic at the PCYC on Saturday.

The result was another step towards finals football for Port who have turned their season around with four wins in their last five games.

“We’re battling for those fourth and fifth spots at the moment,” said Port Kembla boss Stuart Beedie.

“There’s still four games left and we’ll just have to see how we go.

“We were dominated for periods in that game but I thought we defended well and a clean sheet helps you win games.

“I thought our back three was solid all day; there was plenty positives for us.”

Before taking the lead Port were forced to weather some early pressure from Wollongong as they struggled to get a foothold in midfield.

Goalkeeper David Poeira was forced into action several times in the opening 20 minutes to keep Port Kembla in the game.

Last year’s champions then started to threaten the Olympic goal and in the 38^th minute Scazzariello made the breakthrough.

A loose ball found its way to the edge of the area where the midfielder struck it first time to send a bending, dipping shot into the top corner for a spectacular 1-0 lead.

The second half saw chances for both sides go unfinished as some last ditch defending denied any more goals in the game.

Olympic thought they’d found an equaliser in the 66^th minute when Javier Ovando tapped the ball into an open net but the attacker was ruled to have been offside and the goal didn’t stand.

The game was given an extra spark in the 85^th minute when Port Kembla’s Karouna Michael picked up his second yellow of the game for an alleged dive and was sent off.

Wollongong were unable to make the numbers advantage count and despite some good chances on the day succumbed to the 1-0 defeat.

“It was disappointing not to get something out of it,” said Olympic boss Wayne Farnsworth.

“I think at least a draw was a fair result but I’m happy with my boys, they played well and gave me all they could.

“It’s disappointing to come away with nothing because every game is a Grand Final for us at the moment.

“That was a good game of football though, it was great to watch and even though we lost I still enjoyed the game.”

Port Kembla will be hoping to stretch their undefeated streak to six games when they host Fernhill next week while Olympic travel to Ocean Park to face Woonona.

 

0-1	Wollongong Olympic	Port Kembla
Goals:		M. Scazzariello (38’)
Bookings:		C. Stella (Y); K. Michael (R)

 

Referee: Chris Munn 

 

Julian Keith 

FSC Reporter