Wollongong Olympic and Albion Park were contesting the major semi-final at Crehan Park for a spot in the first Qualifying final against Bulli next week. Olympic took the lead early after a clumsy challenge in the box gifted Yusuke Ueda a penalty, which the talisman duly put away, before another two just after half time saw the Golden Boot complete his hat-trick, with Park's Hikaru Kawasakiya grabbing a consolation goal midway through the second half.

As the contest began, it was almost a cyclic pattern of play; Olympic would create a chance, Park broke on the counter, Olympic win the ball back easily on halfway, pass around the Park box patiently, before making another chance.

Shun Tokuno flashed a half-volley wide from range, Jake Duczynski flashed a free volley wide off a corner, Ueda had a shot blocked from close range in traffic and Vaughan Patterson skewed wide from range in what was a highlight reel of chances created every few minutes.

With a quarter hour played, Albion Park goalkeeper Chris Fuentes was called into action for the first time - Tokuno's cross reached the far post, where an awkward clearance from Chris Nathaniel was heading goalbound, but the gloveman was over in time to claim a quick reflex save.

John Martinoski had his chance to open the scoring soon after, an air-swing in defence by Kane Wright sent Martinoski in on goal with nobody to beat, but from 10 yards his shot rippled the side netting.

Moments later, another Tokuno cross troubled the White Eagles' defence - this time Patterson at the far post headed the ball back where it came, catching Ueda in two minds as to whether it was going in or needed a touch, where it would eventually sail clear untouched.

With 27 minutes on the clock, a fast break down Olympic's right side saw Wright bring down Julian Minutillo in the box, with Ueda stepping up to grab his 32nd of the season, sending Fuentes the wrong way.

Fuentes did, however, save a certain goal just before the break - a looping Minutillo header bound for the top corner acrobatically palmed away from not only his goal, but the run of Brendan Fordham at the far post.

A tactical switch to begin the second half had the opposite effect for Albion Park - leaving their backline even more exposed than the torrid first half. Twice defender Kane Wright was found wanting in crucial moments, and had Fuentes not been on his game, a blowout would have surely ensued.

Two minutes into the second half, Minutillo found himself in-behind the Park defence, dinking his shot straight into the onrushing Fuentes.

Two goals in two minutes for Ueda would kill off the game; first a poor pass out of the back from Wright hit the feet of Minutillo, passing straight to an unmarked Ueda in the box who rolled it under Fuentes for 2-0.

Another calamity at the back fell the way of Ueda immediately after, a long ball went straight over the Park defence with nobody in pursuit, Ueda toe-poking home from 18 yards for his hat-trick.

Just after the hour mark, Albion Park finally looked a threat - Kawasakiya getting his head to a beautiful cross, beating Olympic keeper Hayden Durose in flight only to cannon into the crossbar.

Two minutes later, a replica play saw the margin down to two goals; Shayne Ardle's free kick from the sideline finding Kawasakiya's head, which Durose got a glove to in the bottom left corner, but could not prevent it going in.

Vaughan Patterson looked to put his old club to the sword, a hooping volley from 30 yards testing Fuentes, only just managing to scramble to his far post in time.

Ueda almost had a fourth for the afternoon with 15 minutes to play, no communication in the Albion Park backline saw another long ball sail over an unorganised defence, Ueda chipping Fuentes only to watch his shot hit the side netting.

Once more, Ueda would be clean through on goal, a 2-on-1 situation with Minutillo against Ardle, Ueda rounded his man only to roll his shot across the face of goal.

Minutillo had the chance to grab his own in the dying minutes, rounding Fuentes and rolling his shot at the vacant goal, Wright slid in to block off the line, with Ardle arriving to clear the loose ball.

A strong Kody Maude volley from 20 yards drew a solid save from Durose in stoppage time to cap off the proceedings, as Olympic ran out 3-1 victors.

Ultimately, Albion Park gave the win to Olympic - gifting away an unnecessary penalty and affording Ueda countless chances up against Fuentes.

Next week, Wollongong Olympic will face Bulli at Elizabeth Park, Sunday 2:30pm kickoff, in the first Preliminary Final for a spot in the Grand Final.

Albion Park will be facing Wollongong United at Tarrawanna Oval, Sunday 2:30pm kickoff, in the Qualifying Final, where the winner will be through to the second Preliminary Final.

 

Sunday 1st September - Crehan Park

Wollongong Olympic 3 - Ueda 27'pen, 52' 54'

Albion Park White Eagles 1 - Kawasakiya 65'

 

Wollongong Olympic - Hayden DUROSE, Kojiro HORI, Jake DUCZYNSKI, Jack KEATING, Shun TOKUNO, David HARTAS, Vaughan PATTERSON, Brendan FORDHAM, Julian MINUTILLO, John MARTINOSKI, Yusuke UEDA

Subs - Lukas STERGIOU (on for DUCZYNSKI 57'), Matthew FLORO, Luke FOSTER (on for MARTINOSKI 84'), Christian PRETTO

Albion Park White Eagles - Chris FUENTES, Blake MCGINN, Kane WRIGHT, Shannon FIELDING, Chris NATHANIEL, Nathan RALPH, Robert DELBANCO, Kody MAUDE, Shayne ARDLE, Chris GOMEZ, Hikaru KAWASAKIYA

Subs - Daniel REA (on for GOMEZ 85'), Luke DEBROT, Shaun MCRAE (on for MCGINN 57'), Ferres AOUN, Jacob HUFTON

 

Referee - Nick RYAN

Assistants - Blake HERBERT, Jarrod THOMPSON, Andrew NAYLOR

 

Report by David ATHERTON - Twitter @daveatho5

Photos courtesy of Kiah Hufton