It was a very exciting finish to Saturdays Peoplecare District League match between hosts Unanderra Hearts and visitors Kiama Quarriers. A thrilling Heart’s late surge in the dying minutes of the game saw them overcome Quarriers 3-2.

Unanderra initially found themselves on the backfoot from a Quarrier’s goal scored in the sixth minute. The hearts proceeded into halftime down 1-2. However, sensationally they managed to comeback and remain undefeated, claiming 2 goals in the last few minutes of the game.

Initially both teams opened the match applying high pressure and intensity. Although, the Hearts found themselves on the backfoot by the 6^th minute when Kiama’s Shinya Yamanaka found the ball at his feet from a wide cross, managing to cut back inside his defender from the far post to slot the ball into the top left corner of the goal.

Attempting to fight back, the Hearts almost scored through Save Treneski dribbling into the box off a well lofted through ball, but hesitated to finish, allowing Kiama’s defence clear the ball before he could comfortably shoot.

Unanderra were merely inches away from scoring in the 24^th minute when they received a free kick at top of the 18 yard box, taken by Unanderra’s new signing, Mark Piccolini who powered past the 5 man wall straight towards the top left corner, for Kiama keeper Callum Crapp to pull off a spectacular one handed save .

Moments later, the Hearts were level. Picciolini received the ball just inside the 18-yard box, placing it comfortably past Crapp into the back of the net, equalising the game in the 26^th minute.

With the game even, Quarrier Dan Gillespie’s brilliant long-range effort minutes before half time saw the visitors go into the break 2-1 up and an upset was brewing.

Both teams went at it in the early stages of the second half as the game started to open up.

Kiama almost gained a third against the hosts when Christodoulou played a short one two off a corner with Tom Snow, crossing it into the box for Kanata Kojo to head, beating Heart’s Keeper Jake DeJesus but sadly for Kiama, the post denied them a third on this occasion.

Kiama were awarded a penalty on 86 minutes for handball and Christodoulou’s penalty saw De Jesus pull off a terrific game changing double save to keep Hearts in it.

The missed penalty proved decisive as Kiama defender Jason Forrester flicked the ball into the back of his own goal trying to clear a header on 89 minutes.

Things got a little harder for the Quarriers when less than a minute later Christodoulou saw red for a second bookable offence reducing his team to 10 for the last few minutes.

Then just as you think the last 5 minutes could not get any worse for Kiama, it did. Heart’s standout Picciolini bagged his second off well controlled touch volleying the ball across his body beating Crapp in the injury time stunning Kiama.

It was an amazing finish to a game that Kiama will walk away wondering how on earth they walked away with nothing whilst we will need to wait and see just how crucial these three points may be for Hearts in the final washup.

Unanderra now set up a top of the table clash with Bellambi whilst Kiama will need to pick themselves up as they host Picton in round 8.

 

 

 

Saturday 4^th May @ Unanderra Oval, Unanderra

Unanderra Hearts – 3 (PICCIOLONI 26’, 90+2’)

Kiama Quarriers – 2 (YAMANAKA 6’, GILLESPIE 45’, FORRESTER OG 89’)

Unanderra Hearts – Jake DE JESUS, Stephen JOVANOVSKI, Josh BAKER, Ben SALLABANK, Michael POTTER, David DOLIDORO, Luke BUSSOLETTI, Stephen DRAPER, Dom MAGILL, Mark PICCIOLINI, Save TRENESKI – Subs- Christ STEVANOVSKI, Daniel SAVERINO, Lachlan OSBORNE, Chris MURDZEVSKI, Kieran OSBORNE

Kiama Quarriers- Callum CRAPP, Matt HIRIART, Jason FORRESTER, Aaron BUZINKI, Dan GILLESPIE, Mitch GOWLAND, Ryu AMINAKA, Tom SNOW, Kanata KOJO, Chris CHRISTODOULOU, Shinya YAMANAKA- Subs- Keegan BERRINGER, Kyle JELLIFFE, Jye MARKS

Referee- Ryan O’SULLIVAN

Assistant Referees- RONCATO, CLUB

Report by Tim Dixon, on Twitter @Tim_Dixon_