Port Kembla hosted Cringila lions on Sunday afternoon, facing off for a scoreless draw 0-0. Port Kembla were placed in threat after midfielder Luke Boersma was sent off the field in the 80^th minute leaving them vulnerable to Cringila’s attack, however The Lions were unable to capitalise on their advantage. The fiery and action-packed match kept the crowd in suspense although in the end neither side were able to secure three points.

Cringila came into the match with intensity right off the whistle, when Alex Mojsoski made a speedy run through the centre of the field, cleared out by Port’s defence, immediately setting the tempo of the match for both sides.

Port were placed under pressure in the third minute when Cringila’s Takao Teramoto almost pulled off an early goal, just caught by keeper Chris Fuentes before he was able to place a head to it.

Boersma was strong on the ball holding up the play for the Zebras to work the ball high up the sides, creating key switches for Zebra attackers to overlap and catch Cringila off-guard.

Cringila had their fair share of chances in the first half placing Port under pressure, Teramoto pulled off a free kick 5 yards out of the 18 yard box, curling towards Fuentes forcing a full stretch save, he also worked well together with Thomas Richmond on the wing with composure on the ball stringing together passes and attacking plays.

In the 41^st minute Alexander Brbevski managed to out dribble Port’s defenders just outside the 18-yard box, sending a powerful shot just to the left of the far post inches off placing the Lions in the lead before halftime.

In the opening moments of the second half Nathan Belsito was merely inches off a through ball just missing his head falling into the hands of Ristevski.

Port’s Aden Wade had the best opportunity of Port’s match, after Sandy Lowcock’s speedy run down the wing and stunning low grounded cross had the crowd in suspense, Wade was unable to get a clean foot between two of Cringila’s defenders sending the ball over the cross bar in the 53^rd minute.

Port were caught in danger after Fuentes charged towards a deflected shot, intercepted by Cringila’s Todd Sparks who held the ball up for Brbevski to whip in a cross contested between Fuentes and Cringila’s attack, for Port defence to clear.

After Boersma received a red card in the 80^th minute Port found themselves a man down with 10 minutes to go, however Cringila did not manage to capitalise with the advantage and Port were still attacking and defending with determination despite playing with 10 on the field up until the full-time whistle.

Port Kembla host 5^th place Wollongong United next week hoping for a win to place them 1 point behind them and Cringila face off against 6^th place Woonona who are coming into the game from a 1-0 loss against Corrimal.

 

Line-ups:

Port Kembla FC -

Chris FUENTES, William MOBBS, Karouna MICHEAL, Nathan BELSITO, Nobuaki MOCHIZUKI, Luke BOERSMA, Chris GOMEZ, Kenta HARA, Brad ACEV, Sandy LOWCOCK, Aden WADE -Subs - Danijel DJUKIC, Fabian LACOVELLI, Dylan NIKOLOVSKI, Lucas KING, Daniel Ferina.

 

Cringila Lions –

Nikola RISTEVSKI, James RALSTON, Anthony ROMEO, Aidan BRESLIN, Alexander BRBEVSKI, Jackson BROOKS, Takao TARAMOTO, Alex MOJOSKI, Todd SPARKS, Ryoga UEMOTO, Thomas RICHMOND – Subs – Jake WEBSTER, Ibrahim SESAY, Steven Ugrinovski.

Report By Tim Dixon, On Twitter @tim_dixon_