Wollongong United experienced Illawarra Mercury Premier Youth League grand final heartbreak for a second year in a row against Bulli with the side losing a dramatic penalty shootout at Win Stadium.

The match finished 3-3 after 90 minutes with the sides scoring a goal each in extra time. Jackson Cracknell, who had saved a penalty in normal time, proved the hero for Bulli by saving two United penalties.

Wollongong United controlled large spells of the opening half, however, Jackson Cracknell rarely tested in the Bulli goal.

The only goal of the opening period was a scorching free kick 16 minutes into the contested. Henry Jenkins lined up from the edge of the box and to the left of the arc. The number 44 placed the ball into the top right corner leaving United shot-stopper Justin Mitrevski stranded.

Bulli doubled its advantage 15 minutes into the second half with Dylan Hogan unleashing Eden McCall into the right of the box. The tricky winger got behind the United defence before cutting the ball back for Mason Elphick to tap it into an empty net.

With the scoreline at 2-0, United pulled a goal back through Jovanovski. A ball was played into the box with Cracknell unable to claim it cleanly, it came to Jovanovski on a tight angle who managed to squeeze it in at the near post.

Bulli restored its two-goal lead a minute later through Dylan Hogan. A free kick was lumped into the box and United were unable to clear the ball with Hogan scrambling it past Mitrevski.

The game was getting away from United but the side was given a lifeline through a free kick from the edge of the box - in a similar position to where Bulli scored the first goal of the match. James Sekuloski stood over the set piece, he fired the ball into the wall but it managed to squeeze through, wrong foot Cracknell and finish in the back of the net.

United were gifted a chance to bring the scores level in the 87th minute when referee Jarrod Thompson pointed to the spot. Anthony Krsteski's effort was saved be Cracknell, low to the goalkeeper's left.

The match spilled over to extra time in incredible fashion with Jovanovski scoring his second goal of the grand final. The number 35 lined up an effort from 30 metres of which he blasted past the Bulli goalkeeper.

United took the lead for the first time in the match three minutes into extra time when Ben Fowler surged into the right of the area before hitting the ball across Cracknell and finding the inside of the far netting.

The advantage was wiped out less than two minutes later with Jenkins getting on the end of the lob into the box to head past Mitrevski.

Ky Simpson had a golden opportunity to win the decider for United in the final seconds of extra time but the skipper blazed his shot wide.

The first two attempts of the shootout were successful before Cracknell saved Daniel Cunzolo's shot and Mitrevski blocked Eden McCall's. The next two spot kicks were converted before Cracknell made his second stop of the shootout, this time keeping out James Sekuloski.

Kane Dorrian gave Bulli the 3-2 lead with his side's fourth attempt of the shootout before Toby Kosta converted United's third.

Seamus Macken-Walsh took what would be the decisive penalty, which he confidently dispatched into the bottom left corner.

 

Sunday, September 22 at Win Stadium

Wollongong United - 4 (JOVANOVSKI 67' 90+5', SEKULOSKI 81', FOWLER 93')

Bulli - 4 (JENKINS 16' 95', ELPHICK 59', HOGAN 68')

 

Penalty shootout - Bulli 4-3

Man of the match - Henry JENKINS

 

Wollongong United - Justin MITREVSKI, Bailey BABAROVSKI, Daniel CUNZOLO, Lee HANSEN, Kyah JOVANOVSKI, Toby KOSTA, Anthony KRSTESKI, Will NATTRASS, Jason NAUMOVSKI, Filip PILIPOVIC, James SEKULOSKI

Subs - Eden MURPHY, Ky SIMPSON, Rob LIBERANTE, Ben FOWLER, Blake COAD, Thomas DARJANI

 

Bulli - Jackson CRACKNELL, Tom PLUMMER, Darcy JORDAN, Taro Regan-Williams, Henry JENKINS, Luke TOOHEY, Dylan HOGAN, Ruben MUHAREM, Cooper GROSSMANN, Seamus Macken-Walsh, Ed MCCALL

Subs - Mason ELPHICK, Kane DORRIAN, Sam MCKELLER, Cohen BOTT, Jack WEBB, JAIDN PARKIN

 

Referee - Jarrod Thompson

Assistant Referees - Patrick Hutton and Demi Goddard

Fourth Official - Liam Webb

Report by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela

 

Photo courtesy of Pedro Garcia