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AMPOL CUP
Canberra City Roos defended
vigorously and tenaciously, after
snatching a single-goal lead in the
57th minute, to deny West Woden
Juventus' second stab at winning
the ACT Soccer Federation's firstdivision
Ampol Cup.
Playing before an estimated crowd of
more than 400, both teams began nervously
in the semi-final, but soon settled
into a close-marking style of game
which completely stifled any chance
cither team may have had of playing
constructively.
For the first 15 minutes there were
few positive shots at goal with George
Campbell coming closest for West
Woden Juventus with a shot from 20
metres that scraped the bar.
The Roos, strengthened by the inclusion
of no less than six players with
considerable experience in the Philips
Soccer League and Vic Fernandez,
coach of the PSL side, attacked Juventus
relentlessly, winning numerous
corners in the first half but failing to
take advantage of them.
Ivan Gruicic, Vic Fernandez and
George Bailey, complimented by the
nippy Alan Reis, proved a handful to
the Juventus backrow of Mike Blackall,
Greg Willctt, Bill Hardie and Tom
Pauletto.
The Roos backline of Mark Francis,
Craig O'Neill, Luis Salgado and Peter
Cheyne, was under some pressure also,
although their task was made easier
with Juventus only playing three up
front.
Mike Boruncinski was completely
overshadowed by the much taller
Salgado and Campbell was. closely
marked by both Francis and O'Neill,
with Cheyne tracking Nick
Dourdoulakis wherever he wandered.
There was little to choose between
either side in the midfield area with Joe
Arquero and Keith White for the Roos
and Alex McLeish, Mike Tuilawe and
Ian Sedger working their hearts out to
pass effectively to their forwards, but
the stalemate could not be broken.
Five minutes into the second half the
Roos took a 1-0 lead when Alan Reis
snapped up a cross, shot for goal and
the ball rebounded off Gerry Sanfrancesco
and rolled into the net.
Two minutes later, a drive by Juventus'
Borucinski rebounded off David
Lindenmeyer but Campbell's shot hit
the side net. Ten minutes later, Ernie
Johns was substituted for Borucinski in
an effort to break the Roos defence, a
move that almost paid off on a number
of occasions.
Canberra City Roos will now meet
Croatia-Deakin in the grand final. But
they will definitely have to sharpen their
attack to win the trophy.
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