22nd ANC 2007 Day 9 Report

The 22nd All Nations Cup reached the Semi-final stages on Sunday at Egan Lee Reserve.

Both semi-finals were level at full time & went to golden goal extra-time. They were decided within 3 minutes of extra time starting.

In the first match, Macedonia got out of gaol and scored the winner within one minute of the golden goal period starting. Scotland can only kick themselves for being beaten and they twice had the lead and spurned numerous opportunities to put the game beyond Macedonia’s reach.

Scotland took the lead in the 11th minute with a flowing move which ended with Donaghy providing a perfect cross for Greechan to score from close range. Macedonia got back on level terms in the 39th minute when they were awarded a rather fortuitous penalty which the competition’s leading scorer, Dolevski netted with ease.

Macedonia was kept in the game in the second half by a number of fine saves from its keeper, Stojanovski and some atrocious finishing from Scotland. The Scots finally took the lead in the 66th minute when Greechan grabbed his second.

The game should have been over as a contest a few minutes later when Smart broke clear, drew the keeper and slid the ball into the path of O’Donnell, who contrived to miss the target from less than five metres.

This was to cost Scotland dearly as Macedonia got back into the game with a goal from Alekovski in the 78th minute to force the match into extra time.

In the very first minute, Dolevski scored his 11th goal of the competition to put Macedonia into the final.

The second semi-final was equally tight and followed a similar pattern to the first, with the ultimate winner coming from behind to grab the winner early in extra time.

Serbia looked to have scored inside 16 seconds when Zoric beat Therese in the Mauritian goal, only to see the ball rebound to safety from the upright.

From a shaky start Mauritius clawed their way back into the game and was having the better of play when they took the lead in the 17th minute. Driver sent in a flat free kick which was helped on and Schulberg drove home from close range.

Mauritius had opportunities to increase the lead but failed to take the chances and Serbia almost drew level on the stroke of half-time when Bajic was denied by the upright.

Serbia made most of the running in the second half, but the vital equaliser did not materialise until 15 minutes from time. A corner was not cleared and Savic’s goal bound header could not be kept out by the defender on the line.

Mauritius had goalkeeper, Therese to thank for staying on level terms as he made a series of excellent full length saves.

Mauritius had to make a couple of injury forced substitutions and spent much of the half on the defensive although Marcus Roberts had an opportunity to close out the game but fired high and wide. To compound his misery, he received a second yellow card in the 89th minute and this left Mauritius to see out time a man short.

Like the first game, the golden goal came very soon after extra time had started. In this case it was after 3 minutes. Substitute Stojanovic broke down the left and this time Therese could do nothing to keep out his blistering near post shot.

Serbia and Macedonia meet in the final next Sunday (9th December) at 3.00 at Egan Lee Reserve for a first prize of $2,500. The runner-up will receive $1,000. By the time the final has been played 5,000 spectators will have seen the 22nd All Nations Cup.