John Paul College met Brisbane Toro for the third time this season in the major semi final of the under 17 division one cross-river comp. JPC had lost to Toro in both previous encounters and it would not be third time lucky with an extra time golden goal enough to see Toro into the grand final where they will meet the winners of next weeks JPC - Lions clash.

It was the first Club comp game that JPC had failed to score in but ironically it was probably their best performance as they entertained the large crowd with some champagne football. Some said it was the best junior soccer they had ever witnessed, some could not believe JPC lost the game but to win you have to score goals and despite the JPC boys heroic efforts the Toro goal remained intact.

JPC dominated possession and pounded the Toro defense non-stop but to no avail. There were numerous chances created but near enough was not good enough and to add insult to injury Nathan Evans was dismissed for a second yellow card for a couple of over enthusiastic challenges early in the second half. He will now miss the preliminary final. Even with 10 men JPC were still in command but the battered Toro defense held on to take the game into extra time.

In extra time JPC continued the offensive when they could have defended and taken the game to a replay but much to both the crowd’s and the JPC camp’s frustration the contest was over when the linesman did not signal a blatant offside undeservingly allowing Toro to score the only goal of the crowd pleasing game." I have never been more proud of a group of players in my life, we have had a ridiculous schedule and I can't believe we played at that intensity all the way into extra time and with so much quality. The lad that scored was a mile off-side to his credit even the Toro coach said it was off-side, but that's football and I refuse to dwell on the negatives when the game from our point of view was so full of positives, The big test for us is can we bounce back" said Muzza.

  There was no man of the match, there were 13 men of the match as every JPC player gave his all and earned the applause of the every spectator and the highest praise from their coach.

One thing is for sure Toro better watch out in the grand final !

 

BC