North Geelong and Geelong Rangers win in Diversity Cup

North Geelong and Geelong Rangers win in Diversity Cup

Roy Hay

Host club and defending champion North Geelong had a comfortable five–one win over Lara in the Diversity Cup on Sunday night. In the early match Geelong Rangers accounted for Bell Park by three goals to one.

North started brightly and went in front in the 10^th minute, having already hit the post. Michael Anderson scored from close in, but Lara surprised the home crowd by equalising three minutes later with a spectacular shot from Damian Nasta. North was awarded a penalty in 26 minutes after an incident on the edge of the area. Reardo Luka gave keeper Kieran Ower no chance from the spot. Four minutes into the second half, Luka drove a free kick goalwards and again the keeper was wrong-footed as the ball took a wicked deflection. The match officials decided it was an own goal, but Luka deserves the credit. Michael Anderson got his second and North’s fifth goal just short of the hour mark and coach Ante Sarcevic took him and Luka off to give two more of North’s youngsters a run. Sarcevic says he is trying to get his players to concentrate on a passing game and to persuade his senior men to respect the youngsters he is bringing in as they are the future of the club.

North Geelong’s Mark Paleka embarks on a run at the Lara defence, watched by team mates Michael Anderson and Nicola Jurcic (18).

In the early game Rangers dominated the first half scoring three goals without reply. Striker Panagiotis Vasileiou opened the scoring in the sixth minute following a throw in on the right. It took Bell Park until the 24^th minute to win its first corner kick but then it had a few moments of attacking play which unfortunately for Park led to a Rangers’ breakaway and former Geelong midfielder Mathias Gorisito set up Vasileiou for his second goal. Daniel Innes’ corner kick was headed back across goal by Ronnie Clayson and Gorisito pounced to score from the edge of the goal area. Bell Park came more into the game, especially in midfield for a spell in the second half and were rewarded with a goal in the 59^th minute. A foul just inside the penalty area allowed Julian Barbagallo to covert from the spot to give the Park fans some consolation.

Next Friday North Geelong can make certain of a grand final berth by beating Geelong while Corio will be favoured to follow suit if it can overcome Bell Park in the second match. On Sunday Geelong backs up against Lara and Rangers takes on Corio. The early matches at Elcho Park start at 7 pm.

Caption for featured image.

Bell Park keeper Matthew Damjanovic (12) about to dive on a loose ball as Rangers players Mathias Gorisito (left, dark blue) and Panagiotis Vasileiou (right) are ready to pounce.