Wollongong Olympic capped off an outstanding 2024 by claiming the Illawarra Premier League grand final against arch rivals Wollongong United.
United, who finished 10 points and three spots behind league champions Olympic in the regular season, proved a difficult test, however, despite playing with 10 for the majority of the match.
The red card came eight minutes into the contest when Jason Madonis played a long ball to Ricky Goodchild who was clipped by United’s last defender, captain Danny Lazarevski.
Olympic took less than 10 minutes to capitalise on the numerical advantage via a Guy Knight cross.
Knight whipped in the ball for a rising Kyle Jackson who nodded the ball past United no.1 Tom Alston.
Despite being a player down, United had the better of the final half-hour of the first half.
The side squandered a penalty kick in the 22nd minute which was won by Nav Darjani after he was fouled by Olympic skipper Chris Price.
Forward Van Elia stepped up to take the penalty, but the New Zealander did not test Justin Pasfield as he blasted the ball over the bar.
James Stojanovski and Elia both had chances as the clock ticked towards the break, but it was Darjani, who dragged United back into contention.
The wide man picked up the ball on the left before carrying it into the box and hitting his shot across Pasfield and into the bottom right corner.
Olympic regained composure at the start of the second period and 12 minutes in they restored their lead.
Price curled the ball into the box where Goodchild allowed it to run through his legs to reach Tynan Diaz.
The former APIA Leichhardt star sized up Alston to find the back of the net despite the best efforts of makeshift centre back Jason Zufic.
Olympic continued to apply pressure on United with Price seeing a header cleared off the line while Knight linked up with Jackson again with the latter heading the ball onto the post.
United toiled, but they could not assert the pressure which saw them equalise late in the first half with Olympic holding out to win the decider.
Jackson was named player of the match for his goal and industrious performance in defence.
Report by Dylan Arvela
Photos courtesy of Graham Brown
