In a fiery and intense match, heroics from Port Kembla’s Adam Rodriguez helped Port Kembla hold Tarrawanna to a scoreless draw. The result maintains Bluey’s undefeated start to the season.
The match began with high intensity, and as early as the seventh minute, Tarrawanna Blueys’ Cody Waller rose from a cross from Matias Toro and nodded it just over the bar from close range.
Port Kembla responded with an opportunity for Lucas Ayala, who fired a low shot at Jackson Cracknell after a scramble in the box.
Tarrawanna were awarded a free kick on the right side of the penalty area. Toro struck a low driving shot that saw Adam Rodriguez recover a loose ball as Waller fired the ball back at him from close range to force a strong double save from the former Bluey.
In the 13th minute, a well-worked play from the Blueys down the left wing between Toro and Taiga Nakayama saw the latter fire the ball into the box, where it was adjudged to have hit the right arm of Port Kembla captain Mitchell Di Pietro. Cameron Morgan stepped up to take the penalty however, Rodriguez dived down to his left and held the ball, denying the home team.
The first half was all Tarrawanna as the ball was constantly getting fired into the box, but the Blueys just couldn’t quite put it together. Their pressure forcing Port Kembla into regular turnovers.
Tarrawanna were dealt a blow late in the first half when Cracknell sustained a cut to his chin after a head clash with Waller and had to be substituted. 15-year-old Declan Pearce, who would play his third game of the day for Tarrawanna, came on after keeping a clean sheet in the Second grade.
Just minutes before the break, Toro wasted two chances as Port Kembla held on going into the break.
After a fiery and entertaining Tarrawanna dominated half of football, the second half failed to match the same intensity and action.
With only a handful of shots between the two sides, neither Rodriguez nor Pearce were tested until the final ten minutes of the match.
In the 82nd minute, Michael Mendes took on Nakayama and cut in onto his left foot and from the right side of the penalty area, fired a shot at the near post; however, Pearce comfortably saved to his left. The 15-year-old would have gained great confidence in obtaining a clean sheet in his first-grade debut.
At the other end, Rodriguez proved his worth once again in the closing moments of the match with a close reflex save as Morgan fired a diving header his way after a Zachary Mazevski cross came in from the left.
The match concluded 0-0 with Tarrawanna not able to take advantage of their chances.
Next round on Saturday, Tarrawanna will travel to Keith Bond Oval to face the Oak Flats Falcons, while Port Kembla will host Coniston FC at Wetherall Park on Sunday.
Report from Jack Naumovski
Photos courtesy of Gragrapix
