Wollongong Olympic flexed their muscles at Keith Bond Oval following a resounding 4-0 win over the Falcons, with Guy Knight helping himself to a hat-trick.
The home side started with intent and looked good for the opening few minutes. In the opening minute, Tomoya Komazaki fired from range. His shot swerved wide late, as Ben McGinnes could only look on.
Just a couple of minutes later, a cross from the left was not dealt with by the Olympic defence. The ball fell to Julian Clarino, who snapped his shot narrowly over the crossbar.
Wollongong Olympic appeared to weather the early storm, and a corner in the eighth minute saw Knight soar above the pack as he headed towards goal. With the goalkeeper beaten, a desperate goal-line clearance by Lachlan Bryce denied the visitors.
Olympic started to pepper the Falcons’ defence with raids down both flanks. Halfway through the half, they managed the breakthrough. A neat cross from the left found Jason Madonis unmarked six yards out. His header thundered into the roof of the net.
Just ten minutes before the break, a dazzling run by Harry Callahan saw him upended in the box with a penalty awarded. Knight stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot kick to double the lead.
Just before the break, a pinpoint cross from Chris Price found Knight lurking in the box. His header gave Bryce Daenell no chance. The game was effectively taken away from the Falcons with those two late goals.
Knight helped himself to a hat-trick as an Olympic corner on the hour was ineffectively dealt with. The ball bounced around in the box with a bit of a scramble ensuing. Knight appeared to get the last touch as the ball was bundled over the line.
Midway through the second half, Gabriel Zapata’s cross found Jarvis Patterson in front of goal; however, he was unable to get enough purchase on the ball as the chance went begging.
Moments later, two Olympic substitutes linked up to create an exciting opportunity that deserved more. Vasili Kastoumis did well to create a bit of space in the box before laying off to Deegan Carlsen, whose sublime turn created a great opportunity. Unfortunately, his left foot strike just didn’t have the power to beat Daenell. It would have been some goal.
The last chance of the game fell to Falcons’ Jamie Wakeling, who had his shot well saved by McGinnes, who preserved a clean sheet.
Olympic’s win keeps the pressure on Wollongong United, who play on Sunday. The lead is cut to two (provisionally).
The two sides (perhaps fittingly) meet next week in the Bampton Cup Final before resuming business the following week with Olympic hosting South Coast United and Wollongong United with a tricky away fixture at Bulli.
Report by Bobby Mazevski
Photos courtesy of Richie Wagner
