The Northern Territory news Mon 4 May 2015
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2015-05-04
This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.
English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
application/pdf
Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.
News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/256768
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/517362
24 SPORT MONDAY MAY 4 2015 NTNE01Z01MA - V1 Join the winning team For up to the minute news, views + scores The NT News Sport @NTNewsSport City set up for Victory MELBOURNE City has set up a blockbuster semi-final against cross-town rival Melbourne Victory on Friday night with a gutsy 2-0 elimination final win in Wellington. After consecutive hidings on the road leading in to the clubs second-ever finals campaign, City rolled its sleeves up at Westpac Stadium last night to book a derby showdown on the back of a 61st minute opener by Australian marquee Josh Kennedy and a second from Harry Novillo 11 minutes later. City was in equal parts patient, dogged and resolute, qualities rarely associated with the team previously. The visitors refused to be broken down in the first half, and dominated both possession and territory. From there it grew in confidence against a side clearly starting to doubt itself on the back of a poor run of form. Set up in both the 58th and 59th minutes by exquisite Jonatan Germano crosses from the left, Kennedy missed the far post by centimetres first with his outstretched boot and then his head. But it was third time lucky barely two minutes later for the man once nicknamed Jesus. After a Nathan Burns shot down the other end of the field was blocked, City broke quickly on the counter, with international marquee Robert Koren on the ball. The Slovenian had options left and right, but sized the situation up perfectly, opting to play Novillo in on the left. He held the ball up close to the byline, laid back to Aaron Mooy, whos first time shot was deflected in by Kennedy. The Phoenix lifted, but things only got better for City a short time later as again Koren and Mooy got involved. It was Mooys ball from midfield that played Koren in to space on the right, but rather than shoot wildly, he played a looping ball over the top of the penalty box to a free Novillo. The Martinique international stopped and propped back on to his right foot, before shooting. His vicious shot cannoned off the base of the post and in to the back of the head of diving Phoenix keeper Glen Moss before flying in to the net. Moss was unlucky, but in truth it was no less than City deserved. Sure it was a dour, ugly affair in the first half, but City executed perfectly. Far from smash and grab, John van t Schips team played as if it were the hosts. The game was arguably Kennedys finest in the ALeague, as he provided a dominant and dependable target at the front of the line. While Captain Patrick Kisnorbo was inspirational at the back, Melbourne Citys Harry Novillo takes on Wellington Phoenixs Ben Sigmund during the A-League elimination final in Wellington last night Picture: HAGEN HOPKINS/GETTY IMAGES MATT WINDLEY Adelaide mindset the key to final spot ADELAIDE United has been here before standing just below the grand final summit four times. Now Adelaide has a fifth chance to play in a third grand final with only Sydney FC standing in its way at Allianz Stadium on Saturday. But it must do this against the odds. Former Adelaide skipper Travis Dodd has played in three preliminary finals for the Reds. He believes the penultimate game before the grand final should be taken as just another game. But he says it is always built up as one of the most important clashes of the season. Dodd retired after ending his career with Perth Glory last year. Dodd an assistant coach of WA club Bayswater City is now a finance broker for Finance 365 and also works for Fox Sports football and the ABC as a commentator. The pressure is on Adelaide, Dodd said from Perth. Its now up to individuals and how they cope with that pressure during the week and on game day. But this game is definitely the mindset and how you cope. Physically we dont have a long A-League season so players wont be worn down. Its up to individuals to stand up and if you try to put too much emphasis on the game players may struggle to perform on the day. Adelaide has never claimed the ultimate A-League prize and has lost all eight away finals matches. Its hard to imagine six years have gone by when then Red, Adelaide-born Fabian Barbiero scored the winner in a preliminary final in a 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar at Hindmarsh to propel the side to the grand final. A very dubious red card to Cristiano 10 minutes into the clash at the Docklands cost Adelaide dearly before Melbourne Victory claimed the championship in a 1-0 win in 2009. WELLINGTON 0 MELB CITY 2 PHOENIX Goals: Nil CITY Goals: J Kennedy 61, G Moss 72 Prentice puts past glories behind him in clash with Olympic PALMERSTON coach Michael Prentice admits there will be mixed emotions as the build-up to Wednesdays FFA Cup match with Darwin Olympic continues. Prentice spent six seasons with Olympic, winning two premierships as a vital cog in the heart of the defence. But all that will change in two nights time when he goes up against his former club for the first time. I had some good times at Olympic, he said. The club gave me a lot but all those feelings will be put aside on Wednesday night. Palmerston showed plenty of fighting spirit in the NorZone Premier League on Saturday to come from a goal down and force a draw against Port Darwin. The scores were locked at 0-0 at half-time but Helio Carvalho gave the visitors the lead in the 66th minute. US-born striker Brian Bren nan scored his second goal of the season to give Palmerston a share of the spoils with an 80th minute equaliser. The French connection was in force in the clash between Mindil Aces and Uni Azzurri on Friday. French striker Fabien Fontaine struck first in the 21st minute before fellow countryman Jeremy Gnesutta grabbed the equaliser with 10 minutes left. Olympic came from a goal down to defeat Casuarina 3-2 on Saturday. Imam Mukhlis Imam gave the Rowdies the lead from the spot after 20 minutes but Olympic captain Oldrich Dubsky levelled also from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute. Casuarinas John Thorning was sent off after he was ruled to have denied Olympic a goalscoring opportunity. Olympic grabbed the lead one minute in the second half through James Walsh and Kevin Menda made it 3-1 in the 70th minute. Mark Casimiro pulled a goal back with 11 minutes remaining to set up a grandstand finish.