MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 9 December 2020
EASTERN UNITED OVERCOME ADELAIDE COBRAS IN THE 2020 STATE LEAGUE 2 GRAND FINAL
Eastern United have been crowned 2020 State League 2 Champions, overcoming a spirited Adelaide Cobras in a tense affair at VALO Football Centre this evening, in front of almost 1,000 spectators.
The game commenced at a frantic pace, as both teams went end to end in the effort to take an early ascendency.
The first real chance of the match fell to Saints striker Robert Macdonald, who struck the post on 22 minutes, as Cobras shot-stopper Callum Piantadosi looked all but beaten.
Cobras were unphased by the near-miss and aggressively countered before Anthony Francesca spooned his effort from the top of the box, eventually soaring over the crossbar.
Only minutes later Cobras were at it again, Jonni Corbo unleashing a forceful effort from out wide that was expertly parried away by Mitch Higgins.
Kirill Gretchko then whipped in free kick on 35 minutes as Eastern pushed forward but Macdonald’s headed flick sailed across the face of goal to safety.
Andrew Tamburrino earned himself a yellow card on 40 minutes, mowing down Gretchko as the two collided just outside the box. The ensuing free-kick from Macdonald striking the wall and posing no threat to the opposition.
Piantadosi then gave the Cobras fans a heart attack just before the break, fumbling a bobbling effort before recovering and holding the ball safely on the stroke of half time.
Soon after the restart a sweetly struck effort from Anthony Tropiano nearly evaded the safe hands of Higgins but he was again up for the challenge.
Gretchko lashed out on 58 minutes to record Eastern United’s first caution of the game, and was soon substituted to avoid a second yellow as the game intensified.
Eastern had claims for a penalty on 59 minutes as Aaron Acton was bullied entering the box, but Referee Curtis Wordsworth waved down the appeals to the relief of the Cobras defence.
Neven Blazeka was then injected into the midfield by Ditroia and his impact was immediate, exposing Cobras on multiple occasions but without any reward for his side.
The best effort of the half came from Aaron Acton, showing class in beating two players before cutting inside and unleashing a soaring effort that looked sure to beat Piantadosi, before the Cobras gloveman launched to his left, palming the strike over the bar and to safety.
Soon after three additional minutes were signalled by the fourth official, the ball fell to Saints’ Scott Weidenbach who looked sure to slam the ball in the back of the net from just six yards, but he skyed his effort to the dismay of the crowd before the whistle eventually blew to send the game into extra time.
After a tired opening period of extra time, both sides pressed for the winner but it was State League 2 joint Golden Boot winner Aaron Acton who latched onto a long ball over the top of the defence before coolly slotting his 24th goal for the year to the delight of the patient Eastern United supporters.
Acton was awarded Man of the Match honours for his heroics, adding another personal accolade to his resume for the year.
The hard-fought win caps off a successful season for Eastern United, who will celebrate the victory before turning their attention to State League 1 football for 2021.
