Marulanda puts Baysie into Perth showdown
Report by Peter Simcox
Colombian striker Gustavo Giron-Marulanda’s goal late in the second period of extra time has put Bayswater City into the National Premier Leagues WA Grand Final against Perth SC at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday.
Pictured: Gustavo Giron-Marulanda in action. Photo: Peter Simcox.
Marulanda’s strike sealed a thrilling 3-2 win at Frank Drago Reserve against a Balcatta side who had twice led.
The striker, who has been hampered by injury for most of the season, gave credit to his side for their resilience.
“We always fight out games and have a mentality of not giving up and today was a classic example,” he said.
“We knew if we could find an equaliser we would win the game, that’s the sort of character we have in our side and for me to score the winner was great. We now look forward to next week’s final against Perth and we head there looking to reverse last week’s result against them.”
Perth thumped Bayswater 5-0 in a semi-final encounter just over a week ago.
But there was to be no repeat against Balcatta, who were just moments away from reaching their first ever Grand Final with a 2-1 lead that was wiped out by substitute Chris Saldaris’ header.
Alex Canigila had given Balcatta the lead early before Andy Reale levelled before the break. It looked like Benny Kouakou had won it for Ramon Falzon’s side but Bayswater kept pressing and got their rewards.
Bayswater Coach Chris Coyne was proud of his players’ commitment and character to fight back to set up a showdown against Perth.
“Going behind twice to two sloppy goals was frustrating but we showed good resolve and we ran the game out well,” he said.
“The boys have been magnificent since I’ve been here. They have given me everything they have. In retrospect, the lads were tired last week. It was a tough two weeks – four games in that period is a lot of football for semi-professional players… it just caught up with them.”
Coyne said Marulanda was getting close to full fitness and is hoping he has peaked at the right time of the season.
“Gustavo was out for a long time this season and he has got to understand that,” he said.
“Yes he wants to play every week but he is getting stronger each week and we haven’t seen the best of him this year yet. Hopefully he’s saving it for next week.”
Balcatta dominated the early exchanges and created three good chances, the best falling to Kouakou. The striker was sent clear by Kris Gate but his shot was straight at Devon Spence.
Their early dominance was rewarded on 23 minutes with the lead. Kouakou was brought down on the edge of the penalty area, and the striker’s resulting free kick crashed off the underside of the crossbar and Caniglia was the quickest to react to fire home from close-range.
Conceding the goal lifted Bayswater and Marulanda went close on the half hour before Todd Howarth’s long-range free kick flashed over the crossbar.
It wasn’t a surprise that on 38 minutes Bayswater levelled. Howarth made space down the left and his deep cross found Reale at the back post. The defender looped his header over Davies and into the net to send the sides in level at the break.
Balcatta reacted well to conceding late in the first half and were back in front on 57 minutes. Caniglia played in Kouakou, who burst into the box, rounded Spence, and fired home.
The home side were not going down without a fight and went close to levelling five minutes later but Reale’s shot on the turn was well saved by Davies.
Then 60 seconds later Bayswater won a penalty when former Bayswater defender Patrick Quinn brought down Marulanda and referee David Bruce pointed straight to the spot. Marulanda stepped up but Davies guessed the right way and saved superbly low to his left.
Bayswater were throwing everything at Balcatta but with skipper Adam Tong and Kieron Stallard outstanding at the heart of the defence they held sway.
With time running out, and pushing men forward looking for the equaliser, Bayswater almost conceded a third. Caniglia sent Gustavo Catarcione clear on 86 minutes, and he had the chance to seal victory but Spence stood tall to deny the Brazilian striker and keep his side in the game
That save became more significant a minute later when Bayswater levelled. Adam Bachiller found space down the left and his cross found Saldaris at the back post, whose header went into the net.
In extra time, both sets of players were fatigued and struggled in the wet and windy conditions. Jamie Coyne was struggling with injury but the former Perth Glory defender continued bravely.
It looked like the game was heading to a penalty shoot-out but three minutes before the end Bayswater won it. Declan Hargreaves’ free-kick picked out Marulanda, who kept his composure and fired low past Davies to seal victory for Bayswater.
Elimination Final
Bayswater City 3 (Reale 38’, Saldaris 89’, Marulanda 117’)
Balcatta 2 (Caniglia 23’, Kouakou 57’)
Saturday 6th September 2014
Frank Drago Reserve, Bayswater
Attendance: 500 (Approx)
Referee: David Bruce
Assistants: Michal Jasinski and Alex Best
Fourth Official: Matt Southern
BAYSWATER CITY: GK Devon SPENCE, 2 Declan HARGREAVES, 3 Adam BACHILLER, 5 Andy REALE (23 Chris SALDARIS 76’), 6 Todd HOWARTH, 8 Paul MCCARTHY (12 Steve BURTON 71’) (10 Damien CATALANO 85’), 9 Gustavo GIRON-MARULANDA, 15 Brian FARRELL, 16 Jamie COYNE, 20 Sam MITCHINSON, 21 David HEAGNEY
SUBS NOT USED: RGK Joel DRISCOLL, 14 Aaron DELANY,
Yellow Cards: McCarthy 31’, Burton 71’, Saldaris 115’
BALCATTA: GK Clint DAVIES, 3 Kieron STALLARD, 5 Adam TONG, 7 James SAMMUT, 10 Kris GATE, 11 Alex CANIGLIA, 12 Patrick QUINN (6 Luke RANDAZZO 86’), 14 Benny KOUAKOU (8 Lawrence SHURUMA 78’), 15 Marc de FRANCESCH, 17 Kieran COLWELL (4 Alex SULESKI 87’), 19 Gustavo CATARCIONE
Subs not used: RGK Damien STANOEVSKI, 9 Carlo COELHO
Yellow Cards: Sammut 19’, Quinn 64’, Stallard 75’, Suleski 115’
