SAINTS TAKE HOME SILVER IN SENIORS WORLD CUP

By Frank Houston

The WA side took a strong team to Thailand which included six Perth Saints players to play in the Seniors World cup in Phitsanulok.

The conditions were hot and muggy and with tropical rains around, the pitch changed from a rock hard surface to a quagmire in a very short time.

The Australian side started the campaign with a game against South Korea and after a solid performance with goals from Carl McDarby and Peter Vukmirovic (2) started the tournament with guns blasting. The defence was solid which included Zabica, Houston and Walker and with Spike Smith up front who all flew the Saints flag with dignity.

With Thailand comprehensively beating USA 5-1 the second game against Thailand was to be a corker. This game started at 5pm to give the home team an advantage using the hot conditions as a tool against the unconditioned Aussies. This was an end to end spectacle with Houston heading against the bar from a corner being the closet anyone came to scoring.

Once again the defence was solid with the Saints lads that also included Lol Endersby providing another perfect performance. The result ended 0-0 so with the dificult conditions it was a good performance all round.

The third game in as many days saw Thailand beat Korea 5-1 so the Aussies needed to beat USA by seven goals to top the group for the semi-final advancement. Houston was made captain for the night as the 50 year old legs once again started a full game.

The rain poored and the pitch was like a swamp but it suited the Diggers as the Yanks didn't know what hit them. The aussies were three up after 15 mins and chasing the goals to top the group. Houston was like a man possessed who ran and chased like a 21 year old. On one of his maurading runs down the right flank his cross was deflected into the net giving Australia a 4-0 advantage.

The goals came and with Spike Smith (2), McDarby (2) and singles from Houston, Zoran, Yates and Potts it was to the top of the table for the Australia side for the semi-finals. With 11 goals for and none against things were looking pretty positive for the Aussie Team.

The other group saw Iran at the top with Taiwan second. The Aussies played Taiwan knowing that Thailand had beaten Iran 1-0 so this was a do or die battle to reach the final. Australia waisted some early chances and when Taiwan scored a minute before half time this was going to be a tough encounter.

The Aussies showed their true colours with a fantastic second half and after a goalmouth scramble that saw Dave Evans flicked header from a corner pounced on by Houston in the box and it fell to the alert McDarby to bust the net. Pain for the Taiwanese and elation for the battling Aussies. The Taiwanese fell like ten pins but the second goal didn't come as the crying Taiwanese waisted 10 minutes faking injuries and the time was up.

The penalty shoot out was marred with the Taiwan goalkeeper getting changed three times due to injuries. Australia showed total focus on getting to the final with five spotkicks out of five and the Big Zabica earned his salt by saving a penalty to put the aussies into the final. Successful pens by McDarby, Murphy, Saunders, Houston and Vesko was all it took.

It was now to the Seniors World Cup Final for Thailand and Australia. Live on ESPN Thailand the game was going to be a tight affair. Five games in six days was showing it;s toll with 11 fit players a struggle for the starting lineup. The Saints again provided Zabica, Houston, Walker and Smith as starters.

The game was again an early start at 5pm start so the heat was an obstacle immediately. A very tight game once again and after Zoran got taken down by the keeper in the box after a dazzling run it was Australia against the 12 man Thailand side.

The Thais are quick and skillful and it was a task for the tired Aussie defence to chase the younger Thailand attack. A solo effort from their striker saw him beat four defenders and slot a curling shot past Zabica to give them a unasaleable lead at half time. The Aussies made changes and with the inclusion of Murphy and McDarby they pressed to the end but it wasn't going to happen.

McDarby got floored in the box for a second clearcut penalty but it was once again waved away by the biased local referee. Time ran out for the battling Aussies but they were never a match for the quickness and skill of the Thailand side so it was probably a fair result taking everything into account, although two penalties can change a game dramatically. Congratulations must go to all the players for a tremendous tournament and special mention to the Saints contribution from Zabica, Houston, Walker, Endersby, Murphy and Smith.

May 12, 2008