Eastern Suburbs eventually edged this tight contest by one goal to progress to the quarter final stage of the Kate Sheppard cup. These two teams know each other pretty well having played just six days ago in the league although suburbs made a few changes to their starting line- up. Coach, Mauro Donoso, had the rare luxury of being able to select from an almost full squad with the NZ representative squad players being available for this Saturday game.
Despite the quality of players on show, suburbs struggled to play flowing football as Papakura closed them down tightly in midfield and did not give them any space up front. There were very few clear cut chances in the match, although Papakura’s goalkeeper was the busier of the keepers.
Papakura have a highly experienced and well organised back line and a goal keeper who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Suburbs were restricted to some long range efforts in the first half and the keeper dealt with these easily.
Papakura were having similar problems in finding the final ball through to the forwards and much of the first half action was confined to the congested midfield. But around 5 minutes before half time they forced their way through the suburbs midfield and managed a break away which looked promising until Kate Seatter clipped the ankles of the flying forward and was shown a yellow card. Fortunately for suburbs the resulting free kick sailed over the bar.
The second half started more positively for suburbs as Grace Jale began to find a bit of space just behind the forward line and she combined well with Jeongwon Shin make some good runs and penetrating passes. Jale, Jacqui Hand, Hannah Pilley and Jade Parris all had efforts at goal but the Papakura keeper was equal to them.
Papakura also managed to create a few chances as the game began to open up a bit, the best of which saw a cross to one of their players in plenty of space in front of goal. Fortunately for suburbs, in the heat of the moment, she didn’t connect with the ball and it went harmlessly out of play.
Suburbs made a few changes as players began to tire in the high tempo second half. The additional energy of the substitutes helped suburbs mount a number of attacks towards the end of the game.
The goal finally came in the final five minutes and the free kick that lead to it was the result of an unfortunate error by the Papakura goalkeeper which was cruel considering she had played a perfect game up until that point. She had collected the ball from another eastern suburbs attack and was about to deliver it forward when she dropped it. Unfortunately for her she made the decision to pick it up again and the referee ruled that, as she had lost control of the ball and then picked it up, an indirect free kick should be awarded on the edge of the penalty box.
Suburbs took full advantage of this in a clever and stylish way with Grace Jale taking a short tap to Jade Parris who floated a superbly placed shot over the wall and into the top right of the net leaving the unfortunate goal keeper no chance.
Papakura will consider themselves unlucky to come away from Madills farm with nothing to show for their efforts twice in one week and they have certainly made it difficult for suburbs during both of those games, but the Lilywhites have a good record at home and, on the balance of play, they just about deserved it.