Match Reports
Metro 5 Logan City Kings v KPR 26/06/10
Result: Logan City Kings 2 KPR 5
Date: Saturday 26/06/10
Kick Off: 16:00
Conditions: Perfect
The old cliché about football being a ‘game of two halves’ proved to be right on the money, with KPR involved in their second 7 goal thriller in as many weeks. This time though, they were on the right end of the result, but it was by no means the walk in the park the final score might suggest.
One notable omission from the Rovers starting 11 was keeper Grant Preston, sidelined with a dislocated finger and badly bruised leg. Brent Compton (aka the Kiwi Cat), himself returning from a 5 week injury layoff, stuck his hands up to fill the keepers gloves....and it was on like Donkey Kong!
Both sides missed a hatful of chances in the first half. The Logan keeper was like a man-sized football magnet, with every single shot sticking to him like Velcro, when in most cases it would have been easier to hit the back of the net. Likewise, Logan squandered 2 or 3 of the easiest chances you’re ever likely to see; their composure deserting them at the crucial moment.
It was the home side who finally broke the deadlock on the half hour mark. Their podgy striker unleashed a *Sally Gunnell from distance, which the cat looked to have covered. As he stooped low to gather the ball, it bounced up off his chest and right into the path of a lurking Logan player. Before you could say ‘bollox’, the home side had their noses in front and KPR were placing the ball on the centre spot.
Unbelievably, the Kings struck again seconds before half time. Their speedy winger, who had been a constant threat, left 2 KPR defenders in his wake and tucked one away in the bottom corner.
Although disappointed with the score line, the KPR boys put their heads together during the break, spoke calmly & methodically about what they had to do to win the game, and went back out with a steely determination. Staring down the barrel, with their season hanging in the balance, they collectively went up a gear and immediately began to outclass a clearly tiring Logan outfit.
When Danny Zumaeta drove a powerful shot into the Logan keepers rib cage and Neil Gibson shot over the bar from close range, it looked like it was going to be Groundhog Day for KPR.....then this happened:
Goal 1: Danny Zumaeta - a typical Danny goal. Strong in possession, turned his man inside out and then emphatically slotted the ball home.
Goal 2: Chris Duffy - an outrageous effort from distance. Possibly a Duffy trademark in the making and celebrated in style with a bit of amateur gymnastics.
Goal 3: Danny once again - carbon copy of his first. Those missed opportunities in the first half suddenly seemed a distant memory, as the KPR marksman found his range and bagged a brace.
Goal 4: Who else? Danny Zumaeta - his first hat-trick for the club and his fifth goal in 2 games. An absolute menace in the penalty area and the scourge of defenders from Ipswich to the bay!
Logan City were clearly in more trouble than a match report writer running out of analogies, as KPR overwhelmed them in every area of the pitch. Whenever they turned over possession, it nearly led to another KPR goal. Tommo Ishiguro ran a good 40 yards before pulling a shot just wide. Then, the final nail in the coffin:
Goal 5: Neil Gibson - capping off another towering performance with a goal to match. Picking the ball up in his own half, he skinned half the Logan team as if they weren’t there, and buried the ball in the bottom corner to put the icing on a sweet victory.
A gargantuan comeback from the Rovers boys. Bigger than Ben Hur!!!
*Sally Gunnell - ugly but a good runner.
