By JARROD POTTER
THE journey they started in January came to a fitting end on Sunday for Dandenong Thunder’s Premier League under-18s.
Showing the seniors just what it takes to claim a championship, the Thunder’s under-18s proved too strong in a 3-2 back-and-forth NPL thriller.
A muggy Sunday evening at Broadmeadows Valley Park set the perfect backdrop for the final FFV match of the season – as the NPL under-18 East champions Dandenong and NPL U18 West champions Pascoe Vale squared off in the NPL Junior Finals Series.
Both sides went in at full throttle for the ball, with bodies flying everywhere from crunching tackles and fairly hard shoving as neither side gave an inch in pursuit of the title.
Dandenong was under immense pressure through the first 20 minutes as Pascoe Vale surged to create a number of near misses.
Thunder launched a counterattack through forwards George Smethurst, Nathaniel Giabardo and Leigh Karavasil – with their hard work paying off in the 31st minute.
After a Karavasil header beat the keeper, it took four attempts at a box-scramble for Thunder to slam the first goal home. Eventually, Smethurst connected with the go-ahead score to make amends for an earlier goal disallowed off-side.
But Pascoe Vale responded instantly to keep the scores level as the sun set on a first-half deadlock.
Playing under lights for the second half, Smethurst immediately resumed his, beautifully weighting a cross to Karavasil, who slammed another superb header past the keeper and this time into the net in the 55th minute.
Pascoe Vale didn’t bow down though, equalising once more in the 75th to leave the last quarter-hour of regulation to decide a champion.
Thunder’s midfield contingent pushed the ball for one last drive deep into Pascoe Vale territory, with Nicholas Farrell connecting with the match-winner after getting loose from a great chip over the top.
The defenders shouldn’t be overlooked either as Dhruv Rodrigues Chico, Wahedullah Ataei and the keeper Lewis Cotsopoulos made a number of sensational stops at the back, especially in the last 15 minutes as Thunder held onto its hard-earned lead.
The match had five minutes of injury time to endure and it threatened to boil over as both sides felt the pressure of the moment, but Dandenong was able to fight out the final seconds to claim the championship to go with its league title.
“I’m very stoked – it was a very tough final physically, but the boys kept jumping off the ground, they got hit a few times but they kept popping up and you’ve got to give them credit,” Dandenong coach Giabardo said.
“I just coach them and guide them, but the boys have the big hearts and the big work-ethic – we started on 6 January with our hard training and here it is, it’s 4 October and it’s been a really long season, but they’re still standing and they deserve it.”
Taking the East title wasn’t a cakewalk for the Thunder, fighting back after injury took its toll on the squad, but Giabardo knew his side’s hard work on and off the pitch would prove important in the final.
“They’re really good, they’ve worked well as a team all year and that’s what we try to preach – that team ethic, look for someone in a better spot and it paid off,” Giabardo said. “They deserve it.”
It was Dandenong’s first title under the NPL banner and Giabardo thought it was fitting to bring the pennant back to George Andrews Reserve.
“First NPL championship for Dandy Thunder and very happy for Dandy Thunder – they’re fantastic colours red and black and the boys thoroughly deserve it and it’s a great club as well,” Giabardo said.
DANDENONG THUNDER NPL CHAMPIONSHIP SQUAD: Lewis Cotsopoulos (captain), Kane Bentley, Nicholas Farrell, Nathaniel Giabardo, Leigh Karavasil, Alexander Krstic, Adam Kruize, Connor Lewis, Nanthawat Magee, Charlie O’Connell, Druv Rodrigues Chico, Anthony Santoro, George Smethurst, Michael Tucci, Wahedullah Ataei, Sebastian Gueho, Andre Gulbenkian, Thomas Flavelle, Elia Pellerito, Robert Giabardo (coach), George Perpina (assistant coach) and Cheryl Lewis (team manager).
