Perth RedStar v Hyundai NTC, Sat 10 Sep, 4:45pm (AWST), Dorrien Gardens
The last game of the season is here, and it’s down to a battle of youth vs experience. Hyundai NTC are attempting to do what no other side has done this season and beat Perth RedStar, a team brimming with big game experience who are looking to put the icing on the cake of a quite remarkable season.
NTC made their way to the Grand Final by despatching the 3rd and 2nd placed teams, Fremantle City and Perth SC, in two semi-finals. Both games were physically demanding affairs, with the match against Perth SC on Wednesday night going into extra time before they prevailed 2-1 with goals from Jenna Harnwell (daughter of Perth Glory legend and current Football West CEO, Jamie Harnwell) and probably the best young player in the league, Tanika Lala.
Perth RedStar moved into the Grand Final following their 1-0 win against Perth SC on Sunday with a goal from their record appearance holder, Carla Bennett, giving them the win.
During the regular season, the results have gone the way of the league Champions with three wins and an aggregate score of 13-2, but RedStar coach Carlos Vega Mena recognises that by getting to the final his opponents have shown they have grown and improved over the season.
“They will not be the same team we have faced in the past,” he said.
“NTC has beaten third-placed Fremantle and second-placed Perth to get into the final, they fought hard for the spot and have proven they deserve to be there. This demonstrates just how dangerous they can be. As a development team, they grow and change over the season. NTC is packed full of young, talented and skilful players who play quality football. They have a mix of players who show speed, energy and game intelligence; this combination makes them dangerous on the pitch. Ben Anderton has worked hard with his team this season and it’s pleasing to see the results coming through.”
His direct opponent in the coach’s dugout, Ben Anderton, was full of praise for his young team and spoke about the qualities he feels will help them overcome the more experienced Perth RedStar side.
“Our ability as a playing group to not deviate from our playing style and continue to maintain possession under pressure is our main asset and despite being young they are not afraid to be brave off the ball and put opponents under pressure.”
He also acknowledged that his team face an opponent with many years of experience at the highest level and thought that this was the biggest threat to his team.
“They have a strong core of experienced players with both national and W-League experience who have been in these situations many times before, both individually and as a playing group.”
Vega Mena had this to say about his team.
“The team has a core group of players that have been together for some time. After taking over as coach of the First Team at the beginning of last year, they needed to adjust to my coaching style and my philosophy. Teamwork, training and the right players are essential in order for this to be successful. We have a great group of people who work together on and off the pitch. The combination of experience and youth that we have had this season just seems to work on the pitch. The team has worked hard together since the pre-season and are able to bring the training sessions to the pitch on game day.”
As well as the experience in the ranks, he highlighted the high-intensity way they play the game and indicated there will be no change to this approach in the Grand Final.
“As always, we will be focussing on keeping possession of the ball, our high press, quick transitions and maintaining our defensive record. We have the experience of being in the finals, and hopefully, the players will be able to draw on this on the day.”
If Hyundai NTC is to prevail in the final they must work as hard as they did against Fremantle in the first semi-final, when they played probably their best game of the season. They matched their opponents in the physicality stakes and prevented Fremantle from building attacking momentum, by breaking up play with interceptions and tackles, then getting the ball to their fast and skilful forwards.
This will be easier said than done though, as the front six of Perth RedStar has spent all season working as a unit to deny time and space for their opponents to mount significant periods of attacking play.
NTC will also be keen to avoid giving away too many set pieces, as this has been a vulnerable area for them all season. They have conceded more goals from corners and free kicks than any other team with a total of 16. Perth RedStar have scored 14 goals from set pieces, including 9 from corners, so this is one aspect of the game that NTC will have to get spot on if they are to avoid conceding during the final.
The game should be a treat for aficionados of high pressing and possession football, as both teams play the game in this manner. With the two leading scorers for the league in Larissa Walsh (Perth RedStar) and Tanika Lala (Hyundai NTC) on the pitch, goals seem inevitable, but it is likely to be the midfield battle that will determine who will lift the trophy, and it’s in this area that RedStar has excelled all season.
Jay Coleman, Shawn Billam and Carla Bennett have been an outstanding unit for Vega Mena. If they gain the upper hand over the NTC midfield then the game will become very difficult for the youngsters, especially as they may well be without Georgia Cassidy – the Junior Matilda picked up her second yellow of the finals campaign in the win against Perth SC and faces a one-match ban.
There is no doubting that NTC has an exceptionally talented group of players, but with many of them having little experience of playing in a senior final, as well as having to back up from two very tough games, it will require an enormous effort. RedStar have players who have played in a World Cup, been to the Olympic Games, won an Asian Cup, been in A-League Women Grand Finals and played in numerous local finals, including two already this season.
However, this is finals football. Anything can happen and as the old saying goes, football is a funny old game.
