- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Like moths we followed the floodlights past the twisted branches of the majestic row of Moreton Bay figs. By the time we reached the ground it was just a stone’s throw to the coal-black waters of Iron Cove.
The crowd was more of a throng than I expected. There was even a queue to buy tickets. I felt a bit sorry for those Balmain stalwarts manning the gates. I am sure they would have preferred to be watching the game.
Leichhardt is an oval in name only. It’s actually a very comfortable rectangular stadium. It looked a bit lop-sided as there was not a soul on the hill section of the ground. They had closed it off so as to concentrate the crowd on the grandstand side.
It worked though. Thick crowds stood on the concourse, glued to the action. It felt good. It felt like a cup-tie.
We had arrived at around the half-hour mark with the score already 1-0 to Melbourne. When we took our seats down near the far goal, my daughter whipped out her book, The History of the Theatre. We all watch in our own way I suppose.
At half-time we were treated to some primary school aged kids playing soccer. Perhaps realising that this may be the only time we may see a black and gold team scoring, two goals scored by the young girls were given a rousing cheer as they paused for photographs after each one.
A few families of Balmain supporters moved down to our end presumably to see Melbourne Victory score a few more. It was one of those kind of evenings.
As the breeze picked up with some added zip from the harbour I pulled out my sheepskin jacket. More sheepskin than jacket, more sheep than skin, it is warmer than a freshly baked scone from one of the cafes in Balmain. I checked to see if any of the locals may have been sharpening their knives and dicing for my coat but they produced blankets and pulled their little ones in a bit closer.
The second half was pure entertainment as Victory began to tear the opposition apart.
From our vantage point we could see the A-League stars up close and personal. Who was that square-shouldered forward in the middle? It was none other than Besart Berisha. What a joy to be able to watch such a player at such a venue.
With his long white sleeves, dark hair and number seven on his shirt, Gui Finkler could have played the part of Cristiano Ronaldo. Who needs to fork out the big dollars for Real Madrid in a practice game when you can pay ten bucks to see Melbourne Victory in a national competition?
A few metres in front of me I witnessed Connor Pain tearing down the left side and Finkler bamboozling one and all with his skill. After they had six in the net we were able to witness two memorable highlights of the night.
With the clock ticking towards the 90-minute mark, the Balmain goalkeeper Anthony Costa, egged on by the crowd, ran forward to contest an attacking corner. It’s something you see if a team is down a goal in a really crucial game but to do it when behind by six goals is something to behold.
On the first occasion the corner floated to a Balmain player whose strike on goal was blocked by his own keeper’s backside. At least he could claim a clean sheet at one end.
On the second occasion the ball was eventually cleared to halfway by Victory and it was clear to see what would happen next. We all took a collective breath and watched as a shot from the halfway line curved in a perfect arc towards the Balmain goal. We ran with Anthony all the way but could see it was a losing battle. Miraculously the ball just sailed past the post and we all exhaled as one. Then for a full minute we laughed and laughed and laughed.
We thought it was a performance worthy of an Oscar. Looking at my daughter’s book I realised a Tony award would be more appropriate since this was pure live theatre at it’s finest.
As a reviewer I would give it six goals to Melbourne, five stars for the FFA Cup.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.