“Otumoetai Portugal CNS Crowned Champions”

Saturday 2^nd October 2010: 9:40am KO

CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL

Otumoetai Portugal CNS 2 vs South Melbourne 1 (after extra time)

“Otumoetai Portugal CNS Crowned Champions”

Otumoetai Portugal CNS have been crowned the 2010 Champions Cup Winners. Portugal beat South Melbourne in another titanic battle that took extra time to separate the two teams.

The Gold Coast laid on the worst weather of the week, a chilly 18 degrees and an almost constant drizzle, the Kiwis felt right at home. Portugal playing against a slight slope were really under the pump from the start and the gargantuan Melbourne team were showing their physical dominance. Portugal battled for every ball and showed enormous heart. The defence again had a massive game the boys won more headers than tey should, given the vertical disadvantage and wave after wave of attacks down the flacks were snuffed out. Sam Haywood playing at sweeper had another huge game, the last line of defence as solid as a rock. With no time on the ball for either side the midfield had to be tight, and it was. But with only second left in the half Melbourne broke down the right and delivered a pin point cross that was hammered past Jake Chegwidden had a heroic performance in goal.

Coach Chegwidden kept his chargers out on the pitch as the rain intensified; Melbourne took cover for their half time pep talk.

The second half was just as frenetic. Portugal now had the advantage of the slight slope and gradually started to apply the pressure. The Melbourne tackling became more and more frantic eventually the left back was forced into a rash challenge on Bull that saw him collect a yellow card. Portugal had a couple of good chances that went just wide, Melbourne hit the cross bar with a shot that was always covered by Chegwidden, but Portugal were definitely in the ascendancy. With five minutes to play Melbourne conceded another free kick down their left and Haywood stepped up and whipped in a cross. Bull rose above the towering defence and seemed to hang in the air like Michael Jordan before drilling his header past the keeper. The Kiwi contingent went mental, there was a real sense that victory was in the air. The Aussies were tiring and Portugal’s superior fitness was starting to really tell. Matt Brazier suddenly appeared in the middle of the park on the end of another ball pumped from defence and looked clear when the left back callously clattered him to the floor, the referee reached into his pocket to show the yellow only to realise it was the hapless defenders second and replaced it with a red. The tide was well and truly turning. The final whistle went with Portugal full of energy and the Melbourne team now looking beaten. Extra time before dreaded penalties….10 minutes each way. The first half again saw several chances but no goal. A quick turnaround and time was running out, Portugal now clearly the better footballing team were dominating across the park, gaps were opening up and Portugal had time to spread the ball. Three minutes into the second half Bull was clear…was this going to be the critical play, clatter, again the Aussies resorted to brutal tactics but this time in the box, the ref had no option…..penalty. The Kiwis could hardly bear to watch as Captain Charlie Hillier stepped up to the mark. Thump! The ball hit the net, the noise was deafening, players and supporters alike were in ecstasy. As the minutes counted down, every pass, every tackle was met with cheers and jeers. The ref signalled one minute to go…it was the longest 60 seconds of the season, but Portugal had it. Every man on the field had given his all. Then the final whistle, a pitch invasion, black and green and red shirts bounced up and down, grown men with tears in their eyes. Twelve months of training and playing and sausage sizzles. What an unbelievable feeling. Well done every man jack of them.

Otumoetai Portugal CNS, 2010 Gold Coast Champions Cup Champions!

Friday 1^st October 2010: 12:40pm KO

Otumoetai Portugal CNS 3 vs Loganholme 0

“Portugal into the Final”

Otumoetai Portugal CNS looked like a different team from the one that scruffily eliminated the Brisbane area’s Champions yesterday. Today’s opponents, Loganholme, had come second in Queensland’s capitals U13 grade and were played off the field by an Otumoetai team at the top of its game. If yesterday’s performance was pondering today it was poetry.

It was another cool overcast day in Carrara with a reasonable breeze just favouring the opposition in the first half. Portugal dominated right from the kick off with the midfield looking more composed and the team keeping its shape, one touch football and first to the challenge. The game was played almost entirely in Loganholme’s half in the first 30minutes. Portugal had a number of chances but the Aussie keeper kept the Queenslander’s in the game. Loganholme only had one chance in the first half, coming from a dubious freekick the resulting header hitting the bar before being cleared by the Otumoetai defence.

Nil all at half time, Coach Chegwidden urged more from the boys, feeling there was more in the tank….and he was right!

The second half saw the burners turned up and the football got even hotter. There were some beautiful passages of play, a joy to watch. The pressure culminated in a handball, a shrill whistle from the ref, and he pointed to the penalty spot. Captain Charlie Hillier stepped up to the spot and placed the ball in the bottom left. One nil. Almost before the crowd had settled down another wave of attack was upon Loganholme and Dylan Bull was on the end of a terrific move, he skinned the defender and was cynically hacked down. Penalty number two. Portugal’s striker was down for some time and eventually was carried from the field; fortunately the injury will not keep Bull from the final. Hillier stepped up again, same result, two nil. Portugal were now on full throttle and were determined to keep there foot on the throat. Hillier made it three minutes later and could have easily ended up with four or five. A truly dominant performance.

The other semi saw Hamilton North go down one nil to South Melbourne to set up a replay of the pool game. The final is 9:40am local time and should be a cracker.

Thursday 30^th September 2010: 10:20am KO

Otumoetai Portugal CNS 2 vs Kenmore 1

“Portugal make it through to the Semis”

Portugal CNS made it through to the semi-finals of the Champions Cup on Thursday with an unconvincing 2-1 victory over Kenmore. Portugal top their group with a 3 win 1 draw record but will need to up the game on Friday if they want to proceed to the finals. It was a fairly cool day, overcast and with a strong cold breeze favouring Portugal in the first half. Luke Johnson came in as a last minute replacement in central defence with Robbie Parakowhai-Gudex not feeling 100%. Johnson, Jake Chegwidden and Sam Haywood in particular were the stand out performers in a disjointed performance. Portugal already knew they were through to the semis with their main competitor, Brisbane City being beaten in the preceding match. Cam Lee who battled hard throughout the game was rewarded in the first half with a goal that gave Portugal a slim advantage at half time. The boys would have to dig deep against the wind in the second.

Coach Chegwidden was not best pleased with the team performance, the sweetest of tangerines could not have sugared the message.

The second half did not start well with the tall and quick centre forward getting the turn on the defence to slot home the equaliser. Chegwidden in goal had several great saves to keep the Brisbane team at bay and Haywood seamed to be clearing up all day. Portugal were not playing with their usual shape and composure and reverted to a route one football. The Kenmore defence was tight and seamed to have two or three defenders to every Portugal attacker. Late in the second half Portugal were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. The referee was unwilling to push the wall back the prerequisite 10 yards making it impossible for Charlie Hillier to get it over them. His kick slammed into the wall only to rebound to younger brother, Harry Hillier, who drilled a bender right into the top right hand corner. The players went wild celebrating with the coaching staff and bench. Kenmore were worthy opponents and unlucky not to come away with something but in stead exited the tournament. A lucky escape for Portugal, grit and determination over style and form. Coach Chegwidden will be looking for more on Friday afternoon to keep the dream alive.

Tuesday 28th September 2010: 9:10am KO

Otumoetai Portugal CNS 7 vs Football Tech 0

“A game of two halves”

Portugal CNS were relieved not to be playing in the intense heat of the afternoon and have an opposition of comparable size after yesterdays extra-ordinary game. Portugal looked to have the beating of their smaller opposition from the get go and scored early on with a great Bull finish. What followed for the rest of the half was a tired looking performance from Portugal with little drive and enthusiasm. There was a bag full of chances but the finishing was less than clinical. The game meandered to half time with only one more added to the score line with a well taken finish Matt Brazier. There was little to write home about the first half and coach Chegwidden gave the team a roasting at half time. Portugal came out in the second half like a different team. Crisp passing, control and dominating from front to back. Goals were rattling in quick succession, Bull with two then three, Matt Brazier getting a brace. Robbie Parakowhai-Gudex scored from one of the numerous corners Portugal forced. Coach Chegwidden was ringing the changes regularly, resting players to get fluids on board and even with players not taking their usual positions in the rotation, the team were good enough to cope and showed maturity and poise. The scoring was complete when Glenn, now playing on the right wing scored with a cracking shot that nearly removed the net.

Coach Chegwidden was pleased with the second half performance but reminded the team that they couldn’t afford to drop their standards if they wanted to go all the way. Understandably the boys were a little jaded after Monday’s battle and with a day and half rest they should be ready for Kenmore in the last pool game on Thursday.

Monday 27th September 2010: 3:00pm KO

Otumoetai Portugal CNS 1 vs South Melbourne 1

“Portugal versus Goliath”

Portugual CNS faced a Goliath like South Melbourne on this scorching hot September afternoon. With at least half the Australian side being well over six foot it looked like it was going to be a mismatch. But the match turned out to be a battle of biblical proportions and the giants were lucky draw level. This was possibly the best match Portugal have every played and were ultimately a little disappointed to come out on level terms. Every man in the team worked themselves into the ground, not giving the South Melbourne players any time on the ball. Glenn and Lee epitomised the effort working in tandem to close down Melbourne’s number 10, captain and play maker, but no single player could be singled out, every man jack had the beating of their opposite number. Coach Chegwidden along with Assistant Hillier cooked up a formation and plan that was expertly executed by Portugal. The game was exciting cut and thrust from the first minute to the last. Portugal had the better of the first half culminating in a Teves like finish by Bull after a lovely through ball saw him sprint neck and neck with the lone Melbourne defender to eventually beat him for pace and slide the ball past the prostrate keeper. The supporters went mental, vuvuzelas blowing, cheering and shouting, it was like Mardi Gras. The Melbourne team were clearly in shock, not expecting this bunch of Kiwi David’s to match their size and athleticism.

Coach Chegwidden was delighted with his chargers efforts and only asked for more of the same in the second half. The second half was gladiatorial with Portugal battling every ball, every cross, every challenge. The supporters were becoming horse on the side lines, the tension building as the minutes counted down. Then disaster, an accidental hand ball and the ref pointed to the spot. Cheers of encouragement rang out for Jake as he jumped from foot to foot, the Melbourne striker ran to ball and hammered it only to see Chegwidden spectacularly save followed by a massive Kiwi contingent cheer. The Melbourne players were becoming frustrated and used their physicality often over zealously culminating in an elbow to Glenn’s head that saw him leave and his opposite get a yellow card. But this didn’t deter Portugal, it made them more determined. However the intense Australian pressure saw the team loosing its shape slightly in the closing minutes and with only seconds on the clock a fantastic cross from the left cleared the Portugal defence and the tall Melbourne sticker headed home in the top right corner. Final score one all. An exhilarating game to watch and what huge courage shown by the boys.