Sport
Shepparton All Stars overcome GV Suns on penalties to win the Mimmo Lia Cup for the first time
For one night only on Tuesday, Goulburn Valley Suns were shunted aside as a new team became the masters of McEwen Reserve.
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Shepparton All Stars claimed the Mimmo Lia Cup for the first time, beating the Suns on penalties following a highlight-charged 4-4 draw as spectators were blessed with a game for the ages.
All Stars forward Hassan Alhilfi dropped a hat-trick in a performance that won’t soon be forgotten by winning coach Frankie Lagana, who lauded his young talisman following the win.
“Hassan, I looked up to his father as a young kid ... we spoke briefly about this before the game,” Lagana said.
“He said to me, ‘I’ll show you Hassan Alhilfi’.
“This kid is a natural talent, he’s a really nice kid and I feel it’s up to Hassan what he wishes to do with his football.
“He made me look like a good coach; this is how influential his performance was.”
It wasn’t long before Alhilfi had his first say on the match.
The striker latched on to a beautifully-weighted ball from Fraser Gosstray early in the first half, heading it into the corner for a 1-0 lead.
Though Alhilfi’s opener was by no means messy, it was a matter of ‘’first the worst, second the best’’ as his following act was pure genius.
Alhilfi burst through on goal and lofted a chip over the Suns’ custodian to extend the All Stars’ buffer to two, a lead they’d take into the sheds at half-time.
Fans had already had their money’s worth in the opening period, but cash couldn’t buy what transpired in the second half.
The Suns, sporting a refreshed XI, came out swinging and soon levelled the scores through well taken goals from Adam Gatcum and Cailyn Trask.
Alhilfi netted his third from a slick move down the left flank, but the Suns weren’t done as Trask nabbed his second before the Orangemen went ahead for the first time late in the piece.
Then, drama.
With just minutes left on the clock, Gosstray fired home a cross to level the pegging once more and it took everything from All Stars goalkeeper Daniel Coombs to send the game to spot kicks as he produced a ridiculous finger-tip save at the death.
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One for the cabinet: GV Suns president Shaban Mehmet, Mimmo Lia and All Stars captain Thomas Corso. Photo by Lynne WeirImage 2 of 13
Vision: GV Suns' Greg Nash spots a pass ahead. Photo by Lynne WeirImage 3 of 13
Shifting it: All Stars' Tristan Zito slides a pass sideways. Photo by Lynne WeirImage 4 of 13
On the chase: All Stars' Fraser Gosstray tracks the ball down. Photo by Lynne WeirImage 5 of 13
Bursting forward: GV Suns' Marcus Thomas gets on the run. Photo by Lynne WeirImage 6 of 13
Stay solid: All Stars' Rohan Byrne hunts a ball down. Photo by Lynne WeirImage 7 of 13
On the line: GV Suns' Declan Maiorano waits in anticipation before a penalty. Photo by Lynne WeirImage 8 of 13
Going in hard: All Stars' Tristan Zito lays a tackle on GV Suns' Elijah Brooker. Photo by Lynne WeirImage 9 of 13
Right under it: All Stars goalkeeper Daniel Coombs launches one long. Photo by Lynne WeirImage 10 of 13
Ball player: GV Suns' Tutu Taya scans for an option. Photo by Lynne WeirImage 11 of 13
The gaffers: Shepparton All Stars coach Frankie Lagana with assistant Justin Milic. Photo by Lynne WeirImage 12 of 13
Knocking it: GV Suns' Thomas Raditsas gets his head down. Photo by Lynne WeirImage 13 of 13
Splitting gaps: GV Suns' Jude Crichton looks to weave his way through traffic. Photo by Lynne WeirSuns defender Tutu Taya, who had been magnificent throughout the game, was the unfortunate soul to miss the crucial penalty as his effort sprayed wide of the post, leaving the All Stars wrapped in relief.
After claiming the Mimmo Lia Cup in his second stab as coach, Lagana paid tribute to a true legend of the sport locally.
“The occasion is fantastic, not many people understand the influence Mimmo has had on local football, especially the Tatura Soccer Club,” he said.
“As for coaching the team, it was an honour, it was exciting to be back amongst local soccer, but I didn’t do much.
“(I took) a couple of simple instructions from Fred (Zito) and Justin (Milic), but the players were just really excited to play with one another and against a quality opposition.
“I feel it’s great to bridge the gap between the community level and semi professional level of the Suns.
“It is a boost to hopefully create more interest in the community level and it allows a flow on effect for more local players to play for the GV Suns.”
Sports Journalist