Hobart Zebras–Taroona
3 - 4
(Crosswell 62, 65 [PEN], 84 – Hamilton 3, Luttmer 13, Dove 22, Abbott 91 [PEN])
Statistics
16 Shots 13
5 On Target 6
4 Corners 3
2 (Kaden, Cairns) Yellow 0
1 (Kaden 94′) Red 0
11 Fouls 8
3 Offside 1
A defensive lapse in the dying seconds by Hobart Zebras defender Andrew Telega handed Taroona a thrilling 4-3 away victory at KGV Park last night.
With the sides locked at 3-3, Telega brought down Taroona striker Garry Hamilton, who had dispossessed the Zebras’ central defender, in the box in the 91st minute and David Abbott stepped up to score from the spot.
It was an agonising blow for Zebras who had worked their way back into the match after trailing 3-0 at the half-time interval.
The loss leaves them eight points adrift of league leaders South Hobart, who can increase their margin when they play Kingborough Lions on Sunday.
The match was a tale of two halves and the first belonged to Taroona.
Three minutes into the encounter, striker Garry Hamilton gave the visitors the lead.
Midfielder Jack Elliott chipped a ball over the defence to Hamilton and after rounding Zebras’ defenders Jordan Muller and Telega, the former Somerset man powered home the opener.
Hugo Luttmer netted Taroona’s second when he glided past Henry Fagg in the box and slotted home on 13 minutes.
Nine minutes later, Taroona had posted a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead.
Taroona broke down Zebras’s first real period of possession through Lucas Wyatt and Marcus Atkinson quickly switched play to the left wing to Abbott.
Abbott then accelerated past Fagg and rifled in a low cross to Toby Dove who tapped home from four yards.
It was Dove’s third goal in two matches – all of which have been assisted by Abbott.
Taroona continued to pepper the Zebras goal and a long-range Abbott effort flew just over Kaden’s bar on 29 minutes.
On the half-hour mark, Zebras’ Ben Crosswell crashed a shot onto the frame of the Taroona goal, but the striker would have to wait until the second half to have a meaningful impact.
It appeared the sides switched roles at the half-time break, with Zebras taking command, while Taroona feel to pieces throughout the midfield – especially after the departure of Atkinson due to work commitments.
And Zebras found a way into the match on 62 minutes when Muller dribbled out of the defence, switched play to the left wing to Jayden Welch who crossed to the back post where Crosswell smacked home what, at that stage, looked to be a consolation.
But Crosswell was brought down in the box by Cian Carey on 66 minutes, handing Zebras a life-line.
Taroona keeper Richard Nettlefold guessed the correct direction, but could only fumble Crosswell’s spot-kick into the net.
The pendulum had swung firmly in Zebras favour at this stage and Jonathan Ladic’s dipping shot from 20 metres, which struck the bar, on 76 minutes was a sign they would grab an equaliser – a highly unlikely prospect at the half-time break.
But the seemingly impossible was made possible in the 84th minute when Fagg fed Crosswell the ball on the edge of the area and the striker turned and curled in a fantastic left-footed effort for his hat-trick.
Zebras’ looked as though they could use their momentum to grab a winner in the final six minutes of regulation time, but Telega conceded a sloppy penalty in the first minute of added time and Abbott buried the penalty for his first goal in Taroona colours.
After the final whistle, Zebras’ keeper Troy Kaden vented his frustrations to refree Sean Collins, but his protests backfired when he was issued a second yellow and subsequently a red card.
Julius Ross Premier League, Uncategorized
2 - 4
1 - 1
5 - 0
7 - 1
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