CORIO HANGS ON FOR FIRST WIN
CORIO defeated Geelong Rangers 2-1 in a typically hardfought and action-packed State League 2 local derby at Hume Reserve last night.
It was a landmark occasion as the Round 2 clash was the first fixture staged for competition points under floodlights at the Bell Park complex.
Played in near perfect conditions on a coolish evening, the highly anticipated clash attracted a large crowd, including quite a few neutrals.
Corio went into the match with its attacking strike force severely handicapped after losing star striker Vedran Stojanovic, who this week transferred to neighbouring State 1 side Geelong SC. The lanky marksman has taken out the State 2 Golden Boot for the past two years and his presence will be sorely missed.
Nonetheless, Corio coach Ante Didulica employed an adventurous 4-2-3-1 formation with veteran clubman Steven Luczo playing the lone target man upfront.
The fast and furious opening saw both sides pepper each others’ goal and it didn’t take long for the stalemate to be broken.
In the ninth minute, Luczo was on the end of a pinpoint cross from the right by speedy winger Lachy McGrath giving the home side the lead.
It only lasted 60 seconds with a freakish goal up the other end gifting the visitors the equaliser.
Corio goalkeeper Rick Apostalikas smashed the ball into Rangers’ striker Jasko Ikanovic, the ball then ricocheted back past the Corio custodian into his own net.
Corio again took the lead just 10 minutes later when hardworking midfielder Nathan Cook got on the end of a centred cross and whipped the ball past an outstretched Hayden Van Der Chys in the Rangers’ goal to restore the home team’s ascendancy.
Despite the home side clearly dominating the remainder of the opening stanza, the score remained 2-1 for Corio at the break.
Major drama unfolded in the 77th minute, when within a space of a minute Corio had appeals for penalties turned down. But the home side was able to hang on to record its first win of the season.
After the match, coach Didulica was all smiles, knowing full well his tactical risk had paid off.
“We lost our main striker during the week and we knew we had to adapt our strategy,” Didulica said.
“We pressed hard through the middle, knowing our flankers (Lachie McGrath and Billy Argyros) were quick and could be exploited down the flanks and provide service to Stevie (Luczo) who was our target man upfront and he played magnificently.”