Herculean task facing Olympia in title chase

OLYMPIA’S NPL Tasmania title hopes hang by a thread after the Warriors drew 1-1 with the Hobart Zebras in a thrilling contest at KGV last night.

The third-placed Warriors came into Round 13 six points behind the table-topping Devonport Strikers, but only closed the gap by one point last night, with the Strikers still to play.

It was a game of few scoring opportunities, but both teams were left to rue spurning gilt-edged chances to steal the win in a frenetic final 10 minutes.

It was an unusual first half, with neither team threatening for long periods but both finding the net.

After a cagey first 20 minutes, Jakub Sklenar fired the Warriors ahead with a goal from nowhere in the 21st.

The league’s leading scorer netted his 16th goal of the season with a curling free kick from wide on the left that floated over Zebras keeper Marcelo Mercuri and into the top-right corner.

The Warriors started to gain an ascendancy in the possession stakes after taking the lead, working into wide areas with ease but lacking the cutting edge required to extend their lead.

The Zebras had butchered the ball on the counter attack all half, but found themselves level in the 45th minute with their first slick movement of the match. Mathew Sanders turned sharply before slipping a well-weighted ball in behind the Olympia defence for Jack Gates to collect in the left channel. Gates then slotted a low shot into the bottom corner.

It was a more adventurous start to the second half from both sides, but neither keeper was truly tested again until the dying minutes.

After seeing a header cleared off the line in the 81st minute, Sklenar should have stolen the win for Olympia in the 90th when he was played in on goal, but he slid his shot agonisingly wide of the upright.

Substitute James Ackerley had the best chance for the Zebras in injury time, but his goal-bound volley from close range was inadvertently deflected wide by his own teammate, Sanders.