The cup master

BRILLIANT Brazilian Renato De Vecchi loves a goal, but especially when he’s playing in the Lakoseljac Cup. The South Hobart attacker lines up for Monday’s Cup final against Devonport Strikers at KGV in fine fettle, having scored a hat-trick in the Cup quarter-final and two goals in the semi-final.

SOUTH Hobart’s brilliant Brazilian attacker Renato De Vecchi thrives under the pressure of the Lakoseljac Cup.

He scored a hat-trick in South’s cutthroat quarter-final against rivals Hobart Zebras, then he backed it up with two goals in South’s semi-final win over league leader Launceston City.

Now De Vecchi, who joined South at the start of the season, has set his sights firmly on the final against the Devonport Strikers, to be played at KGV on Monday.

He has scored only three goals in seven league matches and believes he does his best work in the pressure cooker that is cup football.

“Maybe it’s because it’s a final and of course if you don’t win, you’re out,” De Vecchi said.

“There’s something special — you want to win, you want to do your best because it’s one match and that’s everything.”

De Vecchi, 29, had experience playing in Brazil, Denmark, Croatia and Sweden, and said he was feeling no nerves ahead of Monday’s match against the Strikers.

“I’m looking forward to it, to be honest. It’s the most important game for us right now,” he said. “It will be very exciting.”

The winner of the final will lift the Lakoseljac Cup and earn Tasmania’s coveted place in the FFA Cup, and De Vecchi has his eyes on the nationwide competition.

“I’ve heard before it’s a big competition, so that’s why this match is so important,” he said.

“We know how important it is to be in the FFA Cup — of course you can play against A-League teams.”