Otago Milk Cup 2011

The Lads return to Momona airport, Dunedin.
Tom Kindley, Jesse Smith, Lian Lam Sam, Jackson Mitchell, Mark Burnett, Alan Craig, Nikki Meglinski
Avatar Singh, Ryan Eckhoff, and Ben Purton

Otago WINS NIMC Plate FINAL

This could be a Results Card to Frame

Note: there were a few Penalty Shoot-Outs, above...
and Aspire Academy ( who earlier beat Otago )
beat Manchester United 5-1
in the main Final,
but we'll settle for the Plate eh ? Well Done Lads.

Reports by the Management Team

Milk Cup match 5, report,

Otago proved spot kick kings once again this afternoon, winning on penalties against Venezuelan side Zamora FC after the scores were looked 1 all at full time. In an edgy affair Otago battled back from a 1 nil deficit before the clinching the Milk Cup Plate final in Colraine, 4-2 in the shoot out.

Buoyed by yesterday’s success, Otago started the match positively and Joe Larson’s wing play won a corner in the first minute. Kai Inoue and skipper Jackson Mitchell won handily placed free kicks soon after but the subsequent crosses came to nothing.

Zamora played an accurate and patient passing game but Otago’s effective high pressing game limited keeper Masen Hayes’ concerns to a number of long-range efforts.

Otago’s more direct approach continually caused concern for the Venezuelan defence and in the 24th minute full back Louie Bush fired over an enticing cross from wide on the right. Midfielder Jackson bravely challenged the on rushing keeper, narrowly failing to make connection with the ball.

The minutes from half time centre midfielder William McIntyre came within a whisker of opening the scoring but failed to connect from an Alan Craig knock down when only metres out. Craig had been superb in the air all day and he climbed well again to head back a Jesse Smith free kick. As the ball fell to McIntyre he was forced to rush his shot and failed to make any meaningful impact and the ball bounced away to safety.

The half time talks from both sides must have been inspired as second half began with a bang. In an action packed start, Zamora took the lead four minutes in. A searching long field ball found centre back Tom Kindley slightly the wrong side of his striker and the Venezuelan controlled instantly before firing over an advancing Hayes.

However almost instantly Otago were back on level terms. Bush delivered another pinpoint cross after a series of passes after the restart and as Craig climbed to control the ball on the edge of the Zamora box he was cynically clattered into from behind. The ref consulted with his linesman first and then signalled correctly to the spot. Joe Larson took on the responsibility to take the penalty and he expertly dispatched his pen into the bottom right hand corner.

With niggly fouls climbing into the match, set pieces became key attacking opportunities. In the 58th minute cannoned a 25 metre free kick on to the post and then McIntyre crashed a header on to the bar after a Jesse Smith set piece.

Zamora pressed hard for a winner in the final ten minutes and it took determined defending from Kindley and follow centre back Jared Graham to keep them out. At the other end Larson fired in a series of dangerous crosses late on and substitute Liam Lam Sam nearly flicked in a Keiron Stevenson corner with a minute remaining.

Otago’s last act of normal time was to substitute keepers with Mark Burnett on for Hayes as penalties became inevitable.

The move proved inspired as Burnett saved the first Zamora penalty brilliantly to his left and then watched with delight as the South American’s fired their 4th shot wide. Otago’s registered successes through Inoue, Larson and McIntyre before Liam Lam Sam smacked home the winner with aplomb to spark massive scenes of joy from the New Zealand side who claimed their first ever piece of silverware at the prestigious youth tournament.

In the final Aspire thrashed Man United 5-1 in a very one sided affair, perhaps highlighting Otago’s battling efforts earlier in the touranent when they lost 5-0 to the Qatary side.

Milk Cup match 4, report,

Otago 1, RSKV Leonidas 1. Otago won 7-6 on Pens.

.....

The Otago Milk Cup side recorded their first victory of the tournament when they won a nerve jangling penalty shoot-out 7-6 against RSKV Leonadis. Despite dominating possession and chances made, Otago fell behind to the Dutch side and it took a late equaliser from William McIntyre to force the match to penalties.

Playing with a favourable wind behind them Otago began brightly and nearly opened the scoring as early as the 10th minute when Lian Lam Sam robbed the opposition keeper and only a desperate recovering lunge prevented him rolling the ball into the empty net.

.....

After scuffing a clearance, the Leonidas keeper again got himself out of trouble, when he smartly back pedalled to then tip over the resulting return chip from full back Jesse Smith.

Superb positional play by centre backs Tom Kindley and Jared Graham had kept the Dutch side at length but it was Leonardis that took the lead with what was their only meaningful attack of the half. Neat interplay in midfield was rewarded when the Dutch left midfielder cut in and fired home a stunning 22 yard shot that left keeper Mark Burnett absolutely no chance.

Otago winger Kieron Steveson replied by whistling a free kick narrowly over the bar in the 22nd minute and follow winger Joe Larson produced the same result when finding himself space after disposed his marker and jinking into the 18 yard box minutes later.

On 30 minutes Otago again went close to scoring when they broke quickly from a corner. A precise Louie Bush pass found striker Lam Sam. He subsequently controlled well and turned to deliver a perfectly flighted ball on to a surging Jackson Mitchell. Mitchell took his first touch perfectly but unfortunately his measured shot rolled past both the advancing keeper and the near post to leave the score 0-1.

After the break Otago defended far higher in an attempt to gain cheap possession and a deserved equaliser. The ploy paid instant dividends when midfielder William McIntyre fired wide after a thundering tackle 20 yards out in the 47th minute and then Alan Craig flicked a header into the keeper’s arms after a measured Bush cross.

Otago efforts were finally rewarded in the 53rd minute. Larson did well to win a corner after a pacey run out left. Stevenson drove in the resulting corner, which was met by McIntyre with a strong glancing header that flew high into the top corner.

Otago’s confidence suddenly went through the roof. Larson saw a diving header flash wide after an hour and then Mitchell Jackson again came agonisingly close after racing through one on one after collecting a clever pass from substitute Kai Inoue. Mitchell smartly rounded the keeper who had torn out of his box, but again his shot drifted inches past the post.

Leonardis preferred to play a long ball game with the wind and it was excellent aerial work from Kindley and Graham that prevented any clear cut chances falling to the physical Dutch side.

McIntyre nearly snatched a replica strike in the final minute when his header, this time from a Cowan Fearn corner skimmed the top of the cross bar. The resulting goal kick signalled the final act of normal time.

In the shoot out, a single miss coupled with successes for McIntyre, Smith, Inoue, Jackson, Larson and Graham saw the scores tied at 6 all. Louie Bush slammed Otago’s seventh and it was the New Zealander’s dancing for joy when the Leonadis skipper fired his spot kick high over the bar.

Otago now plays Zamora from Venezuela in tomorrow’s Plate final.

Milk Cup match 3, report,

Aspire Academy 5, Otago nil.

Qatar

( Aspire facilities a bit better than De Carle.. )

The Otago Milk Cup side were soundly beaten 5-0 by Qatar's Aspire Academy today in Port Stewart in what was the final pool game before the ranking games. Despite a resolute first half defensive effort, the Qatary national academy side were ultimately too big and strong for the kiwi side and ran out comfortable winners courtesy of 2 first half efforts and 3 late strikes.

Aspire bossed possession from the start and it took sharp goal keeping from Masen Hayes and committed defending from centre backs Jared Graham and Tom Kindley to keep Aspire at bay. Full backs Louie Bush and Jesse Smith contributed manfully both on defence and attack and it wasn’t until the 24th minute that Aspire finally scored. Lost Otago ball in midfield was rapidly sent forward by the Qatary left winger and a perfect cushion header on the edge of the box by the centre forward was slammed home on the volley by the advancing centre midfield.

Despite the set back Otago doggedly stuck to their guns and with superb support from William McIntyre and Cowan Fearn in midfield, the Otago defence held out until the final minute of the first half. Again needlessly lost ball proved Otago’s undoing as Aspire side disposed the midfield and the ball was slipped through a gap to the pacey centre forward who raced on to score one on one.

After the break the strong Aspire side filled with African imports again took immediate control. Hayes saved smartly as early as the first minute and when he was beaten on 44 minutes Graham slid in brilliantly to clear off the line.

Otago nearly found a foothold in the match when after a Louie Bush free kick was headed clear and stand in skipper Graham fired a 30 yard effort narrowly over the bar.

As the game entered the last quarter of an hour tired legs finally began to tell and Otago conceded three late goals. Ball again lost going forward was slipped through neatly to Aspire’s front line who eluded keeper Hayes in one on one situations, in both the 56th and 62nd minute.

The final and fifth goal arrived in the dying seconds when a near post header was flicked home by the Qatary fullback after a right sided corner.

Otago coach Neil Mackenzie was philosophical about the result. “This side is in essence a national side and filled with imports from all over Africa. We gave a number of boys who had played very few minutes till now, good match time, and I was chuffed with how well they fought. Players like Cowan Fearn, Avatar Singh and Ben Purton put in a pile of effort and to frustrate a team of that skill and size for so long was no small effort. Our boys are learning that mistakes will be punished at this level and when you consider that all the teams we have played made the top 5 you can appreciate the sort of footballing experience our boys have received.

Milk Cup match 2, report,

Cherry Orchard ( Dublin ) 3, Otago nil.

Dublins population of over a million suggested a player base that would severely test Otago,
and top Dublin side Cherry Orchard were too good, winning 3-nil in Colraine.

Against a side which had won emphatically 9 nil yesterday, Otago were always going to be up against it, but they
defended superbly for long periods and were ultimately undone by three late strikes.

Early possession certainly favoured the Irish side but through determined defending from Louie Bush, Jared Cowan, Jesse Simpson and Liam Lam Sam they were kept an at arms length until the 17th minute when a long range shot
deceived keeper Mark Burnett and cannoned off the post to safety.

As the game progressed and some parity in possession was attained, Otago’s confidence began grow and their first real sight of goal came in the 31st minute when a pinpoint Bush free kick was inches from being flicked over the oncoming keeper by William McIntyre.

Combative midfielder Jackson Mitchell then came the closest to opening the scoring when Alan Craig expertly flicked on a Burnett punt and it was only the tip of the keeper’s fingers that stopped Mitchell’s lob from finding the net.

It was then Burnett’s shot stopping abilities to the fore as he kept the score line goalless by first saving bravely at the feet of an onrushing striker and then brilliantly saving a penalty to his left after midfielder Kai Inoue had hauled down a Cherry Orchard midfielder on the stroke of half time.

A call for more commitment to the tackle and smarter use of the ball saw Otago start the second half more determinedly and it was Mitchell again who found space to fire wide in the 43rd minute. From the resulting goal kick, Inoue eluded his marker and linked well to send Jackson through. His angled shot was pawed away at full stretch by the Orchard keeper and it was only an unlucky bounce that denied McIntyre the easiest of tap ins at the far post.

Despite Otago’s increasing forays forward it was Cherry Orchard were a threat going forward and they eventually opened the scoring in the 56th minute. A long cross field pass from deep on the left, narrowly eluded the attentions of Jesse Smith and despite some strong claims of offside the Right winger’s angled drive across Burnett was left to stand.

Otago’s response was immediate and Craig’s beautifully judged cross, found a Joe Larson run wide on the left. Larson’s control was instant and his fierce shot was unfortunate to be aimed straight at the Irish keeper.

With 8 minutes remaining Orchard doubled their lead. Otago failed to properly clear their lines and as defenders stood off Orchard’s impressive left winger stepped inside the box and steered a shot past an unsighted Burnett in to the bottom right hand corner.

Otago’s spirits were clearly shaken after the goal and Orchard poured forward in search of another goal. The towering presence of Graham and substitute Tom Kindley in the centre of defence continued to repulse the Irish attacks until the final minute when an over hit back pass saw Burnett scrambling to keep the ball in play.

However his sliding clearance only found the feet of an Orchard midfielder who rolled the ball into an empty net from 20 yards to sound a disappointing end to the afternoon for the New Zealand side.

Milk Cup match 1 report,
Tottenham Hotspurs 4, Otago nil

bbc video here

Was this a Pen ? - Otago in blue

James Weir, moment of magic, flicks ball forward on gallop...

Despite a tremendous defensive effort, Otago was defeated 4-0 by English premiership side Tottenham Hotspur
tonight in Limavady. Otago held their more fancied opposition for large periods of time and created several chances
of their own but ultimately they were undone by lapses in concentration.

The match started evenly but after a forcing a series of corners Spurs opened the scoring in the 12th minute
when a pull back by the right winger was steered home from close range. Otago responded with spirit
and instant when midfielder William McIntyre fired narrowly over the bar
after receiving a strong flick on from Alan Craig.

Otago were certainly a chance from set pieces and from a free kick out wide Joe Larson had a shot deflected wide
on the left and from the subsequent corner McIntyre headed just over.

As hope rose of an Otago goal their hopes were dealt a cruel blow in the 25th minute when
Jared Graham’s well timed tackle was adjudged a penalty by a poorly placed referee
and despite two retakes Spurs doubled their lead.

Otago still refused to back town and in the 29th minute captain Jackson Mitchell volley inches wide
after a deep cross from Keiron Stevenson.

With the score still 2-0 at the break, Otago hoped to hit the ground running and in the 2nd half.

However an unfortunate goal 5 minutes by Liam Lam Sam took the wind out of their sails.
The lively Tottenham right winger whose pace and appearance resembled Garth Bale,
raced to the by-line and his driven cross was inadvertently headed into his own net by the tall centre back.

Several Tottenham substitutions gave fresh legs to their attacks but superb defence from Louie Bush, Graham and Lam Sam held out. When they were finally breached, keeper Masen Hayes pulled a number of excellent reflex saves
that had the crowd applauding with admiration.

Otago continued to push forward for a deserved consolation goal and the impressive Kai Inoue fired just wide in the 65th minute and then substitute Ben Purton’ s shot was deflected wide after being delightfully played in by follow substitute Nikki Meglinski.

However Tottenham were to have the final word when in the final minute a sliced Jesse Smith clearance fell invitingly for the onrushing striker who left Hayes with no chance, firing home from inside the 6 yard box.

Otago Youth versus Singapore U18
1-nil Loss

The Otago Milk Cup Squad were pipped 1-0 this evening in what was an entertaining match against a Singapore Sports School’s graduates XI. Played in 30+ degree heat the decisive goal arrived in the 22nd minute in fortuitous fashion when a scuffed shot from distance fell kindly fell kindly to the Singapore’s striker in side the box who swept it home from close range.

Otago started the game against their older opponents brightly and captain Jackson Mitchell signalled some early intent with a shot from 20 yards in the opening minutes. Singapore soon found some rhythm going forward of their own and it took some alert defending from first Louie Bush and then Tom Kindley to stop the pacy front line from breaking through.

Keeper Masen Hayes dealt easily with the shots fired at him but was left helpless for the goal as yet another misdirected shot somehow squirmed through a crowd of defenders to the only attacker in the box who fired home from the edge of the 6 yard box.
Otago enjoyed plenty of possession of their own and nearly equalised just before half time when Mitchell found Ben Purton in space. Purton eluded one defender and then played in an overlapping Cowan Fearn whose cut back was fired narrowly wide by Nikita Meglinski.

At the break Otago made 7 changes and the fresh legs of Joe Larson won a couple of corners instantly and then had an angled drive tipped around the corner in the 50th minute.

The Singapore side continued to attack with speed and it took an superb diving save from new keeper Mark Burnett to keep the score from being doubled on the hour mark.

From this point the game became a more open affair as Otago pushed forward for an equalizer. Midfielder nearly put Lian Lam Sam through in the 65th minute with a measured through ball and soon after Avatar Singh was denied by a tremendous save after a great run and cross by Larson.

Burnett was then called upon to tip over a fierce free-kick in the 68th minute and then Lam Sam, with what was to be the last paly of the match robbed the centre back but failed to challenge the keeper with his resulting shot