TODAY’S second Limestone Coast Football Association senior semi-final will see International as the favourite when it battles Millicent under lights for a place in the pre-season cup grand final.
The match will follow the encounter between Gambier Centrals and Naracoorte and is scheduled to start at 6.30pm.
Inter has gone through the minor rounds of the cup with a faultless record, its closest game a 4-2 win over Naracoorte in the season opener.
With a bye in round two, the reigning premiers backed up the win with a 4-1 victory over Blue Lake.
Despite the scoreline, the Rangers challenged Inter in the first half and early in the second term the game was locked at one-all.
Inter will be eager to establish dominance early tonight and avoid the intensity of a close half-time score.
It certainly has the personnel to do just that, with the power trio of Christian Cella, Matt Bueti and Dan Bronca all capable of kicking a bag.
Cella has hit the scoreboard in both his team’s games and can be expected to do so again, while Bronca comes off a two-goal haul and will be eager to replicate that performance.
Down the other end of the ground Lachlan Charlton was in fine form last round, with coach Tony D’Agostino most impressed by his defensive efforts.
Later in the game he moved forward and scored a goal, in a solid all-around effort.
Those players only scratch the surface of Inter’s depth, with its talented youngsters also ones to watch.
The likes of starters Tyler Michielan and Philip Muzaliwa, along with Caleb Casey, Kaleb Gentile and Seh Htoo all showed promise last round.
Austin Rossi may also make an appearance, after he was unavailable for the last game, while Connor Prior remains overseas.
Millicent made the semi-final in unorthodox fashion, after it gained a place in finals based off goal difference with both Portland and Apollo.
However, Millicent’s only triumph was in fact a 7-0 loss to Apollo, but after the latter’s disqualification from the game it reverted to a 3-0 win to Millicent.
A close 1-2 loss to Portland, followed by a 0-4 defeat at the hands of Centrals saw Millicent with a goal difference of -2 to narrowly seal a place in the semi-final.
Mathew Grgetic scored his team’s only goal for the minor rounds and will hope to add to his tally tonight, but will face a brick wall in the Inter defence.
Matthew Porter also finds plenty of the ball through the midfield and will be a key to success for the underdogs, but Inter should prove too strong on its home deck and earn a place in the cup final.
The remaining semi-finals will be played on Sunday as per usual, with Gambier Centrals and Apollo hosting three games each.
