IT all came down to the final minute of regulation time to decide the outcome of the 2019 Limestone Coast Football Association Steeline Cup senior grand final on Sunday, as International rose to the occasion with a thrilling victory over Gambier Centrals.
Intensity was high and penalties were in heavy supply at the Bishop Road venue, with a total of 13 cards handed out during the match.
It became clear early in the game the encounter would live up to expectations, with the first goal scored by Inter’s Dan Bronca from a free kick in the opening minutes.
Just five minutes later Centrals returned the favour when Nathan Fleetwood ran onto a pass from a free kick and banged it through to level the scores before the 10-minute mark.
It looked from there as if a stalemate would ensue, but an Inter free kick taken by Bronca found Matt Bueti on the edge of the penalty box and he put it home to claim the lead which would remain until the dying minutes of the game.
Centrals had a chance to level the scores soon after when Mitch Thomson was awarded a penalty.
However, Inter keeper Brayden May was up to the task and saved the shot, as well as the second attempt to keep the black and blue in front.
From there it was an arm wrestle until half time, with Inter the more dominant of the two teams, while Centrals’ keeper Steven Hughes made it clear he was not to be messed with, making a couple of solid saves to keep the Lions in touch.
Heading into the break Inter remained a goal ahead and when captain Christian Cella opened the second half with a header goal, his team held a 3-1 advantage.
A leg injury to Centrals Fleetwood could have spelled disaster for the key striker, but he was sidelined for just minutes before he returned to the pitch.
Inter had the momentum and the ball was predominately in its forward half, while Centrals pushed forward occasionally to threaten the goals.
With four yellow cards in the first half, another six had been dealt by the 30-minute mark in the second term as the intensity continued to build.
When Centrals’ Tom Renzi received his second yellow card 33 minutes in and was sent off the pitch, the Lions were left a man down and on the back foot.
However, shortly after Brad Pilven was subbed on to replace Thomson, a penalty was awarded in the 18-yard box.
That saw captain Cameron Saint step up and convert the shot to put Centrals within a goal.
At that point the clock had become the enemy for the hosts, as the ball spent most of its time in the Inter attack line.
But when a counter attack saw Fleetwood seize the ball and face a one-on-one against May, the Centrals star won the encounter and effortlessly put the ball into the back of the net.
Players and fans alike erupted in a roar of applause, as the match hung in the balance with a minute to go.
The regulation 90 minutes had been completed and the game was running on injury time alone, when a final effort from Inter saw Bueti finish off to score a goal with less than a minute on the clock.
Players returned to their positions and play was resumed, but the final whistle sounded and Inter claimed its third consecutive pre-season cup.
Inter coach Tony D’Agostino could not be prouder of his team and the composure it held to finish the job under heavy pressure.
However, he said it was far from the ideal finish and was not great for stress levels.
“I think it was one for the supporters more than the coaches,” D’Agostino joked post game.
“I thought that we dominated the game early and we put the scoreboard pressure on.
“But credit to Centrals, they just kept at us.”
It was difficult to pick a weak link in the Inter lineup on Sunday and D’Agostino was unable to decide on a single best player.
However, the full-game effort from Matt Bueti was something he could not overlook.
“Matt Bueti was outstanding,” D’Agostino said.
“His running back and forward and competing was great.
“When it was there to be won and the pressure was on in the last seconds, he was able to come out and score a goal.
“The boys knew where to go and how to do it and they knew their target man was Matt.
“I was just glad it did fall to him, he is very clinical and pressure doesn’t seem to get to him much.”
D’Agostino was also impressed by the youth in the side, which stepped up and performed well on the senior stage.
Phillip Muzaliwa was one such youngster and his hard running down the wing saw Inter with several chances in the first half.
He left nothing on the bench and joined the likes of Austin Rossi, who backed up a full game after winning the Under 17 cup earlier in the day.
“You can’t go past Austin Rossi,” D’Agostino said.
“He is a young kid playing in the middle against Nathan Fleetwood and he did an excellent job.”
Skayper Johnson also battled hard all day, while Connor Prior came on later in the game, with Kaleb Gentile and Caleb Casey also among the youngsters in the side.
D’Agostino went on to list most of his side, with Cella, Nick Morony, Ricky McRobert, Fintan Cuthbertson and Bronca all among the top performers in a solid team effort.
He also mentioned May, whose performance in goals ultimately won the game with some vital saves.
For Centrals, Fleetwood was dangerous all game, while the likes of youngsters Brayden Coppick and Jasper Whitehead battled hard all day in defence.
Despite the loss, the Lions will have a chance to redeem themselves this week, when they host Inter again for round one of the premiership season on Sunday.
“We know Sunday’s win is a one-off, it was a cup game and now it’s over,” D’Agostino said.
“It is nice to get a trophy at the end of it, but now the real stuff starts.”
Other matches in the opening round will see Millicent host Apollo and Blue Lake travel to Portland, while Naracoorte has the bye.
