INTERNATIONAL cruised into the Limestone Coast Football Association preliminary final with a dominant showing against Millicent at Casadio Park on Sunday.
The scene for the elimination final had been set the week prior when Inter claimed a 9-0 victory and Sunday’s game was not much different.
With a 4-0 lead at half time, the black and blue extended its hold on the game to eight goals by the final whistle, keeping Millicent scoreless throughout.
While it is now the end of the line for Millicent, the club will take merit from its drastic improvement from last season.
Inter coach Tony D’Agostino was pleased with the performance from his team, but knows it will be in for a tough challenge this week against minor premier Gambier Centrals.
He said at this point of the year it is all about “keeping the momentum going”.
Matt Bueti has been in fine touch recently and bagged a handful of goals on the weekend, finishing with five.
“We have been going now for a while where we have been scoring goals as a team, which we weren’t doing early in the season and we are defending really well,” D’Agostino said.
“You just want to keep that going and with Matty it is exactly the same.
“All of a sudden goals have just been coming regularly for him.”
Bueti was joined by Dan Bronca, captain Christian Cella and Skayper Johnson on the scorer’s list, who all added singles.
D’Agostino said Johnson was a standout, with his defensive efforts first class, while he also pushed forward for a goal.
The youngsters in the team also received praise.
“We were really impressed with the young kids who came in this week,” D’Agostino said.
“Connor Prior played well and had a good game, while Skayper Johnson scored a goal, but was also really handy in defence.
“Austin Rossi, Tyler Michielan – those young kids who had played already in the Under 17’s – they played really well for us.”
Looking forward to this week, Inter will face an undermanned Centrals roster, after a couple of season-ending injuries were sustained against Apollo in Sunday’s qualifying final.
However, D’Agostino is under no illusions and said he expects a tough match regardless.
