This weekend is the Semi-Finals of the Champion of Champions tournament. We have an absolute blockbuster Sunday scheduled for our six finalists all playing out of Heffron Park. We couldn’t be prouder of the deserved accomplishments by these six teams and are incredibly excited for games to kick off on Sunday. After missing out on CoC for the past two seasons due to covid, our teams have been waiting a long time to claim the best of NSW.
The only other time we had six teams in the CoC semi-finals was 2015 with Pagewood Botany O45 (Winners), Coogee United AAM (Winners), Dunbar Rovers O35 (semis), Dunbar Rovers AAW (semis), Heffron Hawks U18 (semis) and Redfern Raiders U15 (semis). We could potentially make history this weekend if we can have four or more teams playing in finals. In 2018 we had three teams in the CoC grand finals with Coogee United AAM, Dunbar Rovers AAW and Dunbar Rovers O35 all winning their respective championship.
Now it’s all about 2022 so lets get into the fixtures:
9:00am W13 Easts FC vs. Lilli Pilli
10:15am U14 Maccabi Hakoah vs. Pitt Town
11:30am AAW Coogee United vs. Albion Park White Eagles
1:30pm AAM Ponds FC vs. Glebe Gorillas
3:30pm O45 Dunbar Rovers vs. Cronulla Seagulls
5:30pm O30W Coogee United vs. Loftus Yarrawarrah Rovers
Here is the journey so far for each of these teams:
Easts FC G13 began their CoC stint last week in the quarterfinals after a bye in round one. They played a 0-0 game against Rouse Hill Rams which led into golden goal where Aaliya Lewis scored the winner. They were missing a few players last weekend so with a jam-packed squad of talent they’ll be looking strong against Lilli Pilli.
Maccabi Hakoah U14 will be playing their third game of the CoC competition on Sunday. In round one they were 5-1 victors at home against Wyoming FC. Last week in the semi-finals they faced a tougher opponent, White City SC, but still emerged 3-2 winners. Ryan Hirschowitz, Zac Strasser and Mark Greenberg all on the scoresheet. This weekend they will face Pitt Town FC who have had similar results leading into the semis.
Coogee United AAW have scored 18 goals in their two previous CoC fixtures, cruising into the Semi-final this weekend. In their 10-0 victory away to Robertson-Burrawang, seven players got on the scoresheet including Margaux Montegut (3), Kiara Hannon (2), Rachel Lawler, Carol Breen, Sian Genoud, Rachel Li, and Lou Pack. In the quarterfinal against Kellyville Kolts, it was a very similar story with the following players scoring in their 8-1 win: Sian Genoud (2), Natasha Wad (2), Rachel Lawler, Amy Ng, Carol Breen, and Lou Pack. This weekend promises to be a tougher game as Albion Park have a reputation of success in the CoC and State Cup competitions.
Glebe Gorillas AAM have also been in goal scoring form throughout the CoC with 14 goals scored. In round one they secured a dominant 11-1 win against Bankstown Sports Strikers with goals coming from Rupert Murray (5), Bruce Scott (2), Josh Farquar (2), Ian Hillier and Des Ford. In the quarter finals they showed their dominance again in their huge 3-0 victory against Pittwater RSL, who have one the competition three times previously. Goals came from Des Ford (2) and Yoel Silvestre.
Dunbar Rovers O45M started off strong with a 6-0 win over Kellyville Kolts, with goals from Daniel Fee (2), Lance Stewart (2), Marko Vuckovic and Alex Lorenz. They continued their dominant form in their 5-0 quarterfinal triumph last week against Southern & Ettalong FC with David Barnes securing a hattrick and Daniel Fee with a brace. On Sunday they face Cronulla Seagulls who have scored 8 goals in their previous two games.
Coogee United O30W began their CoC campaign last week with a 4-0 win over Glenhaven FC in the quarterfinal. Goals from Michelle Japp (2), Emma Schiller and Jennifer Mulligan saw them fly straight into the semis. This weekend they will face Loftus Yarrawarrah Rovers who last week secured a 14-0 onslaught over Springwood United FC.
Good luck to all six teams this weekend!