The Kangaroos took their Jekyll and Hyde season south to close out the Home and Away for 2009 against arch-rivals, the Atlanta Kookaburras. The Kangaroos have been stellar this year with eye-popping numbers against Baton Rouge and Minnesota, albeit at home, and a Clash of the Titans battle with Chicago United on the road. Then again, they have looked, shall we say, lack-luster, in losses to Florida United and Columbs Jackaroos on the road and to Atlanta at home.
With no idea which team would make its appearance on Saturday, Head Coach Marty Thompson lined up every available player for the 20th clash between the Kookas and the Roos. The Roos hold the overall edge 14-5, but the numbers are much closer when played in Atlanta, with the Roos holding a slim edge 4-3. However, The Kookas have won three of the last four matches.
With a solid cloud cover keeping the heat from being oppressive, both teams gathered at Creel Park for this final match before heading off to the USFooty Nationals. The oldest umpire in the game, Craig Warner got the first bounce underway at the traditional 2 pm start time. The first clearance went to Dave Walker who sent a perfect pass to USFooty leading goal kicker, Chris Moerman and it looked to be a long day for the Kookas. However, Moerman missed his set shot for goal and the battle was on. Both teams were hitting hard and the battle stayed pretty much between the halfback lines with only a few scoring shots managed by either side. Moerman did manage the first goal of the game, but was matched by long-time Kooka, Brent Bacon toward the end of the quarter. Not bad considering he showed up for the match expecting to run water, then found out his retirement was suspended for the day. Moerman missed another easy shot in front to close out the period, leaving the Roos ahead by the slimmest of margins, 1.3(9) to 1.2(8).
As tends to happen in this game of footy, the scoring picked up in the second quarter as the teams finally got the adrenaline under control. Moerman notched his second of the game, followed closely by his third point. Then Walker got a centering pass, and relived his full forward glory days and send a 45-yarder through. That just seemed to wake up the Kookas who then controlled play but were only able to muster a goal by David Evans as the Roo defenders led by Justin Davis stood tall, and got a bit of luck with a couple of bounces. Midway through the quarter, the teams played some fantastic footy, with both squads moving the ball effectively up and down the field, leading to goals by Damian Serong, the wiley veteran for Atlanta Wayne Kraska, and Moerman getting his second of the quarter, third of the game. The last 10 minutes saw a lot of action, a lot of points, and only one more goal to Serong who marked strongly and kicked true from 25 yard out. Proving that discipline wins games, The Roos gave up only a single free to Kooka's six and led at the major break, 6.6(42) to 3.6(24).
The premiership quarter took off right where the second quarter ended, with accurate passing on both sides leading to opportunities, but neither side seemed able to connect near goals. Bacon got Atlanta going with his second of the match, from close to goal after a terrific mark, out-sizing Ross Flemming who otherwise had kept the dangerous forward in check all game. Then Serong took a loose ball off a side ruck, and found a streaking Nick Parker who cut to the middle to open up the goals and made good on Serong's generosity with his first goal. After a quiet first half, Simon Davis woke up kicked Atlanta right back into contention with two strong goals, sandwiched around Moerman's fourth of the game. That goal, however, is worth mentioning as he tipped the pass to his advantage and while his left arm was being held, marked with his right while crashing to the ground, bringing the accumulated fans to their feet and amazing Roos and Kookas alike. Absolutely the mark of the game! The Roos won the quarter by a single point, and like so many of the previous 19 matches before, this one had the markings of a thriller. Roos 9.9(63) to 6.8(44).
As expected, the Kookas came out firing on all cylinders and the Hyde-Roos were lucky to see the action from the best seats in the house - right on the field. Carl Garafalo took the opening clearing pass and kicked true. On the very next play, Kraska escaped his tagger, Daniell Liepply, and scored his second of the match. A few minutes later, Jonathan Rosenfield made a nifty move in the forward line and soccered through a third straight goal, leaving the Roos stunned, the Kooka fans going bonkers on the sidelines, and the the game differential at a single point. But then, something happened. The Jekyll-Roos resumed playing the game. With Parker sending a 50-yarder just wide for a point, Roo football in the fourth quarter in Atlanta was on like Donkey Kong! Gilberto Ortiz used his soccer skills to get position and snapped a near bicycle kick through, giving the Roos another thrill and a little breathing room. Not to be outdone, Davis for Atlanta notched his third to cut the lead back to two points.
And then the magic. Serong, having been hobbled by an ankle injury marked strongly at the top of the goal square, kicking his third of the game. Two minutes later, limping even more, he marked again, this time from 35 yards out, and somehow managed to kick true for his fourth, then left the field. Ortiz then used his scrappy style of play to tap the ball to himself, chased it down and just before cossing the behind line, somehow got his left boot around the ball and slid it through for his second. With time winding down, Ortiz again went after the crumbs and this time kicked a no-look shot over his left shoulder, and put it straight through. The Kookas, apparently spent from rallying early in the quarter, were unable to answer. Final Score Nashville 14.10(94) Atlanta 10.8(68).
The Kangaroos move to 6-4 overall (finishing third in the MAAFL Championship Division at 2-2) and are now 15-5 all time against Atlanta. Oddly enough, this year's series saw both teams win on the road, something the does not happen often in USFooty. The Kangaroos now head for the US Nationals in Mason, OH on October 10 and 11, most likely to compete in Division II, but will await their bid from USFooty to be sure.
Scores By Quarter
1st- Nashville 1.3(9) Atlanta 1.2(8)
2nd- Nashville 6.6(42) Atlanta 3.6(24)
3rd- Nashville 9.9(63) Atlanta 6.8(44)
4th- Nashville 14.10(94) Atlanta 10.8(68)
Goal kickers:
Nashville: Chris Moerman 5, Damian Serong 4, Gilberto Ortiz 3, Nick Parker, Dave Walker
Atlanta: Simon Davis 3, Brent Bacon, Wayne Kraska 2, David Evans, Carl Garafalo, Jonathan Rosenfeld
Best on Ground:
Nashville: Nick Parker, Chris Moerman, Luke Nemeth, Cliff Cosnahan, Dave Walker, Gilberto Ortiz
Atlanta: Curtis Jones, Simon Davis, Russ Barner, Wayne Kraska, Ben Crist.
Umpires:
Field: Craig Warner, Mike Powers
Goal: Jim Whooley, Ed Robinson
Attendance: 50
Injuries: Dalton (shoulder, ATL), Serong (ankle, NAS)
Article courtesy of NashvilleKangaroos.com.
