St George Fc Boys’ Youth Under 16 Team Makes History

St George FC Boys Youth Under 16 team has become the first to win an NPL Grand Final.

Finishing the season fourth, they overcame third placed MacArthur Rams 4-3 in extra time. Both sides had finished the season on equal points with goal differences deciding their finishing positions.

You could not have scripted this any better.

St George FC looking comfortable -solid defensively and lively in attack in the first half scored first from a composed finish from Oscar Randazzo.

A Rams mistake proved costly and Reilly Chambers made it two nil at half time. So far so good.

Momentum was lost in the second half and the Saints were punished both times after conceding penalties. It was now 2 all going into extra time – not what the script was supposed to be.

The Saints “mental strength” was being really tested when the Rams took the lead 3-2 from a “headed “finish.

Trailing for the first time in the game, it was time to “flip the script”.

With just two minutes remaining in the second period of extra time, Oscar Randazzo capitalised on a “pin point” ball and put it past the keeper- 3 all -was it time to sort out your penalty takers?

With just 10 seconds remaining – the perfect finish to the script and the match – a movement which started in their own half ended with sharp-shooter Oscar Randazzo timing his run perfectly to shoot first time past the keeper. A hat-trick in a Grand Final a memory for a life-time for the St George FC striker.

Euphoric scenes erupted, the referee blew the final whistle and the Saints “came marching in” winning  4-3.

This was now the third time St George FC had beaten the Rams this season. They won at home 5-2 and away 1-0.

Team Manager Angelo Vitale summed it up:
“We knew the difficulty of the fixture, for me the victory was rooted in the team’s process and structures. We have worked tirelessly all year. It’s about the journey we’ve taken as a team, the growth of the players and the belief they have in themselves. For me, that was the biggest win.”

 “The boys have worked hard all year and their efforts are well deserved. This achievement is a true reflection of all their hard work and dedication.”

To add even more drama to the script- it comes after an unbelievable period for coach Vincent Giannini and his wife Emma who welcomed Alessio Giannini to their family earlier in the week.

A new addition to the family and a Grand Final win to boot… That script just kept getting better.

For Vincent Giannini as the Coach – it was just reward for his time and effort – into coaching, training and mentoring the boys.

It was quite a sight seeing players, coaches and families celebrating and sharing this very special day together.

A proud, happy and history making day for all involved and for the St George FC club.

By Tony Peters