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Sport

9 September, 2024

Isaroos save their best performance until last

The Roos won 3-1, despite trailing at half-time.


The Isaroos won the Mount Isa men’s soccer grand final on Saturday night after beating Parkside United 3-1.
The Isaroos won the Mount Isa men’s soccer grand final on Saturday night after beating Parkside United 3-1.

Unable to beat Parkside United all year, the Isaroos team would have been forgiven for thinking their chances of picking up some silverware had evaporated at half-time of Saturday’s Mount Isa men’s soccer grand final.

The Roos trailed 1-0 and looked down on energy against a United team that had a proven edge.

However, something happened at the main break and the Roos hit back almost immediately, scoring twice in quick succession to shock Parkside and take the lead.

Kudzai Hove nailed the equaliser with a top-shelf finish, while Alex Weatherby gave Isaroos a 2-1 lead.

It left Parkside scrambling and United soon began to crumble under the pressure.

Chasing an equaliser, they were forced to press further up the pitch, leaving the defence vulnerable to the counterattack, which is exactly what Hove did when he cashed in to score his second.

The ball got over the back, creating a one-on-one with the United goalkeeper and the speed striker made no mistake.

Not even a late red card against the Roos could help Parkside eat into the margin.

The Roos finished with a 3-1 lead to lift the trophy.

Captain and goalkeeper Anesu Hove said it was the reward for a hard season.

“It’s been tough ... we haven’t won against these guys all season but we knew we would have a chance if we played our best and I thought we were very good in that second half,” he said.

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