Central Reach Challenge Cup Semi-Final After Penalty Win

Images From: Manchester Central Flikr, Credits: Rafaella Macintosh.

Manchester Central progressed to the semi-final of the Manchester Football Challenge Cup with a 4-3 win on penalties following a 2-2 draw with Premier Division side Heywood St James at the full-time whistle. Goals from Fuad Kasali and Ruben Abreu kept the game alive for Central before Daniel Whiting saved the final penalty of the shootout to send the home side through.

Tomkinson named a side with four changes from the eleven who lost to Govan and University of Manchester the weekend before, looking for a reaction after the poor performance which led to the 4-2 loss. Ruben Abreu, Zak Bell, and Ruben Lawal returned to the line-up, whilst Jordon Kong made his Central debut in midfield.

The game started well, with both sides looking to play high-tempo, attacking football. Both sides lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Tomkinson experimenting with Kong acting as a metronome at the base of midfield, but also dropping into the center of defence to allow the wing-backs to progress forwards. Meanwhile also giving Abreu and Odell license to be more expansive through the middle.

This led to end-to-end football in the opening minutes of the game, with Central counting their stars after a Heywood midfielder blasted a long-shot off the underside of the bar in just the third minute. Whiting was kept busy in this period, as he was also forced to catch a cross and make a crucial diving save at the 15-minute mark.

However, after a quarter of an hour, the game had not been solely one-sided, with Central rueing missed chances. Sholabi had Central’s first goalscoring opportunity with his side-footed volley of a floated free kick bounced off his instep and over the bar. Just a minute later, Abreu had two shots blocked following a long throw that found the midfielder in space.

The chances on goal would continue for the home side, with Odell testing the Heywood goalkeeper from distance before Whiting prompted a rapid counterattack with a sensational sliding tackle, with Abreu’s resulting shot blocked by the goalkeeper.

However, Heywood would break the deadlock at the half-hour mark. Despite the game having been fairly even until this point, the away side would strike with an opportunity generated from nothing. The visitors quickly attacked down the left win before drilling a low shot across goal and past Whiting’s flailing arms.

Images From: Manchester Central Flikr, Credits: Rafaella Macintosh.

Despite this, Central would not be disheartened. Just a minute after the opening goal, Lawal was nearly able to equalise, capitalising on a through-ball to find himself one-on-one. However, the striker was unable to shift the ball from his feet in time to generate a real shot, leaving himself with little opportunity other than to fire it directly at the stopper.

Just six minutes later, Fuad Kasali would receive the next chance on goal. However, his low-drilled shot from the left corner of the box was prevented from reaching the back of the net, as was the shot from the resulting corner.

Central would continue to probe for an equaliser before the break, with Odell and Abreu both having shots that were directed straight at the glovesman. In spite of missing shot upon shot, Central would take the next golden goalscoring opportunity with both hands, drawing level in the same minute as the referee would blow his half-time whistle.

The move that brought the equaliser would start at the back, with Bell beating the press with some sleek footwork before multiple short exchanges with Abreu progressed the Whites up the pitch. From his new-found position up-field, Abreu cut a deep, curling cross to Fuad Kasali who bounced the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net for his 13th goal of the season.

Images From: Manchester Central Flikr, Credits: Rafaella Macintosh.

Following the break, the second half would start in much the same vein as the first ended, with Central searching for the chance to put themselves ahead. In the 47th minute, Kasali had an opportunity to double his tally after a move down the left side, however, his shot ran wide.

Just a minute later, Kong nearly notched on his debut after some creative work by Odell, who lifted the ball over the back line towards Kasali, who dragged it past the full-back and fired the cross to Kong. However, the midfielder’s shot was caught by the goalkeeper.

With Central reinvigorated, it wouldn’t take long for Central to double their lead. In the 51st minute, Abreu netted his 4th goal of the season, whilst Odell earned the assist he had sought after all game. The midfield maestro found Abreu one-on-one with a fantastic through-ball and the duo wheeled away celebrating as the ball dribbled into the back of the net.

Images From: Manchester Central Flikr, Credits: Rafaella Macintosh.

Tomkinson’s side would continue to push for another, to secure a statement win over the Premier Division side. The home side would see multiple shots come over the next 10 minutes, with perhaps the most dangerous opportunities falling to Bell, Lawal and Taiwo. However, all were unable to convert.

Despite Central’s dominance in the early portion of the second half, Dolling’s defence were not completely undisturbed. Heywood fired a warning shot in the 60th minute, compelling Whiting to make perhaps one of the saves of the season as his diving effort tipped a shot destined for the top right corner over the bar.

This would be the beginning of Heywood growing back into the game, with their next best opportunity coming in the 70th minute after a free kick on the left side of Central’s box led to a goalmouth scramble. On the home side’s side-line, hearts were in mouths as the thrash of a leg saw the ball bounce just wide of the post.

Heywood’s equaliser would come just four minutes later via another set piece. After winning a corner, the visitors would show their quality by converting it past Whiting with a powerful header.

Images From: Manchester Central Flikr, Credits: Rafaella Macintosh.

Therefore, the final fifteen minutes were frantic, with Heywood continuing to pile on the pressure to pull themselves into the next round, whilst Central bravely resisted the efforts of the side from the division above. The away side’s pressure, however, would nearly create diamonds for Central in the final ten, with mistakes opening up three almost identical opportunities for Hall – although all would go awry.

After a very stop-start final few minutes, and Odell preventing a last-ditch counter-attack from the visitors, the referee blew the final whistle to confirm that penalties would decide which side would progress to the next knock-out round.

With a spot in the semi-final at stake, each penalty taker for both sides was aware of the importance of their spot-kick. This was shown as the first four penalties were scored, with Sholabi and Dolling scoring Central’s first two penalties.

Images From: Manchester Central Flikr, Credits: Rafaella Macintosh.

However, the Heywood goalkeeper would make the first save of the shoot-out, saving Odell’s attempt to fool him. Central would then go behind as the visitors converted their third attempt.

However, Central would draw level on the next round of penalties, with Bell placing his spot-kick whilst Heywood’s next opportunity flew over the bar. With Abreu scoring Central’s fifth penalty, all eyes were on Whiting to make the winning save.

Whiting was clearly as aware of the importance of his role in the shootout as the penalty takers, though, saving the final spot-kick of the shoot-out to send Central through to the semi-finals of the Manchester Football League Challenge Cup and getting mobbed as his reward.