Tara Murray
After a couple of tough years with little soccer, Calder United had the chance to celebrate on Sunday after winning the Nike F.C. Cup.
Having dominated the tournament in recent times, Calder put in a stunning performance against South Melbourne in the grand final to win 3-0.
The title is the club’s fourth straight in the knockout competition.
Coach Mark Torcaso said this one was pretty special.
“It was so good, it was amazing,” he said. “There were 500 to 750 people there watching.
“In 2019 we won everything and after two years and no competitions to win, it’s just magnificent.
“It’s good to get another trophy in the cabinet.”
The lead up to the match, just Calder’s second since lockdown ended, was mixed.
Torcaso said the training was perfect with the playing group completely focused and the girls switched on.
On the other side of things, Raquel Deralas hurt her ankle, which would rule her out of the final.
“The girls were so focused,” he said.
“Every training session they were focused on the game. When Raquel hurt her ankle, we had to change a few things.”
Once it came to game day, Calder couldn’t have hoped for a much better game.
Neither side could score in the first half, but things changed early in the second half.
“I thought we were in control for the whole game,” he said.
“We couldn’t finish our chances in the first half, the majority of play was in our half.
“I told the girls at half time it was only a matter of time before we scored.
“It took five or 10 minutes into the second half to get that goal and we just built from there.”
Skipper Aleks Sinclair scored the first goal through a cracker of a goal, with 16-year-old Montana Mathews scoring the second.
Sinclair, who scored the sealer in the semi final, capped off a stunning grand final with a second goal.
She would be named player of the match.
Torcaso said Sinclair was an inspiration for the whole side.
He said with the win wrapped up, it was pleasing to give most of the players some time on the field. Many of the club’s young talent got their opportunities to be part of the final squad.
“It was exciting for everyone in the club,”
“Whether they played four minutes, or 90 minutes. It was for the whole group.
“We tried to get everyone on.”
Calder will have about a month off before resuming training in the middle January.
