Leeton 0

IT WAS a win of character more than class, but Yoogali SC showed it has both with a nerve-jangling 2-0 victory over Leeton in Saturday night's local soccer sudden-death semi in Griffith.

Expected to win the game comfortably, Yoogali SC dominated territorially but were unable to find the back of the net, courtesy of some sloppy finishing and some miracle saves from the Leeton keeper.

Yoogali's Jair Wilk had the best opportunity in the first term, going one-on-one with the keeper, only to see his shot parried away in spectacular fashion.

Just as the game looked like peetering out to a scoreless draw, Yoogali's teenage midfielder Dem Torino decided to back himself with ten minutes to go, cracking a winner from outside the box to put the favourites up 1-0.

Five minutes later, SC striker Grant Davidson crossed the ball for Wilk, who headed it through to seal the victory for Yoogali.

Yoogali SC coach Tony Santolin described it as a gritty win and said his side was now ready to mix it with competition big guns Yoogali FC and Hanwood FC.

"This was always going to be a hard game because of that expectation that we would win," Santolin said.

"We won't have that anymore. We've got nothing to lose because the other two are favourites.

"But we need to keep that belief, play good soccer and defend to our patterns.

"Our destiny is now in the players' hands. The pressure has lifted."

Santolin said man of the match Torino had shown "maturity beyond his years".

"When he kicked that goal he took the game by the scruff of the neck and, in sport, you have to have a go like that sometimes," Santolin said.

Grant Davidson won the two points for Yoogali, while left wingman Tom White grabbed one point.

A Leeton player was red-carded with just two minutes to go after a scuffle erupted on the field. A minute's silence was observed before the match for Mil Gatto, a local soccer stalwart, who was a life member of Yoogali Soccer Club and the Griffith Soccer Association.