The Yoogali Soccer Club team – (from left) Rebecca Vitucci, Nancy Ippoliti and Amelia Donadel – battles the clock in Saturday’s fourth and final Superchef heat at Griffith Central. The team will now progress to the semi-finals.
YSC’s winning dish of scotch fillet with red wine sauce and mashed potato and a “fudgy mud cake” dessert.
A TEAM of footballers-come-foodies put the boot into their rivals on Saturday, frying their way to a Superchef semi-final berth at Griffith Central.
- GALLERY: Superchef
In an absorbing fourth heat of the Griffith Superchef Sports Team Challenge, Yoogali Soccer Club (YSC) showed poise under pressure to out-point the MDS Dance Mums and a team from Community Heart Biggest Winner.
Asked to prepare a main and dessert featuring the two core ingredients of potato and dark chocolate, YSC whipped up a scotch fillet with red wine sauce and mashed potato and a "fudgy mud cake".
Team captain and self-confessed "soccer mum" Nancy Ippoliti said raising a young family had helped her cope with the heat in the Superchef kitchen.
"Cooking everyday for our large family made dealing with the time pressure a lot easier," Mrs Ippoliti said.
"It wasn't anything out of the ordinary for me and it was a great experience and a lot of fun.
"I think the dessert really put us over the line."
Joining Mrs Ippoliti in the YSC team was hubby Ian, Amelia Donadel and Rebecca Vitucci.
The team finished five points clear of the MDS Mums (gnocchi napolitana with salad and a chocolate log) and 10 points ahead of Community Heart Biggest Winner, who impressed judges with their dessert of chocolate brownies and cream.
The semi-finals will start this weekend, with Griffith Swans, the Feral Joggers, Griffith Tennis Club and YSC progressing, along with two wildcards.
More than 200 people were on hand to witness Saturday's final heat.