Inspired Sharks steal point against high flying Reds
A Steven Kayes wonder goal in the dying moments has helped Sutherland Sharks snatch a hard fought 2-2 draw in their PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s clash with Sydney United 58 on Saturday.
It was a dramatic ending after an inspired performance from the home team with Hayne’s 88th minute strike breaking the hearts of United 58’s players and fans as they dropped points for the first time since Round 10.
A Tomohiro Kajiyama goal in the 31st minute grave the Sharks an early lead before a determined Sydney United 58 fightback in the second half.
A Panni Nikas double put United 58 in front in the 71st minute but it wasn’t to be for the visitors as Kayes and the Sharks ensured they didn’t go empty handed.
It took only moments after the opening whistle for Sutherland to test Sydney United 58 keeper Thomas Manos.
Lukas Stergiou fired the first shot in anger for the home side in the third minute as the Reds sat back in defence and let the Sharks push forward.
An injury to Claudio Fabiano after 14 minutes forced Carlos Villazon to reshuffle his squad with Patrick O’Shea brought onto the field.
It was Sutherland who opened the scoring when Eddy Bosnar gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box which was expertly tucked away by Tomohiro Kajiyama.
Sutherland began to believe in themselves and pushed on aggressively but it left them exposed at the back.
A comedy of errors in the final minute of the half almost resulted in a leveler but somehow Sutherland’s goal remained intact.
United were stronger at the start of the second period and thought they had equalised in the 50th minute only to adjudged offside from a Nikas free-kick.
Panni Nikas did restore parity with another wonder strike from distance when picking up the ball some 25-yards out before unleashing an unstoppable shot beyond former team-mate Denham in the Sharks goal.
Both number sixes received cautions on the hour mark when a small melee erupted.
Nikas gave United the lead with a spectacular strike for his second of the evening although the suspicion of the merest deflection took the ball beyond the despairing of dive of Denham once more.
The Sharks had their moments going forward but the attempts were scuppered by a well marshalled United defence.
Kajiyama should have done better in the 76th minute when he headed wide.
If the opening half had been somewhat tepid, it had turned into a real battle midway through the second.
Stephen Kayes hit an equally spectacular goal to bring the game level
His shot from 30-yards out dipped and bounced in front of the United keeper Manos who couldn’t prevent it skidding off the inside of the left upright.
United 58 coach Mark Rudan said his side paid the price for a slow start to the match.
“I felt we were a bit lethargic in the opening half but in the second we changed our structure and controlled the play,” he said. “The washout last week didn’t help our momentum but we really should have done better and taken all the points in this match.” “In the second-half Sydney United 58 put more pressure in the final third and we didn’t help ourselves by giving away silly free-kicks in dangerous areas and one of course led to their first goal,” he said. “We didn’t have the desperation to keep our lead and they are a good side but I felt we did enough to win and we are disappointed not to win the game.” Match Stats Sutherland Sharks 2 (Kajiyama 31’, Kayes 88’) Saturday, 11th June, 2016 Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda Assistant Referees: Leigh Pigram & Joon Park Substitutes Not Used: 13. Jeremy COX, 16. Laureano GOMEZ-CASTRO, 21. Nikolas LOE Yellow Cards: Gordon 60’, Stergiou 68’, McStay 78 Substitutes Not Used: 8. Alec VLISMAS, 12 Jack STEWART, 30. Luke BABIC Yellow Cards: Stavroulakis 21, Payne 60’ Tratt 63’, Nikas 85’ Red Cards:
Sharks coach Villazon said poor discipline in defence cost his side.
Sydney United 58 2 (Nikas 57’, 71’ )
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Fourth Official: Anthony Mansour
Sutherland Sharks: 1. Nathan DENHAM ©, 4. Stephen KAYES, 6. Matthew GORDON, 7. Jack PRESS, 8. Chris McSTAY, 10. Joshua Da SILVA, 12. Lukas Stergiou, 19. Callum FITZPATRICK (17. Andrew JAMES 74’), 20. Mitchell FARMER, 35. Tomohiro KAJIYAMA, 37. Claudio FABIANO (14. Patrick O’SHEA 13’)
Red Cards:
Sydney United 58: 21. Thomas MANOS, 3. Masato MOCHIZUKI, 4. Eddy BOSNAR, 6. Chris PAYNE (11. Nikola TANESKI 82’), 7. Yutaro SHIN, 20. Tomislav USKOK, 10. Robert MILESKI ©, 14. Nick STAVROULAKIS, 17. Theo KOFINAS, 23. Panos NIKAS, 24. Jacob TRATT (18. Nathan SHERLOCK 90+1’)
–By PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s reporter Micky Brock.
