Blacktown City steam past Suns

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As the saying goes, speed kills and that was the story at Lily’s Football Centre on Sunday as Blacktown City put on an attacking masterclass to win its Round 19 PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s competition clash 3-0 against Rockdale City Suns.

Sasa Macura, Danny Choi and Joey Gibbs hit the back of the net in a match which could’ve easily featured six or seven Blacktown goals.

The attack was relentless all game from the Mark Crittenden coached side with Choi and Mitchell Mallia at times unstoppable.

Rockdale had its moments with Blake Ricciuto and Dylan Macallister were some of only few bright spots for the side which has claimed only one point from its last four games.

The result was the perfect confidence builder for Blacktown City ahead of their do or die FFA cup Round of 32 clash with Sydney United 58 FC on Wednesday evening at 7:30pm as the Reds dropped points to APIA Leichhardt Tigers.

It was a scintillating start from the home side with the Seven Hills based outfit taking no prisoners from the opening kick-off.

Danny Choi and Travis Major were almost unplayable in the early stages of the match as Rockdale failed to lock down the prolific attackers.

The flag of the assistant referee proved to be Rockdale’s best defence against a potent Blacktown attack.

Major had two goals called back for offside within the first five minutes, both the result of slick build up play from Choi. The striker unlucky to not be on the scoreboard after a dominant start to the match

A goal seemed ominous for Blacktown and it arrived in the 11th minute courtesy of an incredible curling shot from Joey Gibbs who unleashed from 20 yards out.

There was no relenting from Blacktown who looked to kill off the game in the first 20 minutes as the home side created chance after chance. The home side could’ve easily had five or six goals had their finishing been more clinical.

A slick counter attack resulted in Rockdale’s first chance of the game.

Dylan Macallister’s cheeky chip had Nenad Vekic beaten but the ball sailed wide.

Seconds later Blacktown was up 2-0.

Sasa Macura was in the right place at the right time to finish a slick movement out of midfield as the number eight tapped home from the penalty spot.

Mitchell Mallia began to impose himself on the match and forced a diving save from Rockdale keeper Andrew Bazi with a rasping free kick.

Toufic Alameddine tried to spark some attack for the Suns and showed flashes of brilliance as Rockdale slowly worked its way into the match.

The whistle for halftime came at the wrong time for Rockdale with the break killing the momentum the visitors had built up in the final stages of the half.

It was more of the same in the second half with Blacktown taking charge from the restart.

It took only 11 minutes into the half for the home side to add to its lead.

A deft pass from Gibbs unlocked the defence with Choi finishing from 18 yards out with a perfectly weighted chip.

Choi was creating headaches for his marker and was unlucky not to have doubled his tally when another chip kick went inches wide.

Mallia stretched the defence with his runs out wide opening up chances for Blacktown’s central players.

Rockdale lifted in the final quarter of the match and Nenad Vekic was forced to make big saves to deny Blake Ricciuto and Dylan Macallister, but the result was never in doubt as Blacktown cruised to victory.

Rockdale captain coach Paul Reid commended his side’s ability to create chances but said his players paid the price for a slow start. 

“We are a side which likes to attack and had our fair share of opportunities to score. It just wasn’t our day today,” he said.

“We had a sluggish start to the match and Blacktown capitalised.

“As a side we haven’t been collecting the points needed but we are still in fourth and will focus on improving over the final three rounds.”

A jubilant Crittenden praised his team’s complete performance.

“It was a very impressive game from everyone today. I’m really happy with not just the result but how we played,” he said.

“We were unlucky not to be 3-0 up after the first nine minutes but the boys maintained their intensity and dominated proceedings.

“Rockdale are a great side and to get the points today is a real confidence builder.”

Match Stats

Blacktown City: 3 (Gibbs 11’, Macura 20’, Choi 56’)  

Rockdale City Suns: 0

Round 19 – July 24 2016

Lily’s Football Stadium, Seven Hills

Referee: Kurt Ams        

Assistant Referees: K Robinson & J Adabjou

Fourth Official: P Liaros

BLACKTOWN CITY: 1. Nenad VEKIC, 3. Giorgio SPERANZA, 6. Matthew LEWIS, 7. Travis MAJOR (16. Patrick ANTELMI) 8. Sasa MACURA (21. Riku SASAKI 65’) 9. Joey GIBBS, 10 Connor EVANS, 11. Danny CHOI (12. Jonathan Grozdanovski), 14. Mitch MALLIA, 17. Lewis BUEMIE, 19. Zach Cairncross

Substitutes not used:, 4. Robert SPERANZA,, 20. Dylan NISKI,

Yellow Cards: Sasaki 84’

Red Cards: N/A

ROCKDALE CITY SUNS: 22. Andrew BAZI, 2. PETKOVSKI Daniel, 4. MCCLENAHAN Trent, 5. REID Paul, 6. Blake RICCIUTO, 9. MACALLISTER Dylan, 10. Peter MAKRILLOS (12. Idriss EL HAFIANE 63’), 11. TANOSKI Hristijan (8. Aleksander CANAK 60’), 15. PETRILLO Nicholas, 17. ALAMEDDINE Toufic, 19. Patrick SAVOR

Substitutes not used: 1. David BRADASEVIC, 20. Stefan DUBOCANIN, 16. Isaac SAVOR.

Yellow Cards: Savor 80’, Petkovski 61’,

Red Cards: N/A