IT might seem obvious but APIA Leichhardt learnt the hard way that goals win games.
The Tigers played out a 1-1 stalemate with Parramatta FC despite dominating for 85 minutes in their rescheduled PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s Round 13 clash at Lambert Park on Saturday.
It was a heartbreaking result for Danial Cummins’ side who completely outclassed their opposition but missed opportunities and a moment of madness cost them what appeared a sure win.
An early Nathan Elasi strike set the tone for the match as APIA controlled proceedings with little opportunity for Parramatta in the first half.
Wasted opportunities were the story of the second stanza and it came back to bit the home side when Daniel Rezo bundled home from close range after a Parramatta counter attack to steal an unlikely point for the visitors.
APIA has found new life in recent weeks and their new found vigour was evident in the opening exchanges.
Slick ball movement by the home side had Parramatta on the back foot early and it didn’t take long for APIA to take the lead.
A driving run from Nathan Millgate on the eastern sideline got the better of the visitors sliding defence before the defender delivered a pin point cross for Nathan Elasi to tap in at the back post.
The home side controlled proceedings and moved the ball around the park with ease.
Franco Consentino’s Parramatta team battled to fight their way back into the match but they couldn’t break down APIA.
Millgate was in the thick of the action again in the 34th minute.
The right back played a slick one two before blasting a shot from the top of the penalty area inches over the crossbar.
A free kick from Daniel Rezo from 20 yards out was the best chance for the Visitors but the midfielder’s curing effort wasn’t on target.
Nathan Elasi went close to a goal of the year candidate on the cusp of halftime when his silky back heel from a Corey Biczo cross went narrowly wide after being the goalkeeper.
The second half started much the same way as the first, APIA on top and Parramatta happy to sit back and defend.
Danial Cummin’s APIA sent wave after wave of attack but the home side were unable to find the finishing touch needed to find the back of the net.
Chances to Nathan Elasi and Corey Biczo failed to add to the score board and then a Tasuku Sekiya effort crashed into the woodwork in the 72nd minute.
Parramatta nearly stole a point from the match in the 80th minute but Blake Tuxford came to the rescue to make two big saves from Marco Sama efforts on goal.
Franco Parisi missed a gilt-edged chance in the 82nd minute when he dribbled through the Parramatta defence but seemingly forgot to shoot when he was one-on-one with the keeper.
APIA paid the price for their poor finishing in the 84th minute when Daniel Rezo snuck in to tap home a Parramatta counter attack as the visitors found a way to equalise despite being dominated all match.
Moments later Parramatta went inches away from taking the lead as APIA began to capitulate.
David Gullo sprayed his shot wide with the net wide open after enterprising buildup play from Sama.
It would only get worse for APIA with a rash challenge from Sean Symons resulting in a second yellow card and an early shower for the defender,
Despite being down to 10 men, APIA continued to push forward with Corey Biczo and Jordan Murray creating chances.
However, It just wasn’t to be for the home side with the referee’s final whistle confirming the 1-1 result.
A subdued Danial Cummins rued what could’ve been a third straight win for his side.
“We knew we had a tough 45 minutes in the second half but we just couldn’t capitalise on our chances,” the APIA coach said.
“They got stronger the longer the game went on and by failing to kill the game off we really were our own worst enemy.
“There was still plenty of positives to take from the match and we will learn from our mistakes and move on to next round.”
Parramatta coach Franco Consentino said the result was an example of how patience and resilience can pay off.
“The boys lifted well this afternoon and i knew the longer we stayed in the game better our chances would be of going home with at least a point,” he said.
“The result is a credit to our boys and it is great to secure a good result against APIA who are on a bit of a roll at the moment.
“We are struggling with injuries at the moment and hopefully if we can get a few results and get a few boys back then hopefully we are still in the mix for finals. However, our main focus is week to week.”
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 1 (Elasi 13’)
Parramatta FC: 1 (Rezo 84’)
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Lambert Park, Leichhardt.
APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS: 50. Blake TUXFORD, 2. Nathan MILLGATE, 6. Luke AUSTIN, 8. BICZO, 9. Nathan ELASI (10. Franco Parisi 61), 15. Themba MUATA-MARLOW, 16. Sean SYMONS, 18. Adrian UCCHINO, 20. Tasuku SEKIYA, 22. Zane SOLE, 23. Nick OLSEN (11. Jordan MURRAY 61’)
Substitutes not used: 4. Brad Bartels, 19. Brandon LUNDY, 92. Ryan Norval
Yellow Cards: Sean Symons
Red Cards: Sean Symons 85’
Parramatta FC: 1. Luke TURNBULL, 2. Ryan JOHNSTONE, 3. Blade RICHARDS, 4. Josh SYMONS, 6. Daniel GULLO (12. Tomislav BOROVICKIC 45’), 7. David GULLO, 8. Daniel REZO, 10. Marco SAMA, 18. Tom MALLET, 19. Mitchell LONG, 23. Aram TAYEBI DERAZKALA (14. Chris CARBONI 77’)
Substitutes not used:15. Christou HANA, 16. Evan RIMAS, 33.Corey FINCH
Yellow Cards: Daniel Gullo 22’ , Mitchell Long 35’, Tom Mallet 51’
Red Cards: None
Archives for July 2016
The Sherriff comes to Cromer Park
Former Australian Youth international Shane Cansdell-Sheriff will call Cromer Park home after putting pen to paper with PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s outfit Manly United.
Manly United coach Paul Dee snared a prized signing in Sherriff who has played the majority of his football in the U.K. with the likes of clubs such as Leeds United, Rochedale Rovers, Tranmere Rovers, Shrewsbury Town, Preston North End and more recently was part of the recent promotion of English League one side Burton Albion who made the jump from two.
The 33-year-old will prove to be a handy pick up for the Northern Beaches based club as Sherriff can play either as a central defender or left back.
The club has had a standout year thus far currently perched in the top six of the competition ladder as well as gunning for a round of 16 Westfield FFA Cup spot as they tackle the Bonnyrigg White Eagles in their round of 32 clash on Wednesday 3rd of August at the Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
Manly United look set to unearth their star signing in this Sunday’s Waratah Cup Final clash against high flyers Sydney United 58 FC at Lambert Park (3pm kick-off) further adding to what will be an impressive line-up of players from both clubs.
Rescheduled Fixtures – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s
Two matches have been set for this Saturday as the 2016 Waratah Cup Final takes centre stage on Sunday.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Parramatta FC, Saturday 2pm at Lambert Park
With two wins on the trot it seems APIA has finally found their groove.
Under the guide of new coach Danial Cummins, the Lambert Park side has begun living up to its potential.
A gutsy 1-0 win against Rockdale last week was in stark contrast to the side’s performances earlier in the season.
Tasuku Sekiya is a handful for any defence and should once again be the focus of the home side’s attack on Saturday.
Parramatta’s finals dream hangs by a thread and anything less than a win will all but eliminate them from playoffs contention.
Franco Consentino’s side suffered a 3-0 loss to Sydney Olympic last round and a similarly poor performance from the Melita Stadium based side will surely reap another poor result.
Rockdale City Suns v Hakoah Sydney City East, Saturday 7pm at Ilinden Sports Centre
Consistency is the key for Paul Reid’s Rockdale side during the final rounds of the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s competition.
A frustrating 1-0 loss on the road to APIA allowed Manly United leapfrog the Suns into third spot last week.
Consistent performances are needed to set Rockdale as a legitimate PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s premiership contender.
While finals football is not on the cards for Hakoah Sydney City East, the competition new boys will be determined to end their season on a high.
Mark Robertson’s side has proven itself to be a tough customer and could be a party spoiler for the top teams.
Team of the Week – Round 17 – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s
After every round of the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Men’s season Team of the Week brings to focus the best players from that weekend.
A 3-0 trouncing at the hands of Sutherland put a dent in Bonnyrigg’s finals hopes, with Sharks midfielder Jack Press producing a classy performance. Sutherland ran riot in the opening exchanges, catching the Bonnyrigg defence napping as they launched raid after raid. After firing one over the cross bar, Press made amends in the 13th minute when he guided a beautiful cross into the back of the net. In his first year with the Sutherland franchise, Press continued to link up well with the midfield as he kept the pressure on Bonnyrigg. Press almost had a brace but could only watch as his strike hit the woodwork.
APIA held on to defend a slender lead against Rockdale in a tight affair. Despite being in control for much of the game, the Suns couldn’t trouble the scoreboard. A swift move from a throw-in saw striker Tasuku Sekiya latch onto a great ball to slam home the opener in the 8th minute. The Japanese goal machine continued to menace the Suns as he searched for his second but couldn’t find the net. Team mate Corey Biczo was solid on the left edge, foiling the Rockdale attack and making some probing runs to keep the home side back pedalling. Sekiya’s goal proved to be the match winner as his side escaped with a 1-0 victory.
The Manly attack continued to show no mercy, recording an entertaining 3-1 win over Wollongong at Cromer Park. Scoring their 17th goal in 4 weeks, the Manly outfit looked full of confidence playing in front of their home crowd. A lacklustre first half was broken open by Adam Parkhouse, with a sharp run down the left wing and a brilliant pass to Brendan Cholakian who slotted home. However an equaliser brought the Wolves back into the game. Ace striker Richie Cardozo then turned back the clock with a sublime overhead goal showing both skill and athleticism. The 30-year-old soon had a second after some slick passes saw him score from just 3 yards out. For the visitors, Darcy Madden shined in a resilient performance, defending courageously as he attempted to spark his team.
Sydney Olympic kept the belief of a finals appearance alive with an easy 3-0 win against Parramatta. Harris Gaitatzis was unstoppable up front for Olympic, bagging an impressive hat trick. The experienced striker was everywhere, proving to be a thorn in attack for the Parramatta defence. After pouncing on a Parramatta mistake for his first goal, Gaitatzis showed excellent skill to hold up the defence and sneak home a second goal. His hat trick was complete in the 91st minute after providing great support to strike into an open net. Defender Mitchell Stamatellis was solid at the back, putting immense pressure on Parramatta to deny them any sniff at goal.
Blacktown City survived a scare from Hakoah to break a winless run that stretched back to early June. In an improved performance after last week’s shocking defeat, Hakoah looked dangerous as they pressed relentlessly around the City goal. But for the most part, goal-keeper Nenad Vekic had the upper hand with some fantastic saves. Having been declared the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 goal-keeper of the year in 2015, Vekic returned to his scintillating best, denying Hakoah when goals looked certain. His fellow 2015 Team of the Year member Danny Choi lead the City attack superbly with some fine touches, scoring himself in the 14th minute. Choi was on fire on the left flank for much of the match but couldn’t unleash a killing blow as Hakaoh kept themselves in touch until the final stages, eventually going down 3-2.
Sydney United rolled on to another clinical win, downing Spartans 3-1 at home. Once again, it was a strong defensive showing that built the foundations for United’s victory, as Tomislav Uskok continued where he left off last week with an excellent performance at centre back. Displaying his classy A-League experience, Uskok rallied his team well as the Spartans attacked with renewed energy that had been missing for much of the season. Holding a 2-1 lead heading into the second half, Sydney United had to stave off some attacking raids from the visitors before clicking into gear late in the second half to cruise to a win that consolidates their comfortable lead at the top of the ladder.
GK – Nenad Vekic Blacktown City
LB – Darcy Madden Wollongong Wolves
CB – Tomislav Uskok Sydney United 58
RB – Mitchell Stamatellis Sydney Olympic
LM – Corey Biczo APIA
CM – Danny Choi Blacktown City
CM – Jack Press Sutherland Sharks
RM – Adam Parkhouse Manly United
ST – Richie Cardozo Manly United
ST – Harris Gaitatzis Sydney Olympic
ST – Tasuku Sekiya APIA
Cholakian ready for Sunday showdown with United 58
A Waratah Cup final win would mean more for Brendan Cholakian than most at Manly United FC.
On a personal note, it would be a fine reward for his near four years of service to a club he has come to love and would finally take an edge off the pain he still feels from a 6-2 Waratah Cup final drubbing at the hands of Blacktown City FC just two years ago.
But more than that, some much-needed silverware would be the perfect way to mark the incredible strides Manly have taken this season and prove once and for all that Cholakian and Co. are no longer happy to simply play the role of mid-table battlers.
“I think in years gone by, we’ve been taken a little bit for granted,” Cholakian said.
“We’ve just been seen as a mid-to-bottom table team.
“But this season we’re sneaking up behind those teams a bit higher up. We are still going under the radar a bit – I think we’ve gotten to the final without a whole lot of headlines – but winning this would be a real statement of intent and our progress.”
That progress has not come overnight, either.
Cholakian was keen to praise the club and coach Paul Dee for the hard yards put in over the last two years in particular to build a squad and a culture that could be set to push Manly to another level and make the club a more attractive proposition to players like star acquisition Richie Cardozo – who arrived to much acclaim earlier this season.
“Richie is different class. He’s a class above this league,” Cholakian said.
“He scores goals and he brings others into play and I think the fact that we got him shows how far we have come.
“We would not have dreamed of getting a player like him before, but with the squad Paul and I have been trying to develop over the last two or three years we’re able to attract players of that quality.
“Paul is a great coach. He works us hard and puts in a lot of work not just on training night but on other nights as well to make sure we’re all prepared and ready to give our best for the club.”
Cholakian said he believes it is Manly’s time to win, but he knows that nothing can be taken for granted in the cup final, particularly against a side like Sydney United 58 FC.
“We feel like if we play our best this could be a big day for our club,” he said.
“After what happened two years ago, I feel like the fact we’ve got back here, shows we deserve it.
“But we’re happy to be the underdog and we know there will be key battles all over the field.
“We know they’ve got good boys up front and Panni Nikas has been on fire but we’ve got a dangerous three or four attackers as well who can all be match winners, so we’re happy to take them on.”
-By Matt Galea