Brendan Cholakian snatched a point for Manly United in a hard fought 1-1 draw with Wollongong Wolves during their PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash at WIN Stadium on Sunday.
Cholakian’s well-placed header at the 60-minute marked capped an industrious fightback from Manly after former Japanese international Yuzo Tashiro gave the hosts the lead only ten minutes earlier.
The result maintained Manly United’s unbeaten start to the season with two wins and a draw from their opening three matches
It wasn’t the homecoming Wolves fans were looking for in their side’s first game at WIN Stadium for the season but Tashiro’s goal at least gave them something to smile about.
The game started off frantically with both teams eager to gain superiority.
The first shot came from the visitors with Nikola Taneski forcing the Justin Pasfield to save low at his near post.
It became end to end action shortly after with both sides exchanging warning shots, Manly through striker Dylan Macalister and Wolves through Nicholas Bernal.
The best chance of the first half however came through Cholakian who pestered the opposition throughout with a long-range effort hitting the bar.
The game settled with the only meaningful chance after that coming from Scott Balderson who unleashed with his trademark left foot narrowly going over the bar.
It was the home side who began the second half on top with star import Tashiro getting on the end of two quick chances the second of which ended in the opening goal
That brought the Northern Beaches club to life though and they converted their first meaningful chance, but they weren’t done.
Cholakian seemed to lift his team, heading a ball wide then almost scoring a delicious chip which was only denied by the woodwork and a desperate Hayden Morton.
It was Cholakian again who almost silenced the vocal home crowd with a long-range effort forcing Pasifield into his best work of the afternoon.
The game then fizzled out with the only real chance coming from young Josh Macdonald who shot wide from a tight angle.
Wollongong Wolves coach Jacob Timpano was proud of his team despite his side earning the spoils on what was a sunny day in the South Coast.
"We’ve found it hard this month not being able to train frequently.
“On another day we could’ve got a second," he said.
"With a couple weeks more I think we will be able to show what we can do."
Manly United coach Warren Grieve rued his side’s various missed opportunities.
“Got the one goal. We could’ve got more, we hit the post, we hit the bar. However, our boys reacted well to the goal," he said.
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves: 1 (Yuzo Tashiro 50’)
Manly United 1 (Brendan Cholakian 60’)
Sunday March 26, 2017
WIN Stadium Wollongong
Wollongong Wolves: 1. Justin Pasifield, 4. Hayden Morton 5. James Baldacchino 7. Chris Price © 9. Michael Robinson, 14. Josh Macdonald 16. Patrick Antelmi 18. Nicholas Bernal 20. Benjamin Tosi 23 Steven Hayes (10. David Stojic 70’) 30. Yuzo Tashiro
Substitutes not Used: 8. Brendan Griffith 12.Luke Kairies 11.Hristijan Tanoski 21. Brett Wilson
Yellow Cards: Antelmi
Red Cards:
Manly United: 1. Dylan Mitchell, 2. Kieran Paull 3. Jamie Lobb 4. Travis Oughtred 8. Sasa Macua 9. Dylan Macallister (28. Mitchell Rooke 75’) 10. Brendan Cholakian 11. Nikola Taneski (16. Sipan Berti 62’) 13. Scott Balderson (6. Dom Ferguson 84) 21. Jamie Fox 17. Sam Wilson
Substitutes not used: 15. Hamish Galbraith 20. Shaun Catlin
Yellow Cards: Paull
Red Cards:
Player Ratings:
3 – Brendan Cholakian (MU)
2 – Josh Macdonald (WW)
1 – Yuzo Tashiro (WW)
-By Justin Smith
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