APIA turn up the heat to down Olympic

Apia hosted Sydney Olympic this evening at Lambert Park. Kick of was delayed for 30 minutes due to the heat. Despite the heat both teams gave it all, with drink breaks each half, the temperature took its toll on the players. With a goal in each half, Apia took the points with a 2-0 win.

APIA Leichhardt Tiger has continued it’s flawless start to the season with a 2-0 win against Sydney Olympic at Lambert Park on Sunday.

A first half George Howard penalty broke the deadlock and Sean Symons doubled the score in the second stanza as the home side claimed all three points despite stifling heat against a tough Sydney Olympic outfit.

The win was APIA’s first home win of the season and builds on their opening round victory against Manly United.

For Sydney Olympic the result was a reality check after their opening week win but coach Abbas Saad will be able to take away plenty of positives from a performance which could’ve been very different if his side had more luck in front of goal.

Olympic were the first side with an attempt on goal when in the 5th minute a slow moving Ivan Necevski allowed Jinya An to get in behind the ball but his shot lacked power and was cleared off the line.

APIA replied two minutes later when Adrian Ucchino crossed from the right only to see the veteran Paul Henderson punch the ball away.

In the 17th minute the ball fell nicely to Jordan Murray who volleyed straight at Henderson who made the comfortable save.

The heat was certainly taking its toll and the players really appreciated the drinks break midway through the first half.

In the 33rd minute the best chance of the game so far favoured APIA Leichhardt when Tasuku Sekiya laid the ball on from the left for George Howard who fired a rocket in Henderson’s direction, but the veteran gloves-man saved with aplomb.

However, APIA didn’t have to wait too long to score because in the 39th minute Jason Madonis brought Sekiya down in the box and a penalty was duly awarded. Howard, the former Melbourne Victory player, made no mistake from the spot despite Henderson diving the correct way.

Right on the stroke of halftime Sydney Olympic were nearly back even thanks to a Nikola Kuleski shot, after some scrappy defending from a corner, but Necevski pulled off a great reflex to deny the visitors.

In the second half the first chance was APIA’s when Sean Symons in the 55th minute on the turn fired over the crossbar from close range.

Sydney Olympic replied in the 57th minute when a lovely ball forward found Alejandro Sanchez-Lopez who only just missed the intended target with his shot.

A few minutes later Nikolas Tsattalios with a header from close range forced Necevski into a good save but APIA replied on the counter-attack in the 63rd minute when Murray dazzled his way into the box, sidestepping two defenders before seeing his shot well blocked by an ever alert Henderson.

APIA doubled their lead in the 70th minute when a delightful and accurate cross from Murray reached Sean Symons in the box and his glancing header ended up in the back of the net.

In the 78th minute the ball fell nicely to Murray who fired from outside the box but Henderson, winding back the years, got down well to turn the ball away. Both sides had their fair share of chances in what was a really entertaining and high-quality game of football.

APIA Leichhardt’s affable coach Billy McColl was after the game was justifiably delighted.

“That was a great game and we played very well,” he said.

“We took our chances and both goalkeepers had great games.

“We are well-organised, we are disciplined and we are fit but today also we had luck on our side and that’s a reward because of all of our hard training.”

Meanwhile over in the Sydney Olympic dressing room coach Abbas Saad was upbeat but still trying to work out how his side didn’t manage at least a point.

“APIA had five chances and they scored two and we had about six chances from inside the five yards and the ‘keeper saved them all,” he said.

“In football you need to take your chances and the penalty made a difference as we were unlucky.

“In the first half we were comfortable but got caught on a long-ball [for the penalty] but we have some young boys – not in a footballing sense because they have been playing a while but in years of age – so we will get better, we will get fitter and we’ll definitely improve.”

Match Stats

APIA Leichhardt Tigers  2 (Howard 39’, S.Symons 72’)

Sydney Olympic FC 0

Sunday 18th March, 2018

Lambert Park, Leichhardt

Referee: T. Danaskos
Assistant Referees: D. Stack, P.Teleki

Fourth Official: T. Plasto

APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS: 1. Ivan Necevski, 2. Nathan Millgate, 4. Joshua Symons, 7. Howard Fondyke (6. Zachary Mackenzie 60’), 9. George Howard (8. Corey Biczo 77’), 11. Jordan Murray, 15. Themba Marta-Marlow, 16. Sean Symons, 18. Adrian Ucchino, 19. Brandon Lundy, 20. Tasuku Sekiya.

Substitutes not used: 3. Paul Galimi, 10. Franco Parisi, 22. Blake Tuxford

Yellow Cards: Millgate 52’

Red Cards: Nil

SYDNEY OLYMPIC FC: 1. Paul Henderson, 2. Thomas Whiteside, 4. George Timotheou, 6. Nikola Kuleski, 7. William Angel (9. Radovan Pavicevic 76’), 8. Jason Madonis (5. Rafael Jimenez 70’), 10. Max Burgess, 11. Jinya An, 19. Darcy Burgess (33. Nikolas Tsattalios 54’), 14. Alejandro Sanchez-Lopez, 24. Christopher Gligor.

Substitutes not used: 20. Ezequiel Consoni, 21. Stephen Athanaseris.

Yellow Cards: Whiteside 26’, Madonis 37’, Kuleski 75’

Red Card: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Jordan Murray (ALT)

2 – Sean Symons (ALT)

1 – Paul Henderson (SO)

-By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Joe Russo