Round 4 Review – NPL NSW Men’s 20’s
Defending champions Sutherland Sharks finish the Easter weekend on top of the table thanks to a draw between Sydney United 58 and Sydney FC, while Sydney Olympic, Rockdale City Suns and Marconi Stallions all opened their accounts for 2018 with victories.
Match of the Round
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 0-2 Blacktown City, Friday 1.30pm at Lambert Park
APIA Leichhardt suffered an afternoon to forget in round four’s opening fixture at Lambert Park on Good Friday following a 2-0 defeat to Blacktown City in the Tigers’ first league match of the 2018 campaign.
First half goals from Dakota Askew and Lachlan Rose gave Blacktown a handsome two-goal buffer at half time in another steady performance from the visitors following last weekend’s drought-breaking victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Their dominant opening forty five minutes ensured John Carnevale’s side cantered to a comfortable triumph with the Tigers unable to muster enough proficiency in the final third to worry the visitors.
Pre-season tournament involvement in Viareggio and poor weather has delayed the Tiger’s first formal involvement in the NPL NSW Men’s 20’s competition up until the Easter long weekend and it was a disappointing but understandably rusty showing from last season’s grand finalists against Blacktown.
Despite a few fleeting moments in the first half the hosts were held at arm’s length for the entirety of the encounter and found themselves chasing the match inside the opening two minutes when John Azar’s sumptuous free kick from the right was turned past Tigers goalkeeper Corey Finch at the back post.
City were playing with vigour having broken their lengthy winless drought last Saturday against the White Eagles with Adolph Koudakpo in particular causing headaches down the right flank.
As Blacktown’s dominance continued the menacing winger saw an effort bounce off the underside of the post after unleashing a shot from outside the box while City’s wide man on the opposite side Jack Stewart was also denied a goal after a last-ditch clearance on the line.
Blacktown keeper Dylan Niski enjoyed a quiet afternoon but made a crucial first half parry from Luca Kmet who forced the shot stopper into a great low save at the near post, while Sam Gulisano saw a free kick from distance tipped over the bar.
These promising opportunities proved to be futile for Franco Consentino’s men who conceded a near carbon copy of Blacktown’s opening goal shortly before half time when another superb delivery from Azar was nodded past Finch by Lachlan Rose.
Although APIA will lament the softness of their two goals conceded the Tigers offered very little in second half response as tired legs and lack of match fitness set in.
Blacktown – who were masterfully engineered by Azar and George Panayi in the middle of the park – came close to adding a third in the second half with Rose coming within inches on several occasions but the visitors will be quietly pleased with back to back victories and consecutive shut outs.
Carnevale’s men can solidify their position in the top half of the table when they welcome Manly United to Lily’s Football Centre next Saturday afternoon.
APIA have ground to make up on the rest of the competition and will look to get their season up and running against Rockdale City Suns at Ilinden Sports Centre, also next Saturday afternoon.
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 0
Blacktown City (Askew 2’, Rose 39’)
Friday 30th of March 2018,
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 38. Daniel Alessi, 32. Jack Armson, 26. Nicholas Azzone, 28. Gino Cerasoli, 33. Corey Finch, 27. Leandro Guzman, 30. Luca Kmet, 31. Thomas Meier (29. Camil Abouchaaya 70’), 24. Samuel Paslis (35. Zander Regan 66’), 39. Matthew Taverniti, 17. Sam
Substitutes not used: 36. Bill Litsas, 1. Adam Gilmore, 7. Zeke Prisuda
Yellow cards: Alessi 37’, Gulisano 78’
Red cards: N/A
Blacktown City: 43. Dakota Askew, 28. John Azar, 26.Lachlan Cooper, 32. William Salinas, 36. Anthony Gallo (25. Benjamin Parkinson 71’), 39. Adolph Koudakpo (41. Cooper Coskerie 55’), 1. Dylan Niski, 35. George Panayi (38. Lewis Fraser 85’), 29. Mark Rodic, 31. Lachlan Rose (32. William Salinas 79’), 24. Jack Stewart
Substitutes not used: 30. Malcom Ward, 34. Jarrod Dodds
Yellow cards: Coskerie 68’
Red cards: N/A
Friday
Sydney Olympic 3-0 Hakoah Sydney City East, 1.45pm at Belmore Sports Ground
Sydney Olympic notched their first win of the season thanks to a 3-0 win over Hakoah Sydney City East on Friday afternoon at Belmore Sports Ground.
Olympic entered the Easter long weekend on the foot of the table having lost both their fixtures played but a brace from Radovan Pavicevic and a strike from Ahmad Safdari saw the Blues open their account in style.
Olympic leapfrog Hakoah in the competition table as a result of the win with the visitors still winless from their opening four fixtures despite some promising displays.
Hakoah have still leaked 13 goals in the opening month of football and Paul Hubbard’s side will aim to fix their defensive record and finally get off the mark next Sunday afternoon against Wollongong.
Sydney Olympic face a tricky away encounter with Marconi Stallions on Saturday evening.
Saturday
Sutherland Sharks 1-0 Wollongong Wolves, 4.30pm at Seymour Shaw
Sutherland Sharks claimed lead of the competition for the first time this season after defeating Wollongong Wolves 1-0 at Seymour Shaw in the early kick off on Saturday.
James Temelkovski was on hand to notch his sixth effort of the campaign and give the Sharks a crucial three points following a gritty performance.
The victory leaves Nick Dimovski’s side ahead of second-placed Sydney United 58 on goal difference with the two early premiership frontrunners set to clash at Seymour Shaw next Saturday.
Wollongong Wolves have lost two in a row after beginning the season with consecutive victories and will look to return to the winner’s circle against Hakoah Sydney City East next Sunday at Hensley Athletic Field.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0-2 Rockdale City Suns, 5.00pm at Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Rockdale City Suns opened their 2018 account with a fine 2-0 victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Bonnyrigg Sports Club on Saturday afternoon.
The Suns were winless after their first three fixtures and entered the clash on the back of a heavy defeat to Sydney United 58 but turned in a great showing and eased to victory thanks to goals from Dimitrios Petratos and Caleb Bartier.
The result lifts Rockdale level with Bonnyrigg on the competition ladder with the sides in eighth and ninth respectively after four rounds.
A second defeat in a row without scoring for Bonnyrigg will raise concerns for the White Eagles who face a tough assignment next Saturday at Lambert Park to face Sydney FC.
Rockdale are searching for back to back wins for the first time this campaign when they welcome APIA Leichhardt Tigers in next weekend’s early Saturday afternoon contest.
Marconi Stallions 2-1 Manly United, 5.00pm at Marconi Stadium
Marconi Stallions secured their first win of the season after beating Manly United 2-1 at Marconi Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
James Andrew’s penalty and a Martin Fernandez strike proved too much for the visitors who struck a reply through Rhys Vorillas.
Marconi host Sydney Olympic next weekend at home in an opportunity to bolster their record at Marconi Stadium.
Manly United will need to find a response next Saturday afternoon against a Blacktown City side slowly finding their form.
Sydney United 58 2-2 Sydney FC, 5.00pm at Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 and Sydney FC played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Sydney United Sports Centre to close out round four on Saturday afternoon.
Kyle Cimenti struck his fourth goal of the season for the hosts who also found the net through senior player Matthew Bilic.
Hamish Lamberton secured a goal on his return to Edensor Park to bring his tally for the season to four while Finn Ballard-Mcbride also got his name on the scoresheet for the Sky Blues.
After three consecutive victories to begin the campaign the Reds now head to Sutherland Sharks next Saturday for an exciting top of the table contest.
Sydney FC are just behind United 58 and Sutherland in third – they’ll fancy their chances at keeping in touch with the two early frontrunners with a home fixture against Bonnyrigg to come next week.
-By Jacob Windon
