Hakoah Sydney City East have won a scrappy affair against Sydney United 58 FC 2-0 at Hensley Athletic Field with the home side wanting it that touch more.
The result was three vital points for the home side who in recent weeks have been somewhat unlucky, while for losing side Sydney United 58 FC it was definitely one that got away.
A penalty from Mitchell Stamatellis 12 minutes into the contest and an Andre De Jong finish in the second half was the difference as Hakoah claimed a shock upset.
The first opportunity of the game arrived in the second minute of play when a dangerous free-kick from just outside the box by Panny Nikas ended up just going wide of the post.
In the 11th minute goalkeeper Thomas Manos brought down Andre De Jong just inside the box and referee Kurt Ams awarded a penalty despite the protests of the Sydney United 58 shot stopper. From the spot former Sydney United 58 star Mitchell Stamatellis made no mistake with his clinical finish.
In the 35th minute a cross from the right by Rob Ezekiel made its way to Stamatellis in the middle but his powerful header went over the crossbar without troubling the Sydney United 58 goalkeeper.
Hakoah were at it again in the 39th minute with an absolutely golden chance. A free-kick by Michael Kouta found De Jong beautifully positioned close to the goal, but his point-blank header was pushed away by Manos in a truly great reflex save.
It was the last chance of the first stanza of play.
Sydney United 58 came close in the 54th minute when a nice cross into the middle found its way to Vlastelica whose diving header was just wide of the intended target.
A goal back then would have evened the ledger and the game may have taken a completely different course.
However, it wasn’t to be as shortly afterwards the home side doubled their lead. In the 61st minute it was Andre De Jong who scored for Hakoah Sydney City East. Play made its way downfield and a ball forward eventually found De Jong, who slid through the defence and scored much to the delight of the home supporters.
After the game Gavin Rae, the former Scottish international and now current coach of Hakoah Sydney City East, was delighted with the win.
“Sydney United 58 has a good team so we tried to play on the counter and it worked,” he said.
“If you take your chances, keep your shape and defend well for the entire game, then results will come and I am delighted with the performance.
“I think we deserved the win and I was very happy with how the team stuck to the plan. We have a great bunch of boys and we have been unlucky in some games this season, so I am delighted with tonight.”
In the Sydney United 58 dressing room though their coach, former Socceroo star Jason Culina, was covering nothing up and spoke straight from the heart.
“We really didn’t deserve anything from that,” he said.
“Were we the better footballing team? Yes, we were, because there was only one team trying to play football out there but it doesn’t mean that you are always going to win games.
“The team that wanted it more tonight, that was hungrier and more desperate won the game.
“Most of the battle sometimes is mental, because our football ability was never in doubt tonight but we were not focused and up for the job.
“We prepared all week both physically and mentally because we know that teams that play against us – not only Hakoah – will probably play their best game of the season. We, in the end, probably beat ourselves tonight.”
The visitors prior to the match were left licking their wounds with some heavy injury tolls that have hit the Edensor Park side with Matt Bilic (ACL), Shannon Cole (Broken Arm) both ruled out for lengthy periods while skipper Nick Stavroulakis was nearing his comeback from injury to the first team squad after completing 65 minutes for the reserve grade as well as Yianni Fragogiannis who also played in reserve side.
Match Stats
HAKOAH SYDNEY CITY EAST 2 (Stamatellis 12’ pen, De Jong 61’ )
SYDNEY UNITED 58 FC 0
Saturday, April 21st 2018
Hensley Athletic Field
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Andrei Giev, Ray Osborne
Fourth Official: Sebastian Andrews
HAKOAH SYDNEY CITY EAST: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 3. Michael Kouta, 4. Brad Walker, 5. Mitchell Stamatellis, 8. Oliver Green, 10. Andre De Jong, 13. Rob Ezekial, 17. Harry Jones (14. Anthony Frangie 76’), 19. Dominic Cox, 20. James Combes, 60. Takayuki Noji (16. Joshua Orchard 92’)
Substitutes not used: 18. Jordan Koton, 21. Duncan Stewart, 45. Michael Figueira
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
SYDNEY UNITED 58 FC: 21. Thomas Manos, 3. Jordan Roberts (13. Sam Perre 89’), 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic, 6. Christopher Payne, 8. Matthew Sim (18. Glen Trifiro 46’), 9. Patrick Antelmi, 11. Yianni Pertakis, 15. Tomoki Menda (7. Mohammad Rahimi 85’), 20. Peter Markovic, 23. Panny Nikas
Substitutes not used: 1. John Hall, 2. Anthony Vrlic
Yellow Cards: Manos 11’, Vlastelica 24’
Red Card: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Andre De Jong (Hakoah)
2 – Mitchell Stamtellis (Hakoah)
1 – Tom Manos (SU)
-By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Joe Russo
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