Tigers too good for Wolves

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APIA Leichhardt Tigers have held on to top spot of the National Premier Leagues NSW Ladder after defeating a resilient Wollongong Wolves 4-2 at Lambert Park on Sunday afternoon.

APIA went up by two inside the first half hour thanks to goals from Tasuku Sekiya and Nathan Millgate but went into the break at 2-1 after Yuzo Tashiro pulled one back from the penalty spot for the visitors.

The game’s defining moment came after the referee waved away shouts for a Wollongong penalty only for APIA striker Jordan Murray to race down the other end and make it 3-1 for the home side.

Takuya Nozawa gave Wollongong hope when he scored to make it 3-2 in the 77th minute, but a George Howard goal in the dying stages of the match clinched all three points for APIA.

Peter Simonoski fired off the first shot of the game in the opening minute; the last effort the visitors had on goal for some time as APIA eased into the game before moving through the gears as they settled on the ball.

APIA striker Murray had a great chance of his own when he peeled away under a high ball at the back post but skewed his volley high and wide. Moments later his teammate Howard went close after driving at goal from the corner of the box and smacking a shot straight at Justin Pasfield at the near post, the ball pushed away for a corner.

There was little surprise when the breakthrough came early, Tasuku Sekiya turning his marker inside out before pushing on and firing a low shot inside the far post to give APIA a 1-0 lead.

Tigers defender Millgate would double it soon enough with little action to trouble the hosts in between, rising at the back post just before the half hour to nod home a corner from Adrian Ucchino.

Sean Symons might have made it three when he lined up a cross at the back post but could only smash his volley into the ground for the goalkeeper to parry away for a corner.

Wollongong looked to hit back, driving into the box and drawing two shouts for a penalty in quick succession after possible handballs. The referee gave a spot kick for the second, and Yuzo Tashiro tucked it away confidently to reduce to deficit to one.

APIA should have restored their two goal advantage almost immediately after Symons went racing clean through on goal, but the keeper rushed out and did enough to put him off as he pushed his lob wide. Halftime came and went, and Wollongong picked up the game again at lightning pace as Tashiro slipped through on goal only to see his shot saved by Ivan Necevski.

Five minutes into the second stanza Wollongong were stung when a strong appeal for a handball in the APIA box was waved away and play raced down the other end for Jordan Murray to hit a low finish across the keeper.

Wollongong players surrounded the referee in protest but it would change nothing as APIA took a strangle hold of the match with 3-1 lead.

The decision rocked the visitors, and APIA looked to take full advantage as they pressed on for a fourth.

Despite plenty of pressure they were unable to create any clear cut opportunities and allowed their opponents back into the match with twenty minutes to play.

Former J-League star Nozawa charged through the box, firing a well-placed volley through the goalkeeper at the near post to cut the deficit to  3-2.

Wollongong’s fightback wouldn’t last with APIA awarded a penalty in the final stages of the clash with Howard coolly converting from the spot to secure the victory.

A relieved APIA coach Billy McColl praised the fighting spirit of his players.

“It could’ve been a little bit more comfortable, but there’s no easy games.” said McColl.

“We’re delighted with the win, but we’re just looking forward to the cup game on Wednesday.

Wollongong’s Jacob Timpano felt the failure to award a penalty just before Murray’s goal was a pivotal moment in the match.

“I’m disappointed with some of the decisions from the officials, but we came away from home to a side that are top of the table, and they might have outplayed us a little bit but we dug deep,” he said.

Match Stats

APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 4 (Tasuku Sekiya 7’, Nathan Millgate 27’, Jordan Murray 51’, George Howard 87’)
Wollongong Wolves FC: 2 (Yuzo Tashiro 35’, Takuya Nozawa 72’)

Sunday April 29 2018
Lambert Park, Leichhardt

Referee: T. Danaskos
Assistant Referees: D. Stack, N. McOrist
Fourth Official: A. Brett

APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC: 1. NECEVSKI Ivan, 7. FONDYKE Howard, 3. GALIMI Paul, 9. HOWARD George, 19. LUNDY Brandon (12. WARREN Marc), 2. MILLGATE Nathan, 11. MURRAY Jordan (10. PARISI Franco), 20. SEKIYA Tasuku, 4. SYMONS Joshua, 16. SYMONS Sean, 18. UCCHINO Adrian (6. MCKENZIE Zachary)

Substitutes Not Used: 15. MUATA-MARLOW Themba, 22. Tuxford Blake

Yellow Cards: Brandon Lundy 49’, Paul Galimi 55’
Red Cards: Nil

Wollongong Wolves FC: 1. PASFIELD Justin, 5. BALDACCHINO James, 8. GRIFFIN Brendan (21. FOWLER Caoimhin), 10. MACDONALD Joshua, 3. MADDEN Darcy, 2. MCDONALD Taylor (7. ENSOR Ryan), 6. MONTGOMERY Nicholas, 40. NOZAWA Takuya, 4. ROBINSON Michael, 9. SIMONOSKI Peter, 30. TASHIRO Yuzo

Substitutes Not Used: 23. HAYES Steven, 16. KAIRIES Luke

Yellow Cards: Taylor McDonald 32’, Michael Robinson 57’
Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings
3 – Tasuku Sekiya (ALT)
2 –Nathan Millgate (ALT)
1 – Justin Pasfield (WW)

-By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Max Grieve