Sharks no match for red hot Sydney United 58
Sydney United 58 cruised to a 3-1 win against Sutherland Sharks at Sydney United Sports Centre on Saturday night.
Goals to Glen Trifiro, new recruit Tariq Mair, and Mathew Sim helped the home side collect all three points in their second three goal effort in as many weeks.
Nick Littler netted a late goal for Sutherland but it proved to be mere consolation for Grant Lee’s side.
United almost opened up the Sharks defence inside the first minute, however Sam Perre’s cross had too much on it and fizzed across the face of goal from a Panny Nikas lay-off.
Mathew Sim then sent in a tantalising cross that eluded his team mates with no-one quick enough to tap home.
The home side were on the offensive and Chris Payne had a shot blocked by Sharks keeper Ryan Norval. the Sutherland keeper was called into action moments later when he denied a curling effort from Trifiro.
Perre forced a save out of Norval in the 15th minute for yet another United corner. Sutherland were coping with the pressure but they were yet to muster an effort of their own at the other end.
The Blues were struggling to break out of their half and the long balls forward were easy pickings for the United defence.
A Jacob Tratt free-kick was Sutherland’s first real chance on goal but his effort sailed over the bar.
A neat short corner routine from United saw Nikas centre to Trifiro some 25-yards out, and his rasping effort certainly warmed the hands of the Sharks’ gloveman.
Tratt had another free-kick but once again he failed to convert after a save from Manos.
Despite their early domination, United had nothing to show for it at the break with both sides going into the sheds locked at 0-0.
Sutherland had an appeal for a penalty waved away on the resumption when Joshua Da Silva went down in the area. Their shouts falling on deaf ears and play continued but it was a positive starts for the visitors.
Da Silva forced a fine save out of Manos when striking a fierce left-footer from 30-yards out that swirled and dipped in the air.
The breakthrough came in the 55th minute when a dipping Nikas free-kick rattled the bar and fell invitingly for Trifiro to rifle home. It was little more than United deserved but was well taken by the midfielder.
Adrian Vranic attempted to level the scores in the 62nd minute but screwed his shot wide of the upright in reply as the reds pushed to extend their lead and left gaps at the back.
Nikas was unlucky not to find himself on the scoresheet with a curling attempt that crept the wrong side of the post in the 66th minute.
Tariq Mair added a second for United 58 with a thunderous shot from 25-yards leaving Norval with no hope.
Nikas chipped over the defence for substitute Patrick Antelmi who attempted to lob Norval but the ‘keeper just managed to get a fingertip to the ball.
Sim added the third for United when a defensive slip saw him tap home into an empty net to put the result beyond any doubt.
Sutherland hadn’t played badly but they had been out-enthused by a very determined Sydney United 58.
Sutherland did manage a consolation goal when Nick Littler netted after a Tratt free-kick was pushed clear by Manos but a quick-fire centre left him wrong-footed and stranded to find the central defender lurking with intent at the back stick to poke home.
A downtrodden Sharks coach Grant Lee rued the mistakes which cost his side the game.
“It’s what we’ve been saying all year. It’s our naivety that is costing us at critical times in games,” he said.
“We make stupid mistakes when the game is in the balance.
“It must sound like a broken record but it’s the same stupid errors in games.”
Miro Vlastelica praised a much improved second half performance from his United 58 side.
“I felt we dominated the first-half of the game and we could have done a lot better in the final third,” he said.
“We had a lot of chances, but we came in at half-time, had a char and adjusted a few minor things and it paid dividends in the end.
“The boys worked hard as they have all week and we take each week at a time. We will just keep doing what we are doing and see where it take us.”
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 3 (Trifiro 55’, Mair 70’, Sim 75’
Sutherland Sharks 1 (Littler 85’)
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Saturday, 23rd June 2018
Referee: Michael Weiner
Asst. Refs: Daniel Stack & Matthew Riedy
Fourth Official: Katie Patterson
Sydney United 58: 21.Thomas Manos, 2.Christian Gonzales, 6.Christopher Payne (3.Jordan Roberts 86’), 8.Mathew Sim (7.Mohammad Rahimi 80’), 11.Yianni Perkatis, 12.Shannon Cole, 13.Sam Perre (9.Patrick Antelmi 65’), 15.Tariq Mair, 18.Glen Trifiro, 22.Yianni Fragogiannis, 23.Panni Nikas
Substitutes not used: 1.John Hall, 14.Nick Stavroulakis
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards:
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Ryan Norval, 2.Jacob Tratt, 6.Lachlan Everett, 7.Stephen Kayes (28.Noah Chia 79’), 9.Adrian Vranic, 10.Joshua Da Silva, 12.Blair Brown, 13.Robert Watson (5.Bradley Bartels 79), 15.Nick Littler, 17.Leroy Jennings, 20.Keisuke Hayashi
Substitutes not used: , 11.Hristijan Tanoski, 18 Juan Felipe Zapata, 21.Nikola Loe
Yellow Cards: Kayes 24’
Red Cards:
-By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Micky Brock