Lokolingoy haunts Sky Blues with debut Sharks goal
A last gasp goal from new recruit Charles Lokolingoy has stunned his former side to help Sutherland Sharks to a 1-1 draw against Sydney FC at Seymour Shaw on Saturday.
It was the former Sydney FC ace’s debut match in Sharks colours after only joining the club this week and what a maiden performance it was.
The match was a story of missed opportunities for the home side but Lokolingoy’s strike helped the NPL NSW Men’s cellar dwellers to a vital point.
For Sydney FC, it was almost the perfect game plan.
Substitute Hamish Lamberton nodded home a goal to get them ahead in the 82nd minute but they weren’t able to hold on for the three points, leaving them enough to work for for next week.
Lokolingoy and the Sharks started well with a chance early in the contest from a direct ball.
The striker thrashed the effort wide.
The striker was bright on the ball, burst into the box again on the eighth minute but Lokolingoy was denied by a superb sliding challenge from Patrick Scibilio as the goal was left open.
Down the other end, it was another A-League product, Luke Ivanovic, for Sydney FC that had the Sky Blues first chance. He pushed past a defender, linked with Jerry Skotadis before they found Marco Tilio for the shot.
Ivanovic followed it up with a second effort from a diagonal ball that the striker couldn’t fashion a proper chance from. Sydney FC looked for the direct route to prise open the compact Sharks defence.
Much of the chances in the first half fell to Sutherland Sharks. Matteo Poljak blazed a cutback over, followed up by Raul Romero’s header denied by the flag, as the teams fought for a vital three points tonight.
Lokolingoy had a final pair of chances in the half as he was played through by Jordan Morfitis but shot right at Sydney’s Thomas Heward-Belle then in injury time, he bent an effort wide, as the game paused at 0-0.
From the resumption, both sides looked to have a greater thrust in front of goal.
The Sharks worked Heward-Belle well just before the hour, as he made a reaction save to deny both Lokolingoy and Jeremy Cox.
In the 62nd minute, again Lokolingoy featured for the Sharks.
The striker turned provider as he put in a delightful ball for Morfitis, the attacker couldn’t bend his attempt on goal.
It was a game of few chances and most fell for the home side. Raul Romero clipped a ball into the path of Marc Warren, the veteran defender, who wound it to the back post but Lokolingoy couldn’t profit.
Sydney FC found the lead late into the contest. A well-timed ball that soared to the back post, found the head of substitute Hamish Lamberton, the striker made no mistake and headed home for 1-0 to the Sky Blues.
Pushing forward to find the equaliser, Sutherland thought they had struck gold with three minutes remaining.
Neat interplay opened up the space for substitute Juan Romero, slotted home but the flag was raised again.
The Sharks weren’t to be denied tonight. Again, Juan Romero pushed into the box, took it to the by-line, cut it back for Lokolingoy, who slotted home well, making it 1-1.
Romero continued to weave a spell on the Sydney FC defenders.
The impact substitute placed a ball perfectly on the head of Cox, the marksman couldn’t crane his neck and send the ball goal bound.
The home side finished the better of the two sides but couldn’t find the goal they needed, as the two sides were forced to share the points in a 1-1 draw tonight.
Speaking afterwards, Sharks boss Terry Palapanis reflected on a contest which reflected the story of the Sharks season.
“We create enough opportunities but I don’t know what it is that we cant put them away.
“A point is a point and we move onto next week.
“I was pleased with Charles. He hasn’t played 90 minutes for a while but crested chances and got a goal. I think there is plenty more of them to come from him.”
Sydney FC coach Jimmy Van Weeren remained positive despite the late equaliser as the young Sky Blues battled hard throughout the 90 minutes and matched it with their opponents.
“It’s tough to concede so late in the contest after we found a goal. I think that is one that got away tonight.
“There is definitely enough for us to work on as well following this game. We move onto next week where we look to be better.”
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks FC 1 (Lokolingoy ‘89)
Sydney FC 1 (Lamberton ‘84)
Saturday, May 11 2019
Referee: K. Patterson
Assistant Referees: R. Osborne & M. Price
Fourth Official: H. Fenton-White
Sutherland Sharks FC: 3. WARREN Marc, 4. O’SHEA Patrick, 8. POLJAK Matteo, 9. COX Jeremy, 10. ROMEO Raul, 11. MORFITIS Jordan (7. ROMERO J ‘73), 12. BROWN Blair, 14. LOKOLINGOY Charles, 18. EVANS Mitchell (26. ALEKSIK ‘57), 19. SUTHERLAND Harry, 21. ERCAN Tarik (2. CHENG ‘87)
Substitutes not used: 25. CLARKSON Brodie, 38. TEMELKOVSKI James
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Sydney FC: 1. HEWARD-BELLE Thomas, 3. VAN MEURS Benjamin, 4. MCGING Liam, 5. SCIBILIO Patrick, 7. SKOTADIS Jerry, 8. JOEL KING, 10. TILIO Marco, 11. IVANOVIC Luke, 15. TEAGUE Ryan (12. TILIO G ‘61), 17. TALBOT Callum (6. VAN DER SAAG ‘45), 18. KOOP Benjamin (9. LAMBERTON ‘68)
Substitutes not used: 20. MALISHEV David, 24. HOLLYIAN Jake
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings
3 – Charles Lolokingoy (SS)
2 – Marc Warren (SS)
1 – Hamish Lamberton (SFC)
By National Premier Leagues reporter Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
