Championship finally comes home to APIA Leichhardt Tigers

APIA Leichhardt Tigers have ended nearly three years of championship heartache with an incredible 2-1 extra-time grand final win against Sydney United 58 in front of over 6,500 spectators at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday.

A sensational lob in the first period of extra time from Tigers captain and Man of the Match Sean Symons sealed victory after a gruelling and at times physical opening 90 minutes.

After suffering heartbreaking back to back grand final defeats in 2017 and 2018, the Lambert Park based club earned the title they so desperately wanted to win with a tireless 120 minute performance.

Defender Paul Galimi helped APIA to a perfect start with a towering header from an Adrian Ucchino assist midway through the first half.

United 58 refused to give up and Matthew Bilic helped his side back to level pegging with a desperation finish in the 57th minute.

With the game deadlocked after 90 minutes extra-time was needed and it was Symons who proved to be the difference with his goal enough to secure a historic title for APIA.

It was a cagey start to the contest with neither side looking to take any early risks.

United 58 keeper Tom Manos was forced to make a desperation save 15 minutes in when Payne pinched the ball inside the area but it was smothered by the quick thinking custodian.

The wet pitch conditions made both sides unable to play their usual slick passing style of football with the game becoming a physical grind through the middle of the park

APIA finally found the breakthrough in the 28th minute.

Set-piece master Adrian Ucchino delivered a looping cross into the box from the western sideline with Galimi flying high above his make to nod the ball into the top left corner over the outstretched arms of United keeper Manos.

The tough tackling defender was full of adrenaline as he celebrated his goal with the legion of Galimi fans that turned up at Bankwest Stadium.

Sydney United 58 were denied what they felt was a clear penalty 10 minutes from the interval when Peter Simonoski went down in the box after tangling with a defender.

Referee Ben Abraham had other ideas and waved the penalty shout away as APIA clung onto their 1-0 lead at the break.

A rare run into his own penalty area from Payne kept his former side from making a perfect start to the second stanza.

The striker was able to block a driving shot from Tariq Maia on the goal line before clearing it to safety.

However, The Reds were not to be denied and only a few moments later they levelled the score thanks to a determined finish from Bilic.

A low cross from Simonoski skidded across the penalty area avoiding the APIA defence and onto the outstretched leg of the United winger to direct it into the back of the net.

That sparked massive celebrations with the United 58 faithful who turned out in great numbers to support their beloved side. Chants of ‘Croatia, Croatia’ started to get more momentum as the former NSL giants pushed for a winner.

The physical nature of the match began to take its toll with both United 58 and APIA forced to make changes after players went down hurt.

Towering defender Themba Muata-Marlow was proving to be a hard man to beat for United winning everything sent his way.

Despite the efforts of both sides the game finished locked at 1-1 with another 30 minutes needed to find a winner.

It was a tense start to extra-time but It took APIA only four minutes to turn the game in their favour.

A hopeful flick on from Payne found his captain Symons running in space who then chipped Manos from 25 yards out with a brilliantly placed lob.

The Tigers found a second wind after the goal limiting a desperate United sides chances in the closing stages of the opening period of extra time.

United finally found their way to goal just after the restart with a Patrick Antelmi header remarkably cleared off the line by Ucchino much to the dismay of the thousands watching in attendance.

APIA was defending relentlessly and their opponents rarely looked like they were going to threaten.

United 58 Josh Macdonald found space in the 112th minute and was about to pull the trigger before experienced campaigner and sub Nick Stavroulakis used all his experience and thwarted danger by poking a toe and smashing it out of the pitch.

It was heart and mouth stuff.

A final push from United 58 never truly came as the Tigers clung on for the historic victory.

A jubilant APIA coach John Calleja was lost for words after the triumph such was the enormity of the win for his club.

“This is the greatest feeling and it means so much to these players and to this club,” he said.

“I saw during the week just how driven the boys were to win this game and it showed out there today.

“It wasn’t the prettiest game of football but it came down to determination and resilience which I felt our players demonstrated in spades.

“This team has been through a lot and to finally achieve what we have set out to do for so long is a truly incredible feeling.

A sombre Sydney United 58 coach Miro Vlastelica rued what could’ve been with his side suffering going down after gallant effort to take the game into extra-time.

“That’s football, sometimes it’s cruel and we learnt that today.” Vlastelica said.

“I felt we dominated large sections of the match tonight but in the end we paid the price for conceding two soft goals.

“It hurts but we can be proud of this season and the incredible effort it took to make it to the grand final.”

Match Stats

APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 2 (Galimi 28’, Symons 95’)

Sydney United 58: 1   (Bilic 57’)

Saturday, 31 August 2019

Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta

Referee: Ben Abraham

Assistant Referees: A Giev & B Wright

Fourth official: K Ams

APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 1. Ivan Necevski, 3. Paul Galimi (21. Michael Kouta 73’), 4. Josh Symons, 6. Chris Payne (14 Lachlan Hughes 119’), 7. Tynan Diaz, 8. Corey Biczo (19. Dominon Nasrabadi 119’), 10. Franco Parisi (23. Nick Stavroulakis 102’), 12. Sam McIllhatton, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 16. Sean Symons, 18. Adrian Ucchino

Substitutes not used: 22. Luke Turnbull,

Yellow cards: McIllhatton 35’  

Red cards:

Sydney United 58: 21. Thomas Manos, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 7. Peter Simonoski (19. Joshua McDonald 76’), 8. Matthew Sim, 9. Patrick Antelmi, 12. Liam Rose, 14. Tomislav Uskok, 15. Tariq Maia, 17. Matthew Bilic 5. Anthony Tomelic 90′, 20. Cristian Gonzalez (3. Jordan Roberts 82’), 22. Yianni Fragogiannis.

Substitutes not used: 1. Daniel Sadaka, 6. Petar Markovic,

Yellow cards: Maia 44’, McDonald 105′

Red cards:

Grand Final Player Ratings 

APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS

1 IVAN NECEVSKI 6.5/10

Ever reliable but not overworked but there when the team required. Cool head when called upon.

3 PAUL GALIMI 7.5/10

Netted the opening goal of the game but didn’t desert his defensive duties. Was a workhorse and battled bravely albeit with injury which he succumbed to in the second half.

4 JOSHUA SYMONS 7/10

Dependable and strong in the tackle and once again proved that he is one of APIA’s most consistent defender. Another player who was carrying an injury into the final, he battled well and won his battles.

6 CHRIS PAYNE 7/10

Worked hard and always a threat up front for little reward scoring wise but set up the pass for the winner. Threw himself at everything but missed that elusive goal against his former club.

7 TYNAN DIAZ 7.5/10

Put in his usual seamless performance, helped out in attack when overlapping down the right flank and used all his experience with a good performance for the Tigers.

8 COREY BICZO 7/10

Industrious, willing to chase and hustle throughout. Never gave up and gave his all from the start till the end.

10 FRANCO PARISI 6.5/10

A quiet performance from the mercurial maestro but a vital cog in the well oiled APIA machine.

12 SAM MCILLHATTON 8/10

Enthusiastic outing but picked up a caution in the 35’ for a rash challenge. That did not deter the hard working midfielder who clocked up the kilometres, breaking up play and was a constant pest for APIA.

15 THEMBA MUATA-MARLOW 8/10

The pick of APIA’s back-four. Solid, thorough and completely at ease on the big stage.

16 SEAN SYMONS 9/10 MOTM

Patrolling the left flank, broke up countless attacks in making himself busy. Scored five minutes into extra-time when lobbing  Manos. The former NPL NSW Men’s Player of the Year really rose to the occasion and showed to many why he still is one of the best in the business.

18 ADRIAN UCCHINO 8/10

Toiled away, made himself busy through the middle and supporting the attack. Cleared off the line in second-half stoppage time that all but won the match for his side.

SUBS

14 LACHLAN HUGHES N/A

Subbed on in 120’ (6.Chris Payne)

19 DOMINION NASRABANDI N/A

Subbed on in 120’ (8.Corey Biczo)

21 MICHAEL KOUTA 5/10

Subbed on in 74’ (3.Paul Galimi)

23 NICK STAVROULAKIS 5/10

Subbed on in 102’ (10.Franco Parisi). Stavroulakis made a key interception deep into the second half of extra time that spurred APIA to victory.

SYDNEY UNITED 58

21 THOMAS MANOS 6/10

Made a couple of point blank saves but powerless for the opening goal. Acquitted himself well but left hopelessly stranded for the winning APIA goal.

4 ADRIAN VLASTELICA 7.5/10

Steady, resolute and polished performance from the tall stopper.

7 PETER SIMONOSKI 6.5/10

Busy, hard working. Subbed in the 76’ minute to be replaced by Josh Macdonald which was a shock to many as he looked dangers in patches and looked likely to score.

8 MATTHEW SIM 7.5/10

Always a threat, hustling throughout the match, made key runs and was great with his distribution.

9 PATRICK ANTELMI 6.5/10

Eager early into the match but drifted when man-marked. Threw his weight behind a few opportunities for the lethal marksman but failed to get that goal.

12 LIAM ROSE 8.5/10

Great hold-up and link play Rose was one of the best on the park. Certainly found his form late in the second half of the season and the Grand Final showed yet again that there is life in the former Australian youth international.

14 TOMISLAV USKOK 7/10

Sturdy performance if not glamorous. Did what needed to be done for his side.

15 TARIQ MAIA 7/10

Picked up a caution in the 43’ minute however his bustling style was a constant threat.

17 MATTHEW BILIC 7.5/10

Pulled his side back into the contest when finding the net in the 57’ but forced from the field in the final minute of the match through injury, replaced by Anthony Tomelic. Was energetic and made darting runs constantly on his end.

20 CRISTIAN GONZALEZ 6.5/10

Great work rate and prepared to roll up the sleeves and chase lost causes. Subbed off in the 83’ for Jordan Roberts.

22 YIANNI FRAGOGIANNIS 7/10

Strong performance at right-back, particularly in the early stages of the match. His distribution and tackles were excellent.

SUBS

3 JORDAN ROBERTS 5/10

Subbed on in the 83’ (20.Christian Gonzalez).

5 ANTHONY TOMELIC 5/10

Subbed on in 89’ minute due to injury for goalscorer Matthew Bilic.

19 JOSHUA MCDONALD 5/10

76’ sub (7.Peter Simonoski), picked up a caution at the end of the first period of extra-time.