APIA return to the winners circle with victory over Sky Blues
APIA Leichhardt has moved off the bottom of the NPL NSW ladder with a 3-2 win against a ten-man Sydney FC at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
A brace to Franco Parisi and a goal to Corey Biczo was enough for APIA to collect only their second win of the season against a fast-finishing Young Sky Blues outfit.
Patrick Flottman and Aiden Mostofi found the back of the net for the home side, but the send-off of Scott Browning in the 80th minute all but killed off Sydney FC’s hopes of a comeback.
It was APIA’s biggest victory, goal wise, in 2021, even without Blake Powell who was out through injury, the club did their bit to find the back of the net that they’ve struggled to do so far during the start of the season.
The visitors made a fast start to the contest and were rewarded for their early endeavour as Biczo found the back of the net after only 13 minutes.
Biczo received the ball from close range after ‘keeper Pavlesic made a nice save to parry a previous shot and then drove it hard and low into the bottom corner of the net to give the visitors the lead.
In the 21st minute, APIA doubled their lead. A dangerous floating corner by Sean Symons was hand-balled in the area by Jayden Trenkoski, and referee Katie Patterson immediately awarded a penalty.
Up stepped the mercurial veteran, the ‘maestro’ Franco Parisi, who dispatched the spot-kick with perfection, sending the goalkeeper in the opposite direction.
Sydney FC had a great chance in the 26th minute: Antonio Saracino beautifully found Jordan Swibel, who drove it hard and low, but ‘keeper Ivan Necevski was able to scramble back and smother the ball at the crucial moment.
At the half-hour mark, APIA swung back into action when Sammy McIlhatton, against his former club, tried a volley from just outside the box that went just over the crossbar.
Shortly afterwards, Mathieu Cordier tried his luck with a volley from inside the box, but his effort required more punch on it to really trouble Adam Pavlesic. The visitors thus went into the break with a two-goal lead.
Early in the second half APIA Leichhardt had their second penalty when Aaron Gurd handled the ball in the area, and referee Patterson once again did not hesitate and pointed to the spot. It was the same result as the first half penalty.
Parisi scored by sending the ‘keeper the wrong way notching up the maestro’s third goal of the 2021 campaign.
Sydney FC scored a scrappy goal in reply through Patrick Flottman in the 62nd minute. A corner seemed to bobble everywhere, and, in the end, thanks to a toe-poke close to the line, Flottman placed it in the back of the net.
Sean Symons fired from outside the box in the 65th minute, but, luckily for the Young Sky Blues, the ball was deflected and hit the side netting.
Sydney FC almost did the same thing a few minutes later at the other end of the field when Adrian Segecic also fired into the side netting with his powerful attempt.
Scott Browning, the captain of Sydney FC, was sent off in the 80th minute for his second bookable offence, and unfortunately, it forced his side to play the remainder of the game a player down. And with it, any faint hopes of a miraculous comeback were thwarted.
Even though in stoppage time, Mostofi drove home from close range after a corner was deflected and reached him at the far post. It was to be too little, too late for Sydney FC.
After the game, APIA Leichhardt’s stand-in coach and former player Nick Stavroulakis, deputising for Paul Dee, was pleased with the result and his team’s effort.
“We spoke about the one-percenters before the game, but unfortunately, we just lacked that with the two goals that we conceded,” he said.
“In the last three to four games, things haven’t gone our way, but tonight was different.
“I felt that Paul Dee’s philosophy and model was present tonight, and the boys are reaping the benefits slowly. There is still a lot of work to do, but tonight’s close score is not a true reflection of our great performance.
“The boys definitely appreciate three points, and they celebrated accordingly in the dressing room. Our players have stuck together and gone through things together this season, so it is tightly knit group, which is great for our club which is always very pleasing.”
Sydney FC’s coach Jim van Weeren was somewhat disappointed with the overall outcome.
“We are own worst enemy at times with two ridiculous errors costing us goals in the first half,” he said.
“One was a turnover coming out from the back, and the second was a handball.
“I am still pleased that we are creating chances, but we still need to be better. We cannot make the mistakes we make and chase the game from three goals down.”
Match Stats
SYDNEY FC: 2 (Flottman 62’, Mostofi 92’)
APIA LEICHHARDT: 3 (Biczo 13’ Parisi 21’, 49’)
Sunday, 18th April 2021
Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
Referee: Katie Patterson
Assistant Referees: S.Edeling, J.Park
Fourth Official: I. Conc
SYDNEY FC: 40.Adam Pavlesic, 3.Aaron Gurd, 5.Thomas Fay, 6.Thomas Main (13.Corey Hollman 52’), 9.Antonio Saracino (7.Aidan Simmons 66’), 11.Adrian Segesic, 15.Scott Browning, 17.Jayden Trenkoski (14.Aiden Mostofi 46’, 23.Callum Talbot (2. Cameron Fong 66’), 26. Patrick Flottman, 27.Jordan Swibel.
Substitutes not used: 1.Levi Kaye, 4.Nathan Grimaldi.
Yellow Cards: Browning 58’, Gurd 60’
Red Card: Browning 80’
APIA LEICHHARDT: 1.Ivan Necevski, 2.William Mutch, 4.Joshua Symons, 8.Corey Biczo (6.Harry Callahan 74’), 10.Franco Parisi (26.Vincent Fedele 88’), 11.Mathieu Cordier, 16.Sean Symons, 18.Adrian Ucchino, 20.Samuel McIlhatton, 21.Michael Kouta, 23.Gian Fiorese.
Substitutes not used: 3.Paul Galimi, 5.Nicholas Azzone, 22.Luke Turnbull, 24.Christian Cirino
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Card: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Franco Parisi (AL)
2 – William Mutch (AL)
1 – Adrian Segesic (SFC)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo
