Ilinden and United 58 settle for draw

Sydney United 58 has dug deep to claim a point in a scoreless grand final rematch against Rockdale Ilinden at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

Early dominance from Rockdale equated to nothing as poor finishing and an improved second half from United 58 ensured both sides shared the spoils.

Neither side was able to produce that one moment of inspiration to take all three points in an entertaining end-to-end game of football.

Rockdale was on the attack from kick-off and created two early chances

A Tomaki Wada free-kick crept narrowly over the frame of the goal in the sixth before Alec Urosevski headed wide from another Antoniou centre from the right only moments later.

Urosevski turned provider for Wada who scuffed his shot and another Rockdale chance went begging.

A last-ditch tackle from Banri Kanazumi inside the box had to be timed to perfection to deny a United 58 opportunity as the visitors began to push Rockdale back and relieve the pressure from their own defence.

What ensued was a game of cat and mouse in midfield, both searching for the opening.

Kyle Cimenti thought he had found it in the 28th minute when bursting through from the left but he curled his shot agonisingly wide of the upright.

Antoniou squared the ball for Wada whose cross found Sorge in space on the right but again the effort was wide of the mark on the half-hour. United 58 were yet to register anything on target.

Daniel Bradasevic made his first save, from Jackson Khoury, in the final minute of the half but with no goals scored in the opening period, both went to the break in a semi-satisfied mood but more urgency was required at the resumption.

Glen Trifiro, the stalwart of United 58s midfield, attempted a curling shot when cutting in from the left that never troubled Bradasevic but it was a sign of intent from the visitors.

Urosevski replied forcing Daniel Nizic into a fine save off a Cimenti pull back. The match had finally sparked into life and Trifiro went close again at the other end.

Jordan Roberts then found himself in space and had more time than he thought but again the shot was hurried and flashed wide of the goal.

Chances were being created by both but the lack of composure at times was alarming and when Michael Neill fashioned himself a decent opening, he managed to find the side netting.

Roberts centred for Devante Clut, his last action of the match when replaced by Tariq Maia, whose header could only find Bradasevic and the stalemate continued.

Urosevski was played through with a delightful pass from Mitchell Stamatellis however United 58 skipper, Adrian Vlastelica was able to make up the ground and deny the chance to shoot with a perfectly-timed tackle.

An unsightly scuffle in the 83rd minute ended with a flurry of cautions issued before play was able to resume, the occasion boiling over.

It made for a very lively finish to the match but with no goals, the points were shared at the whistle.

Rockdale coach Steve Zoric rued an opportunity lost as his side paid the price for their poor finishing in front of goal.

“We had them back-peddling for long spells during the first half and created plenty of chances but we couldn’t put them away,” he said.

“We seemed a little flat today but should have capitalised on the first-half chances and we knew they would come at us stronger after the break.

“They came at us quicker in the second half and we adjusted well but the lack of composure in the final third today let us down.

“What is pleasing is a fourth clean sheet in a row and that’s always a bonus and we’ll tackle our FFA Cup opponents, Prospect United, here on Wednesday night in the right frame of mind.”

Tomi Vidovic, United 58 coach echoed the sentiment of his rival.

“Today was definitely not a nil-nil game,” he said.

”There were chances at both ends, some very good ones.

“We came here with a plan today and we executed that quite well and we could have won it but we’ll move forward from here and take the point.”

Match Stats

Rockdale Ilinden 0

Sydney United 58 0

Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale

Sunday, 25th April 2021

Referee: Michael Weiner

Assistant. Referees: Joon Park & Matthew Staples

Fourth Official: Ivica Covic

Rockdale Ilinden: 1.David BRADASEVIC, 2.Daniel PETKOVSKI, 3.Michael NEILL (99.James TEMELKOVSKI 90+3), 4.Mitchell STAMATELLIS, 5.Banri KANAZUMI, 7.Alec UROSEVSKI, 8.Tomaki WADA, 9.Bai ANTONIOU (11.Samual GULISANO 72’), 14.Brayden SORGE, 19.Patrick SAVOR, 23.Kyle CIMENTI (6.Daniel ARAUJO 62’)

Substitutes not used: 10.Amaury GAUTHIER, 13.Zac SFILIGOI, 31.Andrew DI BLASIO

Yellow Cards: Neill 80’, Petkovski 84’, Urosevski 84’, Stamatellis 90+2

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney United 58: 1.Daniel NIZIC, 2.Christian GONZALEZ, 3.Jordan ROBERTS, 4.Adrian VLASTELICA,  99.Jackson KHOURY (9.Patrick ANTELMI 72’), 8.Matthew SIM, 10.Devante CLUT (15.Tariq MAIA 76’), 14.Andrea AGAMEMNONOS, 16.Jacob POSCILEIRO, 18.Glen TRIFIRO, 22.Yianni FRAGOGIANNIS

Substitutes not used: 5.Luke VLASTELICA, 12.Sallu KAMARA, 21.Josip ORLOVIC

Yellow Cards: Roberts 84’, Nizic 84’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 –  Trifiro (SU)

2 – Wada (RI)

1 – Urosevski (RI)

By National Premier Leagues NSW Reporter Micky Brock