In this week’s National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Match of the Round, both teams put up a huge fight to kick off their 2022 campaign, but it was Sydney United 58 who came out on top with a 1-0 victory over a nine-man Wollongong Wolves at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Wollongong’s Banri Banaizumi and Sanna Stevenson were both sent from the field in the second half of the match, leaving the Wolves down to just nine men as they fought to answer a strike from Sydney United 58 captain Adrian Vlastelica.
The fiery match ended with just the one goal, with the home team securing an important round 1 victory to set the tone for the season under new coach Joe Haywood.
It was Wollongong who started the match with the most fire, with new recruit Kuot Maliet using his pace to cause some early problems for the home team.
Maliet made a blistering run down the left flank in the eighth minute, forcing United 58 ‘keeper Danijel Nizic to pull out a big save.
The home side seemed to settle into the game in the second half of the first stanza, passing well through their attacking half to create a number of goal-scoring opportunities.
Chris Payne was ready to finish a header from a superb cross in the 34th minute but Wollongong custodian Hayden Durose proved too strong, getting down sharply to keep United 58 scoreless.
Jordan Roberts came knocking for the home side just moments later, but it slid past the goal.
Payne came back for another in the 43rd minute, getting behind Wollongong’s defensive line to let off a shot on target, but Durose was ready to deny yet again leaving both sides heading to the halftime break at 0-0.
Returning to the field after the break with plenty of energy, it wasn’t long until the game heated up, with Wollongong’s Banri Kanaizumi earning a straight red card in the 48th minute for a challenge just outside the 18-yard box, leaving the visitors with just 10 men for almost an entire half.
Chris Payne continued to work himself into goal-scoring opportunities, with two chances at the 50th minute mark that he couldn’t convert.
Clut came through with a big chance for the home side sending a stunning strike towards goal but Durose proved his worth yet again, tipping Clut’s strike over the crossbar and out of play.
A goal finally came for United 58 in the 59th minute through captain Adrian Vlastelica.
The defender sent a brilliant ball out of the reach of Durose and into the bottom corner to secure what would be the only goal of the match.
Joe Haywood made the decision to bring on 16-year-old attacker Ayouk Mow in the 76th minute and the crowd was impressed with the youngster’s pace and technical ability, as he made an immediate impact on the game.
As the fiery match continued to heat up, a second red card of the match was awarded to Wollongong in the 80th minute, leaving them with just nine players for the final 10 minutes of the clash.
A careless challenge saw Senna Stevenson awarded his second yellow of the match, after receiving his first in the 30th minute, and saw referee Michael Weiner show him red and direct hi off the pitch.
Both teams continued fighting until the final whistle, but the match finished with a 1-0 victory to the hosts in the opening round of the season.
Sydney United 58 coach Joe Haywood was pleased his side was able to get an opening round win at home.
“I thought it was a good start for us and traditionally the club’s not won its first home game so for us to do that as a group is a great tick in the box,” he said.
“I thought today for the first half we had to compete, first and foremost, and then we started to play the football that we know we can do.
“It was a fiery one with two red cards obviously.
“We could have also been better because the one goal is not good enough – we need to get more in that kind of situation.”
Wollongong Wolves assistant coach Matheus Scapin said he was proud his players fought until the very end
“We must be proud of the boys in terms of the work rate, even towards the end when we had those two red cards,” he said
“Obviously, it’s extremely hard being two players down in the second half and naturally the other team will control a little bit more of the ball.
“Credit to our boys for fighting until the end.”
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 1 (Adrian Vlastelica 58’)
Wollongong Wolves 0
Sunday, 6th March, 2022
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Matthew Staple and Amirhossein Hosnani
Fourth Official: Logan Rhys Jones
Sydney United 58: 1. Danijel Nizic, 2. Cristian Gonzalez, 3. Jordan Roberts, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 6. Chris Payne, 8. Kyle Cimenti (20. Ayouk Mow 76’), 10. Devante Clut,11. Yianni Perkatis, 14. Andrea Agamemnonos, 18. Glen Trifiro, 22. Yianni Fragogiannis (17. Matthew Bilic 62’)
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Jordan Ivanovic, 15. Tariq Maia, 16. Adrian Knez,
Yellow Cards: Yianni Fragogiannis 8’, Yianni Perkatis 54’
Red Cards: N/A
Wollongong Wolves: 1. Hayden Durose, 4. Nikola Djordjevic, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Senna Stevenson, 8. Brendan Griffin, 11. Josh McDonald (10. Takumu Tsujimura 69’), 15. Nick Littler, 16. Guy Knight (19. Jake Lavelle , 20. Kuot Maliet, 22. Leroy Jennings, 24. Lachlan Scott
Substitutes Not Used: 9. Peter Simonoski, 13. Tomas Butkovic, 14. Nicholas Duarte, 18. Evan Ball
Yellow Cards: Senna Stevenson 30’, 80’
Red Cards: Banri Kanaizumi 48’, Senna Stevenson 80’
Player Ratings
3 – Adrian Vlastelica (SU)
2 – Hayden Durose (WW)
1 – Jordan Roberts (SU)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Editor Madeline Riley