United 58 Go Back-To-Back With Victory Over Sutherland
Sydney United 58 have secured their second win of the season with a 3-2 victory over the Sutherland Sharks at Seymour Shaw on Saturday evening.
Seymour Shaw Park has been a happy hunting ground for Sydney United 58, having not lost in their last four visits with two wins and two draws, and the latest encounter did little to change that in Round 2 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.
A late first-half equaliser from James Andrew to cancel out a super Glen Trifiro trademark goal gave the home support hope, but a cool penalty conversion from Chris Payne restored the lead for United 58 and a second-half strike Kyle Cimenti’s gave the visitors a two-goal advantage.
Despite Jason Madonis managing to haul the Sharks back into the match from the spot, United 58 proved too strong and took away the three points from the match.
Cimenti had the first opportunity of the match in the opening minute but couldn’t beat ‘keeper Anthony Bouzanis from the edge of the area after defensive uncertainty in the home defence.
He placed another wide of the post shortly after, when played through the middle from a delightful pass that split the Sharks’ defence.
All the early pressure came from the visitors until Chris Lindsay slipped the ball to Madonis in the 11th minute, who set off on a mazy run through the United 58 defence but sent his shot narrowly wide of the left-hand post.
Nick Sullivan brought a fine save out of Danijel Nizic who clawed the ball out as the Sharks began to find space and time up top.
In reply, Trifiro worked the angles, however his curled effort drifted narrowly wide when cutting in from the left.
Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu deftly slipped the attention of Christian Gonzalez and bore down on goal until his studs caught in the synthetic surface and he went down somewhat unceremoniously without a United 58 defender near him – it was unfortunate and moments later the visitors took the lead through Trifiro.
It was terrific work as the United 58 midfielder maestro bustled his way through the defence and slotted home at the near post.
The goal was finally awarded after a sideline debate between the on-pitch officials.
The goal conceded not taking the wind out of Sutherland’s sails, James Andrew centred from the right to create an opportunity, but Ahmed-Shaibu saw his header slip wide of the framework.
All the good work nearly came undone when Devante Clut fired goalward with a thunderous shot from distance that beat Bouzanis but rebounded back off the post in the 43rd minute.
Despite United 58 being close to doubling their lead, it was Sutherland on the cusp of half-time who restored parity when Andrew got his head on a Madonis cross to level the scores with the Sharks again netting just before the break for the second game running.
There was a sting in the tail when Ahmed-Shaibu was adjudged to have fouled United 58 captain Adrian Vlastelica in the box deep in first-half stoppage time.
Payne stepped up to stroke home from the spot to restore the visitors’ lead at the break and alter the dynamic of the match.
The second period started briskly with a number of half-chances created without a clear-cut opportunity presenting itself, the most notable when Harry Callaghan tried his luck from distance that Nizic gathered at full stretch.
It was midfield attrition until Andre Agamemnonos played a superb defence-splitting pass for Cimenti to run onto and plant emphatically into the net to extend United 58’s lead further.
Vlastelica turned villain when conceding a penalty that Madonis dispatched in the 72nd minute to haul the Sharks back into the match and ensure a grandstand finish. It was his second successive goal since making the switch from Sydney Olympic to the Sharks.
United 58 substitute Patrick Antelmi, back from injury, must have thought he had found the net, but instead brought an amazing double save from Bouzanis, firstly from a header and then a follow-up shot in the 75th minute that defied belief – it was outstanding work from the Sharks gloveman.
United 58 were making life difficult for themselves against a fast-finishing Sharks, but the combination of strong defence and the agility of Nizic kept the home side at bay.
The ball fell invitingly for Mitch Smith to volley hard but again Nizic managed to get a hand to the shot and tip it agonisingly over the bar.
Sutherland were pushing but couldn’t find the net again in going down by the odd goal in five for the second week running.
It was a bitter pill for the Sharks to swallow at the final whistle leaving coach Nick Dimovski to comment “I thought we were the better side…I’m dumbfounded that once again we’re going home without the win.”
“I felt we played really well and finished the match strongly and it’s frustrating that two weeks in a row we’ve given away a penalty, rightly or wrongly they will stay in the history books, and a couple of goals given away that perhaps we shouldn’t have.
“It’s a new team, we’re building and have been ultra-competitive and in our two opening fixtures we’ve played two of the strongest sides in the NPL competition over many years and if the boys have learnt from these games, we look forward to facing Manly United next week.
“The turning point for me was the penalty awarded on the stroke of half-time.
“It changed the dynamic of the game and we had to push hard after the restart to get something from the match but unfortunately we came up wanting in the end, but it was a great effort from the team and we will only get stronger as the season continues.”
United 58 coach, Joe Hayward, never felt relaxed throughout the contest when admitting afterwards that “it wasn’t until the final whistle that we began to feel really comfortable.
“It’s one of those places when you come here you’ve got to fight the environment before you fight the opponent.
“The pitch is a leveler, and you have to compete with that first and if you can do that and win that battle, then you’re okay.
“There were times today when we didn’t manage the pitch well enough, not our opponent but the pitch and it made the boys feel uncomfortable today but I’m happy with them feeling that way so long as we come away with the points.
“Overall, I think our quality shone, particularly the work rate of Kyle [Cimenti] at times during the game and that’s what we’re looking for from the players and you saw at the end there the way our forwards hurried back to help out on defence.
“A good, tough performance today and happy with the win.”
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 2 (James Andrew 45’, Jason Madonis 72’)
Sydney United 58 3 (Glen Trifiro 36’, Chris Payne 45+3’, Kyle Cimenti 60’)
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Saturday, 13th March, 2022
Referee: Nathan Shakespear
Assistant Referees: Hadi Al-Nakkeb and Anastasia Filacouridis
Fourth Official: Harrison Fisher
Sutherland Sharks: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 3. Gabriel Contagiani, 6. Patrick O’Shea, 7. Harry Callaghan (10. Lachlan Everett 70’), 8. Jason Madonis, 12. Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu (9. Jeremy Cox 61’), 14. Chris Lindsay, 17. James Andrew (11. Nikola Taneski, 87’), 21. Michael Neill, 22. Nick Sullivan 18. Mitch Smith 61’), 23. Mark Rodic
Substitutes Not Used: 2. James Baldacchino, 16. Jacob Cremen-Cowan
Yellow Cards: 12. Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu 45+1 minute, Nikola Taneski 89th minute
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58: 1. Danijel Nizic, 2. Christian Gonzalez, 3. Jordan Roberts, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 6. Chris Payne (9. Patrick Antelmi 65’), 8. Kyle Cimenti, 10. Devante Clut, 11. Yianni Perkatis, 14. Andre Agememnonos, 18. Glen Trifiro, 22. Yianni Fragogiannis (17. Matthew Bilic 70’)
Substitutes Not Used: 5. Anthony Tomelic, 15. Tariq Maia, 55. Goran Palecek, 99. Adrian Knez
Yellow Cards: 2. Christian Gonzalez 23, Devante Clut 89’, Patrick Antelmi 90+2’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Kyle Cimenti (SU)
2 – Jason Madonis (SS)
1 – James Andrew (SS)
-By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
