United 58 and Rangers Play Out Entertaining Draw
Sydney United 58 and Mt Druitt Town Rangers played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon, with the visitors coming from behind twice to get their first points of the season.
United 58’s Glen Trifiro opened the scoring for the hosts with a magnificent free kick, shortly before Mt Druitt’s John Roberts levelled the score with a header.
Patrick Antelmi converted from the penalty spot at the hour mark to send United 58 into the lead but it was answered in the 67th minute, as Louis Khoury capped off a brilliant game with the second equaliser for the visitors.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers entered this game winless from the opening two rounds, having conceded nine goals while Sydney United 58 came into this match-up looking for a third straight win to add to their formidable start to the season.
Rhett Desilva missed the first real chance to send his side into an early lead, after his powerful shot just sailed wide.
The teams began to adjust to the tempo of the game, playing a relaxed style of football as they worked the ball into areas of danger.
As United 58 began to turn up the heat, Trifiro stepped up to take a free kick from just outside the box.
The experienced midfielder neatly slotted it into the bottom corner to secure the opening goal of the game in the 31st minute.
Mt Druitt responded instantly after conceding, finding their own goal through Roberts in the 34th minute.
After a deflected cross landed at the back stick, Roberts managed to get his head to it and hammered the ball off the crossbar and in for the equaliser.
United 58’s fullbacks Cristian Gonzalez and Jordan Roberts caused plenty of headaches for the Rangers’ defence in the second half with their dangerous runs forward and accurate balls into the box.
United 58 ‘keeper Danijel Nizic ensured his side remained level after stopping a powerful free kick from Jack Stewart.
The hosts came within inches of doubling their advantage after a saved shot from Trifiro fell perfectly to Chris Payne, but his effort was narrowly deflected wide of an empty net.
The sides were held level at the half-time break with one goal each.
United 58 opened the second half with a period of dominance, camping themselves in the Rangers’ half.
They came closest through Patrick Antelmi who placed a shot past Robert Fanella’s reach but agonisingly saw his shot bounce back off the post.
The hosts patiently attacked in search of a second goal, and were gifted a golden opportunity when Khoury brought down Antelmi in the box, resulting in a penalty for United 58.
Antelmi stepped up and sent Fanella the wrong way, taking back the lead for the hosts in the 60th minute.
Khoury sensationally recovered from his mistake to put his side back on level terms after his powerful effort curled past Nizic in the 67th minute.
Coming off the bench, Matthew Billic had an instant impact on the game and found the back of net moments after coming on, only to be ruled offside in the lead up play.
With the pressure mounting on the Rangers’ defence, Luke Trajkovski and Fumoto Kamada both put their bodies on the line, stopping what looked to be certain goals in the late stages of the game.
With the seconds ticking away, Antelmi found himself a golden opportunity to win the game, after Gonzalez played a perfect chip ball into the box.
The striker overpowered his shot and was left to ponder, as he saw his effort go over the bar.
Mt Druitt pressed until the final moments with both Roberts and Stewart having chances to steal the win.
However, the sides had to settle for a draw in what was an entertaining and drama-filled 90 minutes.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers coach, Stewart Montgomery, was proud of his side’s comeback and was happy to get his first win of 2022.
“Today we put in a really good team performance against a really good side, United were very composed and difficult to play against,” he said.
“Overall very happy to get going and get some points on the board, we’ve been unlucky in our first two games, the boys will be proud of today.
“To do that [come from behind] against United, away from home, that was important that we laid down a marker”.
Sydney United 58 coach, Joe Haywood, was frustrated that his side did not walk away with the win.
“Overall frustrating, I thought we were the better team for large portions of the game but we didn’t capitalise,” he said.
“Today I just think in the game we were frustrated, we had a lot of the ball, we need to move it quick enough and create more chances.”
“Disappointed to not come away with the points, but happy we didn’t lose the game also.”
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 FC 2 (Trifiro 31’, Antelmi 60’)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 2 (Roberts 34’, Khoury 67’)
Sunday 20th March 2022
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Harrison Fisher, Brodie Merchant
Fourth Official: Hadi Al-Nakeeb
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Danijel Nizic, 2. Cristian Gonzalez, 3. Jordan Roberts, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 6. Christopher Payne (17. Matthew Billic 71’), 9. Patrick Antelmi, 10. Devante Clut (11.Yianni Perkatis 80’), 14. Andreas Agamemnonos, 18. Glen Trifiro, 19. Mihael Marcic 22. Yianni Fragogiannis
Substitutes not used: 5. Anthony Tomelic, 13. Jordan Ivancic, 15. Tariq Maia, 55. Goran Palecek
Yellow Cards: Gonzalez, Antelmi
Red Card: Nil
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC: 2. Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika (12. Jake Trajkovski 18’), 4. Travis Oughtred, 6. Louis Khoury, 7. Jack Stewart, 8. Jason Perez, 9. John Roberts (30.Richard Cardozo 91’), 10. Diogo Barbosa (19.Bul Juach 69’), 11. Fumoto Kamada, 20. Robert Fanella, 21. Tarek Elrich, 22. Rhett Desilva (17.Cooper Coskerie 45’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Matthew Symes, 13. Jorge Tavares
Yellow Cards: Roberts, Barbosa
Red Card: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Glen Trifiro (SU58)
2 – Louis Khoury (MDTR)
1 – Cristian Gonzalez (SU58)
