Thriller at the ‘Palace’ as points shared
It was a thrilling clash between Marconi Stallions and Rockdale Ilinden on Saturday night as both sides shared points in a fierce 2-2 draw.
In Marconi’s first home game of the 2022 season, Peter Tsekenis’ troops put on an entertaining display to equalise twice and end the game with a draw.
Goals to Marconi captain Marko Jesic and Nathan Millgate were enough to cancel out an Alec Urosevski double in the physical encounter that saw six cautions dished out.
Marconi started the match off with plenty of intensity with two shots on target in the first five minutes.
Rockdale looked dangerous in the 15th minute as Urosevski got on the end of a perfectly placed ball that drifted through the air for a header but Marconi ‘keeper Nenad Vekic calmly collected.
Charles Lokolingoy set up an opportunity for Jesic in the 17th minute, but the captain’s shot came off the foot of a Rockdale defender to keep the home side at bay.
Vekic made an impressive save in the 21st minute to deny Chris McStay after he got on the end of a ball from Brayden Sorge.
Urosevski came knocking in the 30th minute but his effort slid across the goalmouth and out of play.
He was quick to come back for more, opening scoring in the match just one minute later.
A free kick from the halfway point gave Rockdale a chance and McStay sent a ball high over to Jaden Casella.
Casella flicked it on to Urosevski who took a touch just outside the 18-yard box and sent his strike past Vekic and into the bottom corner.
This goal opened Urosevski’s goal scoring account for the 2022 NPL NSW Men’s season.
The visitors took their foot off the pedal for the remainder of the first half and entered the break with a one-goal advantage.
It was back and forth between both teams in the early stages of the second half as Marconi put pressure on the visitors as they chased a goal while Rockdale capitalised on counter attack opportunities to make their attacking plays.
After creating a number of opportunities, a goal finally came for the home side in the 68th minute.
Substitute Domenic Costanzo took a free kick in the 68th minute and sent a well-placed ball into the area that Jesic managed to get on the end of and strike into the netting to equalise.
Rockdale came back firing just moments later while the home crowd was still celebrating Marconi’s goal.
Tomoki Wada played a quality through ball to Urosevski just outside the box, who sent his strike sliding out of reach of an outstretched Vekic to score his second of the match.
While the goal took some wind out of Marconi’s sails, they persevered and continued to press for chances, while Ilinden looked for an opportunity to extend their lead.
Emotions were high and the physicality of the game was apparent as two yellow cards were awarded to Jesic and Urosevski in the 70th minute after an altercation that drew in almost everyone on the pitch.
Marconi fans and players alike took to their feet late in the game as they called for a penalty that wasn’t given after a possible handball inside the area.
The perseverance paid off for Marconi with a second equaliser coming in the 89th minute.
A cross in from a free kick, again from Costanzo, landed in prime position for Millgate in front of goal, who directed the ball down and over the line past Bradasevic.
Attacker Thomas James, who made his debut for Marconi after signing in the preseason, almost made an immediate impact in his start at the ‘Palace’.
His attacking prowess gave the home side a chance to equalise in the fourth minute of injury time as he sent a cracking strike on target, but Bradasevic managed to tap it over the crossbar to keep the scores level.
Taylor McDonald had a final chance for Marconi in the dying stages of the match but the visitors managed to hold out a hungry home side and finish the game with a draw.
Marconi coach Peter Tsekenis was proud his side fought to the end.
“We were losing the game at half time and I just couldn’t understand why.
“I’m proud of the boys tonight, they kept fighting and we got a second goal and we had a couple of chances to win it.
“We’ll take the draw overall but it was a tough game and we could have easily pinched it at the end.
“We believe there was a shout for a penalty that wasn’t given.
“It was a tough game, it always is with Rockdale, so we’ll take that point.”
Rockdale Ilinden coach Steve Zoric was pleased with the progress his side was making.
“Our cohesion up front is getting there now,” he explained.
“I was very pleased we opened them up on many occasions and we created so many chances.
“In reality the disappointment is we should have not let it get to that, we should have been 3-1 up.
“In the first half we should have had a couple more and in the early stages of the second half we should have buried them.
“We’re pushing for a Championship and we’ve got a quality squad and I know we’ll be there.
“Time will tell and we’ll just keep going and keep pushing.”
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 2 (Marko Jesic 67’, Nathan Millgate 89’)
Rockdale Ilinden 2 (Alec Urosevski 31’, 68’)
Saturday, 26th March, 2022
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki and Joon Park
Fourth Official: Mujtaba Ebrahimi
Rockdale Ilinden: 1. David Bradasevic, 2. Daniel Petkovski, 3. Lachie Griffiths (15. Jamie Percevski 80’), 4. Mitchell Stamatellis, 6. Daniel Araujo, 7. Alec Urosevksi, 10. Tomoki Wada (8. Nikola Kuleski 80’), 11. Peter Kekeris (9. Bai Antoniou 68’) , 14. Brayden Sorge, 23. Jaden Casella, 88. Chris McStay (16. Mo Ahmed 77’)
Substitutes Not Used: 19 Patty Savor, 31. Ryan James.
Yellow Cards: Mitchell Stamatellis 14’, Daniel Petkovski 56’, Alec Urosevski 70’, Daniel Araujo 90+6’
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 1. Nenad Vekic, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Giorgio Speranza, 7. Christopher Hatfield (9. Thomas James 58’), 10. Marko Jesic, 11. Charles Lokolingoy, 16. Liam Youlley, 17. Martin Fernandez (6. Domenic Costanzo 65’), 19. Zac Cairncross,, 22. Taylor McDonald, 23. Brandon Vella (13. Samuel Gulisano 58’)
Substitutes Not Used: 4. Roberto Speranza, 14. Jarrod Mckinley, 20. Dion Shaw
Yellow Cards: Brandon Vella 54’, Marko Jesic 70’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
1 – Alec Urosevksi (RI)
2 – Marko Jesic (MS)
1 – Nathan Millgate (MS)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Editor Madeline Riley
