Stallions gallop to victory at the ‘Palace’ despite late drama
Marconi Stallions took all three points with a 4-2 victory over Sydney United 58 at Marconi Stadium on Saturday night in a six-goal thriller.
There was plenty of action and excitement at the Palace as a late comeback from the visitors had home fans on the edge of their seats, but the hosts’ held on to secure the victory.
Charles Lokolingoy, Domenic Costanzo, Thomas James and Samuel Gulisano all added points to the scoreboard in the home side’s second win of the season, the first since their opening victory over Sutherland Sharks in Round 1.
Two consolation goals to Kyle Cimenti got the visitors on the scoreboard late in the game but wasn’t enough to change the result of the match.
The win, and successful attacking display, will give Marconi important momentum as they head into a make-up clash with Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Tuesday night.
While the performance will give Marconi positive momentum, the result will leave United 58 scratching their heads as they continue a lackluster run in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.
Marconi opened the scoring early through Lokolingoy as Costanzo made a promising forward run before cutting to the burly striker in front of goal.
Lokolingoy clinically finished to send the ball into the netting and take an early lead in the 5th minute as well as notching up his fifth goal of the NPL NSW Men’s campaign.
Costanzo had another chance in the 10th minute as he received a stunning ball from James and ran towards goal, but his strike was sent blazing past the goalmouth.
James had an opportunity in the 14th minute as he sent a strike towards the goal, but it hit the crossbar, much to the dismay of the Marconi faithful.
Sydney United 58 missed a golden opportunity in the 19th minute as Patrick Antelmi made a speedy run behind Marconi defender Rob Speranza, drawing out goalkeeper Nenad Vekic in the process.
Vekic couldn’t stop Antelmi on his run, leaving the striker with an open goal, but his effort flew past the goal.
Joe Haywood must have given an inspirational half-time talk as United 58 came out firing in the second half looking to crawl back from their one-goal deficit.
Matthew Bilic stepped up to take a free kick in a dangerous area just outside the 18-yard box in the 49th minute but his shot soared above the crossbar.
Costanzo showed off his talent in the 56th minute, doubling the hosts’ lead with an impressive display of technical ability.
The young-gun managed to intercept the ball from United 58’s defensive line and calmly sent the ball into the netting from outside the 18-yard box.
Tariq Maia came forward for the visitors in the 57th minute, sending a shot towards the goal from well outside the 18-yard box but it drifted wide of the sticks.
Costanzo made a speedy run down the left flank in the 59th minute before crossing to Lokolingoy who had the perfect chance to finish off a sitter but was well off target.
Lokolingoy continued to hunt for more and came close in the 65th minute, but his shot was tipped over the crossbar by Danijel Nizic.
The hosts took the lead to three in the 71st minute as Connor Evans combined with James.
Evans crossed in from the left to James in front of the goal and the number nine tapped it in from close range.
United scored a consolation goal in the 85th minute as substitute Jordan Ivancic sent a delightful cross from outside the 18-yard box into Kyle Cimenti in the area.
Cimenti cleanly headed home the ball to get United 58 on the scoreboard and ruin Marconi’s hopes of a clean sheet.
Chris Payne set up Cimenti for another in the 91st minute after receiving a quality ball from Trifiro.
Payne cut it to Cimenti at the far post, who tapped it in despite a strong challenge from Marconi substitute Zac Cairncross, who left the field after colliding with the post.
Substitute Sam Gulisano sealed the deal for Marconi in the 95th minute after Nizic left his post to come up for a corner kick.
After the visitors’ corner effort fizzled out, Vella collected the ball and sent it over the top to Chris Hatfield up the park.
As United 58s defence scrambled back, Hatfield took his time and played the ball to Gulisano, who slid the ball into the goal from great distance.
Marconi coach Peter Tsekenis was pleased with his side’s performance and result.
“I thought we totally dominated the game,” he said.
“They had a clear-cut chance when we were 1-0 up and we finally got some luck our way and we got to a 3-0 lead which was well deserved and probably could have scored a few more.
“We’re creating a lot of goals, and that’s not only today, but today we managed to get four and that was enough to win the game and the performance matched the result today and I’m very happy.
“We had to make some changes late in the game because we’ve got a Tuesday match and it almost came back to bite us but I think we deserved that result.”
Sydney United 58 coach Joe Haywood explained his side needed to focus on not conceding goals as they move forward in the competition.
“We’ve got to stop conceding goals, that’s our main thing at the moment and in both halves we didn’t do that so we’ve got to find a way of doing that as a group,” he said.
“We’ve just got to find that rhythm as a group and stop conceding the goals because I know we can score goals like we showed in the last 10 minutes or so.”
Haywood also touched on the injuries affecting the squad and the importance of having a fully fit team moving forward.
Losing suspended Yianni Fragogiannis as well as injuries to skipper Adrian Vlastelica, Christian Gonzalez and Jacob Poscoliero have really hurt the team’s defensive stocks.
“If you look at the defenders we had out today we had four defenders out today, which unstabilizes the team,” he explained.
“There is consistency there but within the squad, we need to get everybody back, fit, firing together and working in the right direction and players taking responsibility, coaching staff taking responsibility for what we’re trying to do as a group.”
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions FC 4 (Charles Lokolingoy 5’, Domenic Costanzo 56’, Thomas James 71’, Samuel Gulisano 90+5’)
Sydney United 58 FC 2 (Cimenti 85’, 90+1’
Saturday, 23rd April, 2022
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistant Referees: Cameron Wayne Wright and Joon Park
Fourth Official: Logan Rhys Jones
Marconi Stallions: 1. Nenad Vekic, 2. Nathan Millgate (19. Zach Cairncross 84’), 3. Giorgio Speranza, 4. Roberto Speranza, 6. Domenic Costanzo (7. Christopher Hatfield 70’), 8. Connor Evans (23. Brandon Vella 74’), 9. Thomas James, 10. Marko Jesic, 11. Charles Lokolingoy (17. Martin Fernandez 74’), 16. Liam Youlley (13. Samuel Gulisano 84’), 22. Taylor McDonald
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Ashton Maher
Yellow Cards: Nathan Millgate 46’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Danijel Nizic, 3. Jordan Roberts (21. Mihael Marcic 67’), 5. Anthony Tomelic, 8. Kyle Cimenti, 9. Patrick Antelmi, 10. Devante Clut, 11.Yianni Perkatis, 14. Andreas Agamemnonos, 15. Tariq Maia (6. Christopher Payne 58’), 17. Matthew Billic (13. Jordan Ivancic 74’), 18. Glen Trifiro
Substitutes Not Used: 4. Ante Vojvodic, 16. Adrian Knez, 55. Goran Palecek
Yellow Cards: Jordan Roberts 23’, Yianni Perkatis 56’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Domenic Costanzo (MS)
2 – Thomas James (MS)
1 – Charles Lokolingoy (MS)
Written by National Premier Leagues NSW Editor Madeline Riley
