Manly United secured a convincing 4-1 victory over APIA Leichhardt at Cromer Park on Saturday night which sent a message to the remaining NPL NSW Men’s clubs that the Northern Beaches side will be pushing for a finals series spot.
A very early goal to Manly’s Brazlian ace Bruno Mendes set the standard for the match, with Thomas Fay extending the lead for the hosts in the 24th minute.
Fay came back for a second after the break, taking the lead to three in the 53rd minute before captain Jimmy Oates completed the four-goal haul for the Northern Beaches outfit in the 56th minute.
One consolation goal to APIA’s Diego Celis in the 80th minute was all that the Inner West side could muster from the match as they struggled to replicate the impressive performances they have had so far this season.
Manly United were quick to set the tone for the match, opening fire in the third minute through Mendes, who chipped ‘keeper Luke Turnbull.
Turnbull managed to get high enough to get a hand to it but it wasn’t enough to stop the Brazilian as the ball fell into the back of the net.
APIA went forward with a chance to equalise but as they called for a handball, Jason Romero fired a strike that ricocheted off the crossbar.
APIA had another chance in the 22nd minute as Romero stole the ball and ran forward before cutting back to Celis who fired high above the goal.
Manly United extended their league in the 24th minute through Fay.
Seiya Kambayashi played the ball to Fay just outside the 18-yard-box in a central position and he fired a left-footed shot into the net, out of reach of Turnbull.
The hosts came close to a third just before the break as Kambayashi received a ball over the top as he darted forward, but his shot was deflected by Turnbull leaving Manly to head to the half-time break with a two-goal lead.
Despite pressure from the visitors when they returned to the field, it was Manly who scored first in the second half as Fay completed his brace.
A fast-played free kick saw Manly with a quick attacking opportunity and Luka Kmet and Fay played off each other, before Kmet passed to Fay at the edge of the box and he fired the ball at the goal.
Turnbull managed to get in the way of the ball but couldn’t send it away from the goal as it bounced over the line.
Manly went for more in the 56th minute and further extended their lead through captain Jimmy Oates.
Oates scored his third of the year from the edge of the 18-yard box, clinically shooting to secure what would be Manly’s final goal of the night.
Tensions continued to rise in the battle as both sides continued to apply pressure – APIA hoping to get back in the game and Manly to see if they could get more from the match.
A goal finally came for the visitors in the 80th minute as Celis sent a thundering strike towards the target from long range.
The goal served as a small consolation to APIA Leichhardt, who couldn’t get anything else from the match despite continued effort in the dying stages of the match.
We would also like to extend our well wishes to former APIA Leichhardt FC legend David D’Apuzzo, our thoughts are with you and his family.
Match Stats
Manly United FC 4 (Mendes 3’, Fay 24’, 53’, Oates 56’)
APIA Leichhardt FC 1 (Celis 80’)
Saturday, 28th May, 2022
Cromer Park, Cromer
Referee: Sam Kelly
Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki and Alessandro Llana
Fourth Official: Ayad Naji
Manly United FC: 3. Jesse Piriz, 4. James Oates, 5. Thomas Fay, 7. Seiya Kambayashi (24. Mitchell Mattison 79’), 8. Dominic Ferguson (6. James Georgaklis 53’), 10. Luka Kmet (11. Matthew Sim 68’), 12. Finn Ashton (15. Kristian Santich 79’), 18. Lucas Rainbird, 19. Alen Aganovic, 20. Jack Greenwood, 22. Bruno Mendes (9. Benjamin Koop 68’)
Substitutes Not Used: 17. Zenden Hart
Yellow Cards: Mendes 60’
Red Cards: Nil
APIA Leichhardt FC: 4. Joshua Symons (3. Paul Galimi 78’), 5. Nicholas Azzone (19. Fabian Monge 45’), 8. Diego Celis, 9. Jason Romero (20. Nathanael Blair 62’), 14. Jack Armson, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow (21. Michael Kouta 70’), 16. Sean Symons, 18. Adrian Ucchino, 22. Luke Turnbull, 23. Walter Scott, 38. Yianni Nicolaou
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Gene Marantos, 10. Franco Parisi,
Yellow Cards: Scott 38’, Ucchino 64’, Kouta 78’, Galimi 93’
Red Cards: Nil
*Player Ratings have now been hidden