Late Antelmi Winner Secures Crucial Victory for United 58
A last-minute Patrick Antelmi goal gave Sydney United 58 a second-straight win, as they defeated Sutherland Sharks 1-0 at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
After a stale first half, the sides began to flow in attack and open their opposing defences up in search of a goal.
With some golden chances being missed by both sides throughout the match, it seemed inevitable that the game would end in a draw.
The vocal home crowd waited 90 minutes but were eventually treated to a dramatic ending with Antelmi powering home the winner in the last minute of play.
The win gives United 58 crucial points to keep them among the tight pack fighting for the Premiership on the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s ladder.
Antelmi had the first real chance of the game after a promising run from Jordan Roberts allowed him to pick out the striker at the near post, with his effort going wide from close range.
Both sides struggled to stay onside in the opening plays of the game, frustrating the attacking players.
Sutherland began to find success on the counter-attack and came close when Chris Lindsay picked out Jason Madonis on the volley, with his piercing effort deflected away by the home defence.
With half time looming and a free kick awarded from close range, Glen Trifiro stepped up in an attempt to secure a lead with a dangerous curling effort that narrowly missed the target.
After a rather uneventful and flat first half of action, the sides went into the sheds at a deadlock with neither team taking any real momentum.
The hosts started the second half strongly, camping Sutherland in their half and forcing them into numerous corners.
United 58’s pressure was nearly rewarded, when Chris Payne headed it on to Tariq Maia with his header forcing an incredible save from Anthony Bouzanis.
Sutherland found themselves in some promising areas in the second half but became wasteful with their balls into the area not being able to pick out a target.
James Andrew called Danijel Nizic into the action for the first time in the second half, after his curling effort forced the United 58 keeper into a notable save.
Sutherland came agonisingly close to an opener in the 67th minute when Andrew again found himself with a sight of goal from close range.
The attacker beat Nizic but was sensationally denied by Roberts on the line.
Although the second half had a much faster flow to the game, both sides were continually plagued by offsides and giving away free kicks.
The Sharks began to look likely in the later stages of the game, with Madonis being picked out by Lachlan Everett only for his effort to narrowly go wide.
With the floodlights turning on, the game began to open up with both sides pushing numbers forward in search of what undoubtedly would be the winning goal.
After finding a second wind in the final minutes of play, Matthew Bilic sent Trifiro through on goal and with room to get his shot off, the United 58 captain overhit his shot, much to the delight of the Sharks defence.
The deadlock was finally broken in the final minute of regulation, after a powerful long-range effort from Roberts deflected perfectly into the path of Antelmi.
With a clear path at goal ahead of him, the United 58 striker smashed his effort into the back of the net, sending the home fans wild.
Sutherland pushed hard during injury time, but United 58 were determined to hold them out and hang out for a much-needed win.
It was a dramatic ending and one that will leave the Sharks heartbroken, walking away from Edensor Park with nothing to show from the tough battle.
United 58 coach, Miro Vlastelica was impressed with his side’s effort and determination until the end.
“It’s always good to get the win, especially at home with a decent turnout,” he said.
“Prior to when I got here there were things that just didn’t fall for us, and when we needed luck to go our way a little it did.
“We didn’t stop working, the boys looked tired and we had a big game mid-week and you could see that today, the boys didn’t stop and we got that goal.
“We were solid [defensively] and they were very direct but we dealt with that, for us it was getting our midfielders into the game, in the end a win is a win and it’s good to get it.”
Sutherland coach Luis Contigiani was disappointed with the result but noted his side’s impressive performance.
“It’s the same every week, it was a good performance but we end up losing,” he said.
“We play well and we did a lot of things well, but we couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.
“They get one rebound and they can score and we can’t do that, it’s the difference and it’s happening week in and week out, we can’t seem to score and that’s our problem.
“Don’t get me wrong they’re a good team, but one opportunity and they bury it and my boys can’t, it’s disappointing.”
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 FC 1 (Antelmi 90’)
Sutherland Sharks FC 0
Sunday 29th May 2022
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistant Referees: Cameron Wright and Amirhossein Hosnani
Fourth Official: Melik Ibrahim
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Danijel Nizic, 3. Jordan Roberts, 5. Anthony Tomelic, 6. Christopher Payne, 9.Patrick Antelmi, 10. Devante Clut (8. Kyle Cimenti 63’), 15. Tariq Maia, 17. Matthew Billic, 18. Glen Trifiro, 22. Yianni Fragogiannis 23. Adrian Knez (13. Jordan Ivancic 71’)
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Ante Vojvodic, 4. Nicholas Zdrilic, 21. Mihael Marcic, 55. Goran Palecek
Yellow Cards: Payne 40’, Knez 63’
Red Card: Nil
Sutherland Sharks FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. James Baldacchino, 6. Patrick O’Shea (99. Lachlan Macdonald 60’), 8. Jason Madonis, 9. Jeremy Cox, 10. Lachlan Everett, 14. Chris Lindsay, 17. James Andrew, 18. Mitchell Smith (12. Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu 45’), 22. Nick Sullivan (25. Luke Sauer 83’), 23. Mark Rodic,
Substitutes Not Used: 3.Gabriel Contigiani, 26. Jacob Cremen-Cowan, 31. Sebastian Cerecedo
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Card: Nil
*Player Ratings have now been hidden
Written by National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter, Dominic Criniti @DominicCriniti
