Manly United triumphed over Sutherland Sharks on Friday night with a 2-1 victory at Cromer Park with Brazilian ace Bruno Mendes stealing the show with one of the goals of the NPL NSW Men’s season.
Manly have the wonderful Mendes to thank after the Brazilian’s big night out saw them move into first place, the winner leading the way for ‘Goal of the Season’.
Unbeaten in five and in search of their first win over Sutherland since 2018, Adam Griffiths’ side started the better of the two as the visitors struggled to find their way out of their own half.
It was the home side who produced the first real chance in the 7th minute after a lofted ball into the box found Manly forward Mendes, whose glancing header amongst a number of bodies flew just wide of Anthony Bouzanis’ far post.
Although under the pump, it was Sutherland who found the back of the net first in the 17th minute via Nick Sullivan’s low drive that fell to him off the back of a Chris Lindsay corner.
Unfortunately for Sutherland the finish was rubbed off after James Andrews was ruled to be offside, impeding the view of goalkeeper Jack Greenwood.
Deservingly, it was Sutherland who drew first blood in the 30th minute through James Andrews. The winger latched onto a low Jeremy Cox cross, guiding the ball into the net via the post.
Looking to return serve, Manly pressed down the flank through Seiya Kambayashi, whose inch perfect cross found Mendes, the forward again failing to guide the ball home from point blank range.
With the contest drawing towards half time, Manly right back Jesse Piriz came inches from a contender for ‘Goal of the Season’ in the 43rd minute after his cross from the right caught Bouzanis out and clattered against his far post.
In the final minute of the half it was Kambayashi who went a whisker from the equalizer, after his low strike went agonizingly wide, leaving his trailing as they headed to the break.
Manly hit the ground running in the second half as they pressed to level the scores and came close once again in the 48th minute via the head of Jesse Piriz.
Knocking on the door continuously, Adam Griffiths would have been wondering what his side needed to do to find the back of the net, especially after Mendes had another shot saved by Bouzanis in the 59th minute.
The goalkeeper was called on after Kambayashi’s exquisite delivery left Mendes one-on-one with the custodian. Mendes’ point blank strike was miraculously denied by Bouzanis’ outstretched left hand.
Manly eventually found their equaliser in the 72nd minute through Mendes. The forward placed himself on the end of a dangerous Matthew Sim cross, tapping home a deserved leveller from three yards out.
Pushing for the go-ahead goal, Kambayashi was at the centre of the action once more in the 76th, cutting in on his right and lashing home a strike that was again saved by Bouzanis, his vital touch guiding the ball over the bar.
In the 80th minute, Manly United found their second in a sensational effort – the now frontrunner for ‘Goal of the Season’.
Mendes, the man for the big moment, sent Cromer Park into raptures with his jaw dropping bicycle leaving Bouzanis rooted to the spot as he wheeled away in celebration much to the delight of every United fan.
Ultimately, it was Mendes’ stunner that proved to be enough as United saw out the closing stages with little trouble from the Sutherland attack.
The three points currently sees Manly leapfrog into first place.
Match Stats
Manly United FC 2 (Bruno Mendes 72’, 80’)
Sutherland Sharks FC 1 (James Andrew 30’)
Friday, 3rd June, 2022
Cromer Park, Cromer
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Alessandro Llana and Joel Crawford
Fourth Official: Ivica Covic
Manly United FC: 3. Jesse Piriz, 4. James Oates, 5. Thomas Fay (9. Benjamin Koop 55’), 7. Seiya Kambayashi, 8. Dominic Ferguson (6. James Georgaklis 55’), 10. Luka Kmet (15. Kristian Santich 14’), 12. Finn Ashton (11. Matthew Sim 70’), 18. Lucas Rainbird (2. Kieren Paull 70’), 19. Alen Aganovic, 20. Jack Greenwood, 22. Bruno Mendes
Substitutes Not Used: 17. Zenden Hart
Yellow Cards: 8. Dominic Ferguson 41’, 3. Jesse Piriz 90’
Red Cards: Nil
Sutherland Sharks FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. James Baldacchino, 3. Gabriel Contigiani, 6. Patrick O’Shea (80. Nelson Lam 84’), 8. Jason Madonis, 9. Jeremy Cox (99. Lachlan Macdonald 84’), 14. Chris Lindsay, 17. James Andrew, 18. Mitchell Smith, 22. Nick Sullivan, 25. Luke Sauer
Substitutes Not Used: 23. Mark Rodic, 26. Jacob Cremen-Cowan, 36. Hristopher Neskovski,
Yellow Cards: 22. Nick Sullivan 35’
Red Cards: Nil
-By Joseph Esposito