Sydney United 58 produced a fabulous fightback for a 2-2 draw against Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Friday night at Popondetta Park as both teams shared the spoils.
In another frustrating night for the home side the Rangers started off strong as Jack Stewart opened the scoring and Olayinka Sunmola doubled their lead in the first half, but they couldn’t hold on to the lead.
For Sydney United 58, they will claim this as a priceless point
After being down early in the game away from home, Chris Payne and Patrick Antelmi both knocked home goals to earn United 58 a point on a cold night in the west.
With both sides coming off positive results last week they were eager to continue their success.
It was the home side with the first chance with Stewart thrashing one wide of the post after the offside flag.
United 58’s first chance fell to their striker Antelmi. He connected well with Payne’s cross but forced Town Rangers custodian Robert Fanella into a save.
Stewart was the key man for the Rangers again. He drove through the heart of the Sydney United 58 midfield before he whipped one wide.
Glen Trifiro had a pair of chances for United 58 from a free kick.
His first one curled wide of the left hand post then his second late in the half forced Fanella into another save.
It was Mt Druitt Town that found the back of the net first.
Stewart applied the finish from a wonderful threaded ball from midfield which made it 1-0 to the home side in the 32nd minute.
Quickly it was a double delight for the Rangers as a sweeping move from John Roberts, Stewart and Sunmola saw the latter prod home to make it 2-0 in the 35th minute.
Sydney United 58 had their best chance of the half through Anthony Tomelic, who found some space in the midfield before his effort flicked the crossbar and over.
Coming out of the break Stewart and Rhett De Silva both had chances early that went wide of the mark.
United 58 tried to find a way back into the contest through Antelmi. The striker was on the spot to fend an effort at the keeper but Fanella was there to cover up.
Aiming to continue to build on their lead Stewart again combined with Fumoto Kamda on the left side, with the falling to Stewart to flick wide in the 67th minute.
The visitors did pull one back in the 76th minute.
A cross from Antelmi looked like it was going to reach the target but Payne got a touch with his head before the ball hit the post and went over the line to get the visitors on the scoreboard.
The hosts tried to restore their two-goal buffer quickly through Stewart again.
It was played through by Sunmola for the striker to shoot right at Sydney United 58 custodian Danijel Nizic.
Sydney United 58 found a late equaliser in the 87th minute.
They pressed forward to earn a corner that was nodded home by Antelmi, taking the score to 2-2.
Jack Stewart had a chance to wrestle back all three points for the Rangers in stoppage time. The striker created some space before he struck right at Nizic.
There was also one final chance for Sydney United 58, again through Antelmi who was free on the left side and took a touch before he arrowed wide.
Speaking post-match Mt Druitt Town Rangers coach Stewart Montgomery was disappointed with his side losing their way late in the contest.
“It was a great start. Strong performance in the first half and the start of the second half then we lost discipline in possession and tried to score every time. That let United 58 back into the game and they punished us.” said Montgomery.
“It’s a reflection of our year. We had more than enough chances to kill off that game and take Sydney United 58 out of the contest. No one would argue with that.”
For Sydney United 58 coach Miro Vlastielica he was delighted with the fightback from his side to earn the point tonight.
“Look we got the draw but should’ve got more out of it. Could’ve gone into the break ahead by several goals but we switched off for their goals. The way we came out at the second is the way we should’ve started. I thought we were the better side.” said Vlastelica.
“We don’t stop. We said at half-time not to put them heads down. We knew if we got the chances it would be fine and we did get the point tonight.”
Match Stats
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2 (Stewart ‘32, Sunmola ‘35)
Sydney United 58 2 (Payne ‘76, Antelmi ‘87)
Friday 3rd June 2022
Popondetta Park
Referee: Sam Kelly
Assistant Referees: Joon Park & Emma Kocbek
Fourth Official: Logan Jones
Mt Druitt Town Rangers: 2. Solomon-John Monahan-Vaiika, 6. Louis Khoury (26. Rocco Fragale ‘79), 7. Jack Stewart, 8. Jason Perez, 9. John Roberts, 11. Fumoto Kamada (25. Mohommed Sabbouh ‘90+2), 17. Cooper Coskerie, 18. Olayinka Sunmola (19. Bul Juach ‘86), 20. Robert Fanella, 21. Tarek Elrich, 22. Rhett De Silva
Substitutes Not Used: 15. Brayden Burr, 25. Mohommed Sabbouh, 30. Jerome Narayan, 41. Ivan Sunjic
Yellow Cards: Perez ‘11, Khoury ‘44, Coskerie ‘45+1
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58: 1. Danijel Nizic, 3. Jordan Roberts, 5. Anthony Tomelic, 6. Christopher Payne, 9. Patrick Antelmi, 10. Devante Clut (8. Kyle Cimenti ‘43), 15. Tariq Maia (14. Callaghan ‘62), 17. Matthew Bilic, 18. Glen Trifiro, 21. Nicholas Zdrillic (11. Perkatis ‘45), 22. Yianni Fragogiannis
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Joshua Taylor, 23. Adrian Knez, 55. Goran Palecek
Yellow Cards: Perkatis ‘60
Red Cards: Nil
By National Premier Leagues Men’s reporter Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)