Sharks no match for ruthless Olympic
It was all smiles for Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon after a dominant display kept them on pace with the race for Premiership with a 4-1 victory over the Sutherland Sharks.
Goals to Benjamin Van Meurs, Brendan Cholakian and Roy O’Donovan saw Olympic with a three-goal advantage heading into the half-time break.
Sutherland’s James Andrew managed to get the visitors on the scoreboard shortly after the restart but Adam Parkhouse finished off scoring for the hosts to secure a 4-1 victory.
Starting fast, the home side went inches from an early opener in the 8th minute.
Orchestrating a move down the left, Brendan Cholakian delivered an inch perfect cross that found its way to Roy O’Donovan.
Unfortunately, the experienced forward struck the crossbar with his strike from close range much to the dismay of the Olympic crowd.
From here Sydney Olympic began to set up camp in Sutherland’s half and after a sustained period of possession came close yet in the 21st minute.
This time the opportunity fell to captain Michael Glassock who found himself free in the area after a corner.
With the ball falling to him his strike was cleared off line by the Sutherland defence, who were beginning to look more and more susceptible to conceding.
And concede they did, just three minutes later.
Defender Van Meurs was first to react after the ball dropped inside the six-yard box from a corner, tapping home a much deserved opener for the home side.
With the wind at their backs, Olympic found a second just four minutes later.
Similar to the first goal, Sutherland failed to clear their lines from an inswinging ball.
Christopher Lindsay’s attempted clearance found its way to Cholakian with time and space just inside the area.
Setting himself, Cholakian found the back of the net expertly, firing his shot past Anthony Bouzanis into the roof of the net.
Showing no signs of slowing down, Ante Juric’s side continued to dominate in the middle of the park and for their efforts found a third goal in the 39th minute.
Winning the ball in midfield, Olympic broke down the left through Parkhouse.
Delivering a low ball across the area, it found a composed Oliver Puflett whose deft lay off found O’Donovan.
Doing what he does best, the ex-A-League striker curled the ball past Bouzanis, who could do nothing to deny the Irishmen’s effort on goal.
Needing to come out firing if any hope of a comeback was achievable, Sutherland started the second positively.
Moving through the Olympic midfield, Sutherland pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute via James Andrew.
The winger managed to tap home the loose ball after Olympic goalkeeper Nicholas Sorras failed to deal with a low strike from range.
With the momentum now in their favour, the away side came close to second just two minutes later through substitute Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu.
The forward met a Lindsay cross perfectly however his goal boal header was saved sharply by Sorra.
Just when the home side looked to be some what hanging on after Van Meurs cleared a Jeremy Cox effort off the line, they struck a telling blow from Parkhouse in the 66th minute.
Breaking away downfield after a gorgeous long ball from Sorras, Parkhouse burrowed his way through two Sutherland defenders and coolly finished his chance low into Bouzanis’ net.
After a quieter period of play, Olympic found the back of the net once again in the 81st minute via O’Donovan.
The forward tapped home a Van Meurs cross after the defender’s mazy solo run however O’Donovan was deemed to have been in an offside position.
In the 89th minute Sorras was called on to deny Sutherland yet again.
The custodian stood tall to keep Jason Madonis’ effort out after he weaved his way into the area after quick interplay with Lindsay.
That would be the last effort on a big afternoon for Sydney Olympic who now sit a point adrift of top spot as the race for the Premiership heats up.
Match Stats
Sydney Olympic FC 4 (Van Meurs 24’, Cholakian 28’, O’Donovan 39’, Parkhouse 66’)
Sutherland Sharks FC 1 (Andrew 53’)
Sunday, 26th June, 2022
Belmore Sportsground, Belmore
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referees: Matt Staples & Aaron Bloch
Fourth Official: Jackson Mackie
Sydney Olympic FC: 1. Nicholas Sorras, 3. Nikola Udjur, 4. Benjamin Van Meurs, 5. Michael Glassock, 6. Mathieu Cordier, 9. Oliver Puflett, 10. Brendan Cholakian (24. Hagi Gligor 83’), 11. Adam Parkhouse (17. Marley Peterson 73’), 19. Darcy Burgess (8. Sam McIllhatton 58’), 23. Daniel Dias, 99. Roy O’Donovan (22. Fabio Ferreira 83’)
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Thomas Whiteside, 20. Christopher Parsons
Yellow Cards: Daniel Dias 52’, Andrew 57’
Red Cards: Nil
Sutherland Sharks: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. James Baldacchino, 6. Patrick O’Shea, 8. Jason Madonis, 9. Jeremy Cox, 10. Lachlan Everett (12. Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu 52’), 14. Chris Lindsay, 17. James Andrew, 18. Mitch Smith, 21. Michael Neill, 22. Nick Sullivan
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Nicholas Karavatakis, 25. Luke Sauer, 26. Jacob Cremen-Cowan, 29. George Kriezis, 35. Marcus Russo
Yellow Cards: Mitch Smith 46’
Red Cards: Nil
