Wolves frustrate Stallions in goalless draw
The Wollongong Wolves have managed to frustrate Marconi Stallions to a 0-0 draw at WIN Stadium on Friday night, a result that has opened the door for Blacktown City to leapfrog them following their match on Saturday against the Sutherland Sharks.
Despite a plethora of chances throughout the 90 minutes neither team was able to capitalise on their opportunities, leaving the game to finish goalless.
Three points would have been incredibly valuable to Marconi’s National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Premiership campaign, but they’ll move forward with one point as they enter the final two matches of the season.
Marconi started off strong with a dominant display in the opening stages of the match.
Marko Jesic curled in a shot in the 5th minute with the opening chance of the match but he sent it a touch too high and it soared over the bar.
Domenic Costanzo, Connor Evans and Jesic combined for the Stallions to create an opportunity just two minutes later but the scrambling Wollongong defence kept it out.
Costanzo came back for more in the 11th minute, receiving the ball inside the area but he rocketed his shot above the crossbar.
The Wolves had a chance in the 15th minute through Beattie, but the fast-acting custodian Nenad Vekic managed to spring into action and deny the home side.
The visitors had yet another opportunity in the 18th minute but missed a golden opportunity as Chris Hatfield wasn’t able to get in the right position to receive the ball and finish.
Both teams settled into the match without creating too much action for the ensuing quarter of an hour before they upped the ante ahead of the half-time break.
Hatfield created another opportunity for Marconi in the 32nd minute but his strike flew past the goalmouth.
Wollongong retaliated in the 39th minute as Banri Kanaizumi sent a ball towards the target from well outside the 18-yard box but Vekic managed to collect.
Brandon Vella had the last chance before the break but his effort wasn’t able to reach the target, leaving the two sides to hit the sheds in a goalless deadlock.
Marconi came back from the break with plenty of energy and created another opportunity in the 48th minute as Costanzo delivered the ball to Taylor McDonald, but the former Wolf’s header was slightly off target.
Wollongong defender Nick Littler had an attacking opportunity in the 62nd minute as he sent a strike goalbound, but it flew well above the bar and out of contention.
Marconi’s McDonald managed to scrape the ball off the line and send it to the back post for Costanzo in the 66th minute, but Costanzo’s effort came off the woodwork.
Wollongong goalkeeper Hayden Durose was incredibly lucky referee Michael Weiner didn’t point to the spot in the 75th minute as he down out substitute Martin Fernandez on the edge of the box, leaving the Marconi players furious given their penalty conversion rate this season.
Costanzo made a promising run forward in the 77th minute, firing an effort towards the target, but it ricocheted off the crossbar to muffle out yet another chance for the visitors.
Fernandez had a great chance to score a late winner in the 83rd minute but his blistering effort saw a quick reaction from Durose to flick it over the crossbar.
McDonald had a chance in the 90th minute of the match but his ball flew over the target.
As both sides fought until the death to try to secure a late win, neither was able to come out on top with a point apiece the result as referee Weiner blew his whistle.
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves FC 0
Marconi Stallions FC 0
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Friday, 15th July, 2022
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Ivica Covic and Aaron Bloch
Fourth Official: Joel Crawford
Wollongong Wolves FC: 1. Hayden Durose, 4. Nikola Djordjevic, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 8. Brendan Griffin, 9. Jake Lavalle (6. Kuot Maliet 69’), 11. Joshua Macdonald (16. Guy Knight 86’), 13. Nick Littler, 17. Marcus Beattie, 20. Senna Stevenson (10. Takumu Tsujimura 55’), 21. Leroy Jennings, 24. Lachlan Scott
Substitutes Not Used: 7. Nav Darjani, 12. Harrison Taranto, 13. Tomas Butkovic
Yellow Cards: Griffin 50’
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions FC: 1. Nenad Vekic, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Giorgio Speranza, 4. Roberto Speranza, 6. Domenic Costanzo, 7. Christopher Hatfield (17. Martin Fernandez 62’), 8. Connor Evans, 10. Marko Jesic, 16. Liam Youlley, 22. Taylor McDonald, 23. Brandon Vella
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Samuel Gulisano, 14. Jarred McKinley, 19. Zach Cairncross, 20. Dion Shaw, 35. Justin Vidic
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
