APIA comeback thwarts Wolves in season opener at Wollongong
APIA Leichhardt came from two goals to snatch a point against Wollongong Wolves in a 2-2 draw on an entertaining Friday night at WIN Stadium to start the season.
Goals from Takumi Ofuka and Mirza Muratovic inside the first 20 minutes sent the Wolves into halftime 2-0 up before Rory Jordan pulled a goal back for APIA in the 57th minute to make it a tense final half-an-hour.
Yianni Nicolaou headed home a late equaliser for APIA to see the points shared.
The visitors got off to a strong start putting the Wolves under pressure inside the first five minutes as Jack Armson swivelled well inside the box, but saw his shot blocked.
The side went close again in the 11th minute with Jack Stewart rising high inside the box only to head the ball narrowly over the bar.
Despite the purposeful start from APIA, Wollongong found the opening goal against the run of play just seconds later.
Captain Lachlan Scott shrugging off a challenge inside the right of the box before laying it off to Ofuka centrally who danced his way through and slotted an effort into the bottom-left corner.
Buoyed by their early goal, the Wolves carried on and picked up a second five minutes after their first.
Former APIA boy Walter Scott setting off on a lung-bursting run down the left before driving into the box and sliding a ball towards the back post where Muratovic tapped home.
The quickfire double for Wollongong had propelled the side into an early advantage by midway through the first half, however, APIA continued to force turnovers in the Wolves’ defensive half.
In the 34th minute, some more pressing by the away side saw Jordan run in on goal down the left, but his effort sailed over the bar.
Wollongong rounded out the half with a couple of opportunities as Lachlan Scott and fullback Marcus Beattie both saw shots batted away by APIA goalkeeper Anthony Bouzanis in the final seven minutes.
The Wolves took their two-goal lead into halftime presenting them with an opportunity to put three points on the board in round one.
APIA began the second half quickly and within the first three minutes Dakota Askew shifted the ball inside from the left and fired a dipping effort that bounced past the far post.
The side halved the deficit just before hour mark with Jordan bringing down a ball from the left inside the box and finishing past Wolves’ keeper Tomas Butkovic.
Franco Parisi’s team continued to probe in what remained of the second half searching for an equalising goal.
In the 75th minute, APIA substitute Jason Romero got his head on the end of a right-sided cross, but the ball bounced into the gloves of Butkovic.
Jordan nearly bagged his second ten minutes later finding space centrally inside the box, however, he shovelled the shot over the bar.
The pressure finally told for Wollongong in the final two minutes with a left-sided free-kick directed to the back post being headed back across goal for Nicolaou who nodded in the equalising goal.
The Wolves nearly responded instantly as defender Harrison Buesnel’s header was kept out Bouzanis with the keeper diving down to his left.
Both sides had chances to nick the points in the final moments, however, the defence on either side was able to scramble away any late attacks.
In the end, the teams had to settle for a draw in an entertaining and fast-paced Friday night clash.
Wollongong Wolves coach David Carney was happy with the application of the team in his first game in charge but felt the side should have made more of their first-half chances.
“I thought it was a good game,” he said.
“I thought first half we were really good and should’ve been 3-0 up, but second half we sort of lost our way a bit.
“I thought the energy and what we did was superb first half.
“The first goal [conceded] was a bit of killer – could do better.
“Overall, I can’t fault the lads and we move on.”
APIA coach Franco Parisi was also pleased with the performance of his side, while noting the ramifications of the early start to the competition.
“It’s round one so there’s a lot of work for every team to do,” he said.
“Thankfully from 2-0 down we stayed patient and relaxed, and we knew we were good for goals. Unfortunately, we only got two, but if the game kept going we would have got more.
“I was very happy with how we played the full match.”
One promising light for the visitors was the debut from youngster Franco Farinella who handled the match very well in midfield and will be one to watch this year in the rising stars category.
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves 2 (Takumi Ofuka 12’, Mirza Muratovic 19’)
APIA Leichhardt 2 (Rory Jordan 57’, Yianni Nicolaou 88’)
Friday 3 February, 2023
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistant Referees: Matt Staples and Alessandro Llana
Fourth Official: Logan Jones
Wollongong Wolves: 13. Tomas Butkovic, 3. Harrison Buesnel, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 7. Marcus Beattie, 8. Samuel Riak, 9. Takumi Ofuka, 10. Mirza Muratovic, 23. Walter Scott, 24. Lachlan Scott (14. Jake Trew 78’), 88. Christopher Mcstay, 99. Joshua Macdonald (25. Alex Masciovecchio 50’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Julian Graham, 6. Senna Stevenson, 11. Nav Darjani, Ethan Beaven
Yellow Cards: Joshua Macdonald 27’, Lachlan Scott 55’, Mirza Muratovic 74’, Jake Trew 79’
Red Cards: Nil
APIA Leichhardt: 42. Anthony Bouzanis, 3. Paul Galimi, 7. Jack Stewart (16. Sean Symons 67’), 8. Diego Celis (9. Jason Romero 67’), 14. Jack Armson (19. Fabian Monge 46’), 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 17. Rory Jordan, 18. Adian Ucchino, 23. Dakota Askew (21. Michael Kouta 85’), 38. Yianni Nicolaou, 98. Franco Farinella
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Ivan Necevski, 4. Joshua Symons
Yellow Cards: Themba Muata-Marlow 25’, Jack Armson 27’, Adian Ucchino 27’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Walter Scott (WW)
2 – Banri Kanaizumi (WW)
1 – Franco Farinella (AL)
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
