Sydney United 58 secured a 3-1 victory over local rivals Marconi Stallions at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday evening sending a message to the rest of the competition that they mean business in 2023.
A double to new signing Leroy Jennings and one to Japanese import Taisei Kaneko was more than enough to cancel out a goal from Marko Jesic to secure an early three points for the hosts.
While there was an expectedly slow start to the match as both teams found their footing, four goals in the second half gave plenty of action to the fans in attendance.
In his debut with United 58, Jennings made a dangerous attacking play within the first minute that left Marconi scrambling in front of goal but, despite the promising opportunity, the hosts couldn’t get close to the goal.
Jennings then earned a free kick on his next attacking run as he got in behind Marconi’s Liam Youlley, who brought Jennings down and earned himself a yellow card in just the 3rd minute of the match.
Marconi’s first promising attack came through a corner in the 10th minute as new signing Hirokai Aoyama sent the ball to Nathan Millgate in front of goal, but his header couldn’t reach the back of the net.
Another of Marconi’s new additions, Jordan Swibel, was poised to open the scoring in the 19th minute but United 58 ‘keeper Danijel Nizic reacted well to stifle the chance.
United 58 sent a strike towards the target in the 26th minute but Marconi’s new custodian Jack Gibson had it covered.
A free kick from prime position outside the box in the 29th minute saw Marconi captain Jesic with a goal-scoring opportunity, but his shot went just outside the stick.
Swibel found himself with another chance for Marconi moments later, but sent the ball past the goalmouth.
Kaneko had a chance to get Sydney United 58 on the scoreboard in the 41st minute but his powerful strike flew just high and wide of the target, leaving the game goalless at the half time break.
The hosts made a statement when they scored just minutes into the second half through Jennings.
Gibson moved out to try to clear the ball early, but missed and left Jennings with a clear path towards the target that the attacker used to put away the ball and get the hosts on the scoreboard.
It wasn’t long until the visitors levelled the score as Jesic converted in the 57th minute.
Youlley delivered a ball to Millgate, who was just inside the 18 yard box and headed the ball in front of goal to a waiting Jesic, who sent a diving header past Nizic.
Aoyama searched for a second for Marconi in the 63rd minute but this time Nizic was quick to collect.
Nizic was called into action again in the 69th minute as he dove to reject a shot from Brandon Vella from near the penalty spot.
Jennings tried his luck at a second goal in the 72nd minute but it dribbled past the target.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute through Kaneko, who weaved through Marconi’s defensive line to send the ball past an oncoming Gibson into the netting.
United 58 secured their third of the match in the 88th minute through Jennings.
Chris Payne chased down the ball and cut into a central position, where the ball met a running Jennings who tapped it home from close range.
The hosts held out until the final whistle to secure a 3-1 victory in their opening fixture.
United 58 coach Miro Vlastelica was pleased to get a positive result in the first match of the season against their local rivals.
“It’s always a little bit cagey, the first game, both teams don’t want to take too many risks,” he explained.
“Marconi has a good side and we knew what we were up against.
“In the end to get results sometimes you need to grind them out and that’s what the boys did, they worked hard and in the end, got the just rewards.”
Marconi coach Peter Tsekenis was disappointed his side couldn’t deliver a performance that matched their potential.
“I think it was a good arm wrestle,” he said.
“We’ll regroup and we’ll keep working, we’re better than that.
“There’s a couple of chances we had and we didn’t take them at the right time and we were chasing the game, so we’ll just regroup.
“It’s disappointing, the last few years we’ve won the first game and been able to kick on so we’ll use this as a bit of a motivation to get going.”
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 FC 3 (Leroy Jennings 48’, 88’, Taisei Kaneko 82’)
Marconi Stallions FC 1 (Marko Jesic 57’)
Sunday 5th February, 2023
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Nathan Shakespeare
Assistant Referees: Parick Teleki and Matthew Harris
Fourth Official: Jackson Mackie
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Danijel Nizic, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic (9.Patrick Antelmi 73’), 6. Christopher Payne, 7. Taisei Kaneko, 11. Yianni Perkatis, 15. Tariq Maia (18. Glen Trifiro 62’), 17. Matthew Bilic, 21. Yianni Fragogiannis (16. Ante Bakmaz 82’), 22. Leroy Jennings
Substitutes Not Used: 14. Andreas Agamemnonos, 19. Ante Vojvodic, 20. Luke Cukar
Yellow Cards: Tomelic 28’, Fragogiannis 57’
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions FC: 20. Jack Gibson, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Giorgio Speranza, 5. Liam McGing, 6. Domenic Costanzo, 8. Hirokai Aoyama, 9. Jordan Swibel (7. Christopher Hatfield 82’), 10. Marko Jesic (17. Martin Fernandez 77’), 16. Liam Youlley, 22. Taylor McDonald, 23. Brandon Vella
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Nathan Foster, 4. Roberto Speranza, 12. Samuel Gulisano, 13. Aleksandar Duricic
Yellow Cards: Youlley 3’, Jesic 27’, Costanzo 64’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Leroy Jennings (SU)
2 – Taisei Kaneko (SU)
1 – Danijel Nizic (SU)
