Stallions roast Sydney FC
Marconi Stallions taught Sydney FC a lesson following it’s first match at the ‘Palace’ demolishing the young Sky Blues 5-0 on a hot and steamy Saturday night.
Marconi’s new recruits did most of the damage as Japanese import Hiroaki Aoyama opened the scoring before Jordi Swibel, a former Sky Blue himself bagged a brace. Goals from club captain Marko Jesic and a late one from Domenic Costanzo all but sealed a massive win for the former NSL giants.
The game’s first real opportunity arrived in the 10th minute when Costanzo took a free kick from long distance, but it was saved down low by goalkeeper Adam Pavlesic. From the ensuing corner, the ball went wide to the right, before a magnificent cross centred it back in for an unmarked Nathan Millgate in the box but his free header went wide much to the despair of the Marconi faithful.
The Stallions didn’t have to wait too long before they did open the scoring. A great cross from the right by Jesic reached Aoyama who drilled it into the bottom corner of the box with some power.
Sydney FC’s first opportunity arrived in the 16th minute when Jaiden Kucharski from just outside the box fired a fraction wide of the intended target.
Marconi though regained their composure and doubled their lead in the 24th minute when a set piece paid dividends. A precise corner by Costanzo reached Swibel in the box and his glancing header beat the Sydney FC custodian at the near post.
In the 34th minute Marconi thought that they had their third. A cross from Giorgio Speranza was deflected in by Swibel from close range but, after some consultation between the referee and lineman, the goal was disallowed for offside.
The rest of the first half didn’t offer too much as the heat died down to make playing conditions much more pleasant.
The second half opened with Marconi fireworks and two goals in quick succession. The first arrived in the 49th minute when a great assist by Jesic reached Swibel who, with some aplomb from outside the box, scored beautifully.
A minute later Marconi almost scored again. Aoyama provided a beautiful ball to Jesic on the right who fired on target but Pavlesic punched away the danger.
Marconi then went forward in the 51st minute and scored their second in the second half and their overall fourth for the game. An out-swinging Costanzo free kick from the left was headed back in from the right to Jesic, who headed home from close range to really put the young Sky Blues to the sword.
In the 58th minute it was Marconi going close again – Swibel had a dangerous shot on target that was beautifully deflected away by Pavlesic for a corner.
Sydney FC replied in the 63rd minute when Clayton Taylor charged dangerously down the left channel before firing across the face of goal, but there was no one there to knock it home for the young Sky Blues.
Marconi scored their fifth and final goal in stoppage time. Costanzo with sheer determination down the left flank beat his opponent and then charged into the box before his final shot was deflected into the back of the net.
After the game Marconi Stallions coach Peter Tsekenis was delighted to have secured all three points in such an impressive fashion
“It was a very difficult decision to start the same eleven as last week because of the great squad that we have, but the boys know that I was loyal with that and they paid me back,” he said.
“Clean sheets are very important; goal averages are very important and, like last season, goal differences will make a difference this season too. I am happy that the boys stuck to the task tonight and executed our plan.
“Last week in our first game we were a bit scrappy even though I don’t think we really deserved to lose as we copped two goals in the last five minutes through our own mistakes, but I think today we were much more switched on and it showed against a really good team – a team that won 4-2 last week. We gave them five and we should get the headlines after that great win.”
His counterpart Sydney FC coach Jimmy van Weeren in the other dressing room was realistic about what had happened on the park.
“The score was a fair reflection of today,” he said.
“Marconi are direct and very good on set-plays and they exposed some of our errors.
“Of course we had three of our players from last week playing in the senior team tonight against the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League Men’s derby and that’s a real opportunity for younger boys to have a go.
“For us that is great and a brilliant reward for the boys to be in the A-League squad but it’s also a challenge that we have to face because we are a youth academy.
“Tonight we learnt that we need to limit their set-plays and not give away so many free-kicks, corners and throw-ins near our box because they [Marconi] are very effective.”
Match Stats
MARCONI STALLIONS 5 (Aoyama 12’, Swibel 24’ & 49’, Jesic 51’, Costanzo 91’)
SYDNEY FC: 0
Saturday 11th February 2023
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee: Danny Horstead
Assistant Referees: Hugh Fenton-White and Matthew Harris
Fourth Official: Charbel Geha
MARCONI STALLIONS: 20. Jack Gibson, 2. Nathan Millgate (12. Roberto Speranza 78’), 3. Giorgio Speranza, 5. Liam McGing, 6. Domenic Costanzo, 8. Hirokai Aoyama, 9. Jordan Swibel (11. Daniel Bouman 78’), 10. Marko Jesic (C) (17. Martin Fernandez 70’), 16. Liam Youlley (19. Kyle Cimenti 63’), 22. Taylor McDonald (13. Aleksander Duricic 70’), 23. Brandon Vella.
Substitutes not used: 1. Nathan Foster
Yellow Cards: Youlley 19’
Red Cards: Nil
SYDNEY FC: 30. Adam Pavlesic, 2. Cameron Fong (8. Kealey Adamson 60’), 4. Nathan Paull, 6. Matthew Scarcella, 7. Ben Gibson (11. Clayton Taylor 46’), 9. Luka Smyth, 13. Hayden Matthews, 18. Oscar Priestmann (C), 24. Alexander Parsons, 25. Jaiden Kucharski (10. Alen Harbas 60’), 34. Max Buratto (3. Dejan Bakrdanikoski 75’).
Substitutes not used: 1. Harry Aquilina, 21. Louis Agosti.
Yellow Cards: Bakrdanikoski 78’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Hirokai Aoyama (MS)
2 – Jordan Swibel (MS)
1 – Domenic Costanzo (MS)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo
