Wolves hunted by ruthless Stallions
Marconi Stallions earned their second National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s victory in a row downing the Wollongong Wolves 4-0 at WIN Stadium on Friday night.
After a goalless first period, the Stallions bagged four goals in quick succession in the second half to secure the three points.
Taylor McDonald nodded home the opener against his former team just before the hour mark as Domenic Costanzo and Jordan Swibel also scored a few minutes later.
Club captain Marko Jesic finished the rout in the 76th minute in a purposeful second-half display from the side.
It was a high tempo start to the match as both teams looked to gain an early advantage.
In the third minute, Wolves’ winger Joshua Macdonald picked up the ball in the left of the box and drifted inside before seeing his effort narrowly clear the crossbar.
The visitors returned fire three minutes later, as Costanzo found space on the left edge of the box but curled his shot over the bar as well.
The first-half intensity faded after this fast start; however, Wollongong began to work their way into the game around half an hour in, intent on taking a lead into halftime.
In the 30th minute, defender Banri Kanaizumi rose highest in the box following a left-sided corner – his header cannoning back off the crossbar.
Five minutes later, Macdonald danced his way through several challenges on the edge of the box before the ball fell to Christopher McStay whose first-time strike flew just past the right post.
Despite a couple of late chances for the Wolves, the sides went into the break with the deadlock still yet to be broken.
The second half adopted a similarly speedy opening few minutes like in the first half with both teams going close to getting the first goal.
Within a minute of the restart, Stallions’ attacker Costanzo expertly brought a ball down in the left of the box before clipping a cross towards the back post.
Kanaizumi was forced to head the ball onto his own right post, and the danger was eventually cleared.
The home side took the ball down the other end four minutes later as Takumi Ofuka nearly bent a superb curling effort into the far-right corner, but it bounced just past the post.
In the 59th minute, Marconi found the opening goal with Costanzo’s left-sided corner meeting the head of former Wolf McDonald – his bouncing header finding the left side of the net.
Just three minutes after, the Stallions added their second – Costanzo latching onto a ball in behind the Wollongong defence and sending an assured finish past Butkovic.
The away side’s stampede didn’t stop there as they capitalised on a defensive giveaway from Wollongong in the 67th minute with Costanzo flicking the ball over the backline allowing Swibel to run through.
The striker showing great composure to slide the ball under Butkovic rolling Marconi into a seemingly unassailable three-goal lead and his third of the 2023 NPL NSW Men’s campaign.
Marconi added a fourth goal in the 76th minute through Marko Jesic.
Costanzo was at the heart of the things again playing the ball into the right channel for Jesic who found the bottom left corner and he too added his third of the new campaign.
The side continued to endeavour for more goals with Giorgio Speranza’s fierce strike in stoppage time being repelled well by Butkovic.
The Stallions saw out the victory in what turned out to be a dominant performance from the side in the end.
Coach Peter Tsekenis praised the second-half performance and noted the displays of his players collectively as opposed to singling out individuals despite Costanzo’s spectacular showing.
“I thought Wollongong came out and they were very good – credit to them and we were a little bit flat first half, we had a bit of a chat in terms of we’ve set the bar from last week on what we need to do,” he said.
“We went back to what we know we can do, and it just showed that once we do take that next gear it’s going to be very hard for anyone to go with us.
“I think there were a lot of good performances out there.
“That’s Dom’s game, that’s what we expect and when everyone plays to what they can and what I expect – that’s what we see in that second half.”
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves 0
Marconi Stallions 4 (Taylor McDonald 59’, Domenic Costanzo 62’, Jordan Swibel 67’, Marko Jesic 76’)
Friday 17 February 2023
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Referee: Karl Davies
Assistant Referees: Matt Staples and Matthew Harris
Fourth Official: Brodie Merchant
Wollongong Wolves: 13. Tomas Butkovic, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 88. Christopher McStay, 3. Harrison Buensel, 99. Joshua Macdonald (25. Alex Masciovecchio 59’), 24. Lachlan Scott (14. Jake Trew 75’), 7. Marcus Beattie, 10. Mirza Muratovic, 8. Samuel Riak, 9. Takumi Ofuka, 23. Walter Scott
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Nenad Vekic, 6. Senna Stevenson, 15. Ethan Beaven, 29. Ben Giason
Yellow Cards: Samuel Riak 14’, Joshua Macdonald 41’, Harrison Buesnel 56’
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 20. Jack Gibson (GK), 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Giorgio Speranza, 5. Liam McGing (4. Roberto Speranza 72’), 6. Domenic Costanzo (17. Martin Fernandez 81’), 8. Hiroaki Aoyama, 9. Jordan Swibel (19. Kyle Cimenti 76’), 10. Marko Jesic (C), 16. Liam Youlley (11. Daniel Bouman 76’), 22. Taylor McDonald, 23. Brandon Vella
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Nathan Foster, 13. Aleksandar Duricic
Yellow Cards: Liam McGing 39’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Domenic Costanzo (MS)
2 – Marko Jesic (MS)
1 – Hiroaki Aoyama (MS)
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_