APIA Leichhardt take care of Sydney United 58 to continue hot streak
APIA Leichhardt secured back-to-back wins after securing a valuable 3-1 victory against Sydney United 58 at a warm Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts were stung by an early onslaught which saw them trail by a trifecta of goals in a fierce contest in front of a good crowd at Edensor Park.
For APIA Leichhardt, it was another fast start. Fabian Monge and Jack Armson both fired home in the first ten minutes before new recruit Jack Stewart opened his 2023 tally with the third. APIA were able to hold on and remain unbeaten to start the season.
Sydney United 58 pulled a goal back through Chris Payne to make it 3-1 but couldn’t make any further dents.
The visitors picked up right where they left off last weekend scoring as early as the third minute when Monge rolled home for the opener which stunned the home crowd.
It was quickly double delight for the visitors as Jack Stewart hustled down the right side before he cut it back for Jack Armson to slot home with the Inner West boys asserting their dominance early.
Sydney United 58 had a chance to respond. Leroy Jennings started the move which ended with Yianni Perkatis firing wide of the mark.
Payne tried to will the Sydney United 58 side back into the contest. He produced a reverse ball for Jennings which was saved then had a lob gobbled up by APIA keeper Ivan Necevski.
Right on the half hour mark, APIA Leichhardt made it 3-0. The corner was swung in and fell to Jason Romero whose effort was saved into the path of Jack Stewart to tap home.
Not content to sit on their lead, APIA Leichhardt pushed forward and their press gave Sydney United 58 nightmares.
From that press, Rory Jordan shot wide then Romero fed Stewart who was denied as the visitors held a handy lead into the break.
Sydney United 58 made a pair of changes at the break in response and made an instant impact. Club stalwart Glen Trifiro had a short corner routine which saw Payne tap home and it gave the hosts some life.
The game became a tighter affair after the hosts pulled one back.
APIA Leichhardt had a pair of chances from a Themba Muata-Marlow header then Romero was denied by Sydney United custodian Danijel Nizic again.
Romero ran the show in the midfield again for APIA Leichhardt. He had a pair of chances to restore the visitors three goal lead but was stopped by Nizic.
Trifiro stood over a set piece late looking to set up a grandstand finish. He curled his effort towards the top corner before Necevski tipped it over the bar.
Sydney United 58 kept pushing forward into the fading Western Sydney sun. Payne broke into the box again but his near post effort was blocked by Necevski.
Post match Sydney United 58 coach Miro Vlastelica called it a game of two halves and was happy with the spirit shown.
“It was a game of two halves. They came out the stronger and hungrier in the first half and took the lead then in the second half we dominated.
“We need to take the chances which were presented to us better.
“The boys did not stop which is the DNA of this team. We don’t give up and we don’t stop trying until the final whistle.”
APIA Leichhardt coach Franco Parisi was happy with the first 45 from his side to carry on from last week but the second half gave them things to work on.
“It was a great game between two of the biggest fighting spirits of the competition.
“There was a lot of spirit shown by our side out there. We were happy with the first 45 which was a continuation of last week.
“The second half was a battle which saw Sydney United 58 come back into the game and made it difficult for us until the end.
“The heat played it’s part but that gives us things to work on moving forward into next week.”
Match Stats
Sunday 19 February 2023
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Amirhossein Hosnani & Matthew Harris
Fourth Official: Hadi Al-Nakeeb
Sydney United 58 1 (Payne ‘51)
APIA Leichhardt 3 (Monge ‘3, Armson ‘10, Stewart ‘30)
Sydney United 58: 1. Danijel Nizic, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic (2. Christian Gonzalez ‘45), 6. Christopher Payne, 7. Taisei Kaneko, 9. Patrick Antelmi (18. Glen Trifiro ‘45), 11. Yianni Perkatis (Jason Madonis ‘82), 17. Matthew Bilic (14. Andrea Agamemnonos ‘64), 21. Yianni Fragogiannis (16.Ante Bakmaz ‘74), 22. Leroy Jennings
Unused subs: 20. Luke Cakar
Yellow cards: Payne, Vlastelica
Red cards: nil
APIA Leichhardt: 1. Ivan Necevski, 4. Joshua Symons, 7. Jack Stewart, 9. Jason Romero (8. Diego Celis ‘82), 14. Jack Armson (25. Aedon Kyra ‘82), 15. Thema Muata-Marlow, 17. Rory Jordan (16. Sean Symons ‘71), 18. Adrian Ucchino, 19. Fabian Monge, 21. Michael Kouta (23. Dakota Askew ‘55), 38. Yianni Nicolaou
Unused subs: 42. Anthony Bouzanis, 98. Franco Farinella
Yellow cards: Armson, J Symons, Celis
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Jack Armson (APIA)
2 – Jack Stewart (APIA)
1 – Glen Trifiro (SU58)
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
