Stallions grab monumental victory over Blacktown City
Dubbed the ‘clash of the titans’ battle throughout the years, the Marconi Stallions rose to the occasion and took all three points at the Palace with a 2-0 victory over Blacktown City in their Round 6 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash on Saturday evening.
It was a former Blacktown City star in Japanese import Hiroaki Aoyama that came back to hunt his ex-club as he opened the scoring early in the first half before Jordi Swibel doubled the lead right on the stroke of half-time.
The game’s first chance fell in the 6th minute when a free-kick to Marconi, which was well taken by captain Marko Jesic, sailed just wide of the posts in what was the first real salvo of the encounter.
Blacktown City’s first opportunity arrived shortly afterwards but not before key player Charles Mendy limped off with an injury. It was Carlos De Oliveira who fired from outside the box, but goalkeeper Jack Gibson saved comfortably.
Marconi then opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Aoyama was fed a beautiful ball by Swibel and with great composure, he slid the ball past Tristan Prendergast with a wonderful finish. It was too simple in the end for the Stallions as they took advantage of some complacent defending from Blacktown City.
In the 32nd minute Aoyama was at it again when he won a robust challenge outside the box and fired dangerously towards the Blacktown City goal, but it sailed over the bar and in the end the visitors were spared.
Ten minutes later the Japanese star Aoyama was trying his luck again when Jesic fed him the ball and he sped furiously towards goal before firing on target, but was denied by a lovely diving save by Prendergast.
Right at the end of the first stanza of play, Marconi did indeed score their second of the evening. Swibel majestically put the ball in the back of the net from an acute angle after receiving a great ball from Domenic Costanzo.
It was a great way to end the opening half as the Stallions took with them a 2-0 win in the dressing sheds.
The second half started off as a cagey affair and the first real chance was in favour of Blacktown City when De Oliveira was denied by some courageous Nathan Millgate defending.
In the 64th minute Marconi really should have had their third of the evening when a precise Swibel cross found Jesic close to the far post, but his header pummelled into the woodwork and the visiting side managed to scramble the ball away to safety.
Blacktown City replied almost immediately when Jak O’Brien made his way dangerously into the box, but he couldn’t slot the ball in from an acute angle thanks to the intervention of Taylor McDonald.
In the 76th minute it was that man again Aoyama who flashed his powerful drive from just outside the box.
Very late in the game Giorgio Speranza sent a cross to Kyle Cimenti who, from very close range, couldn’t manage to beat Prendergast.
The final whistle sounded much to the delight of Marconi Stallions coach Peter Tsekenis who was thrilled with the victory over last season’s Champions.
“It was very pleasing tonight,” he said.
“We have had some games where we were poor in one half but good in the other half, but not tonight. We were good in both halves.
“We took our chances for two goals and then created some other really good chances where we could have finished the game off earlier. The boys did well, they stuck to the game plan and credit to them.
“Blacktown City is always a tough team and getting points against them is always important. We were at home and needed the three points.
“The boys can now see when we do the one-percenters really well what we can do, but now we have another two home games in a row, and we’ll need to focus. We’ll take one game at a time, but it’s important in this competition where it is first-past-the post that we continue to win.”
Blacktown City goalkeeper Tristan Prendergast who personally had a great game on the other hand was philosophical about the loss.
“Marconi is always a tough place to come to and they pressed us high from the first minute,” he said. “We unfortunately were just not up to it tonight.
“It’s nice to play well personally but it really doesn’t mean anything unless the team comes away with all the points. We left empty handed tonight but we’ll just take one game at a time and hope to play well next week at home.”
Match Stats
MARCONI STALLIONS: 2 (Aoyama 23’, Swibel 45’+2)
BLACKTOWN CITY: 0
Saturday 11th March 2023
Marconi Stadium Bossley Park
Referee: Nathan Shakespeare
Assistant Referees: Brad Wright and Lindsay Edmonds
Fourth Official: Ayad Naji
MARCONI: 20. Jack Gibson, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Giorgio Speranza, 4. Roberto Speranza, 6. Domenic Costanzo (7. Christopher Hatfield 87’), 8. Hiroaki Aoyama, 9. Jordan Swibel (19. Kyle Cimenti 77’), 10, Marko Jesic (11. Daniel Bouman 78’), 16. Liam Youlley, 22, Taylor McDonald, 23. Brandon Vella.
Substitutes not used: 1. Nathan Foster, 5. Liam McGing, 13. Aleksandar Duricic,
Yellow Cards: R. Speranza 20’, Aoyama 70’, Millgate 71’, McDonald 75’, Costanzo 80’, Hatfield 88’
Red Cards: Nil
BLACKTOWN CITY: 1. Tristan Prendergast, 3. Daniel Collins, 4. Lachlan Campbell (16. Ben Berry 81’), 5. Grant Lynch, 7. Travis Major, 8. Jak O’Brien, 12. Tyren Burnie, 18. Nicholas O’Brien, 19. Adam Berry, 21. Charles Mendy (14. Caleb Jackson-Brown 10’, 46. Abbas Karnib 70’), 22. Carlos De Oliveira (17. Tatsuya Kato 81’).
Substitutes not used: 36. Alvin Khoshaba, 43. Enrico Mazzotta
Yellow Cards: De Oliveira 54’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Hiroaki Aoyama (MS)
2 – Brandon Vella (MS)
1 – Tristan Prendergast (BC)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo
