Manly United claimed their first away win of the 2023 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season with a 3-1 victory over an out-of-sorts NWS Spirit FC in an entertaining clash at a warm Christie Park on Saturday.
In a see-sawing game Brazilian maestro Bruno Mendes gave the visitors the lead in the first half before Spirit struck back on the hour through Corey Kavanagh. However, the visitors proved too strong scoring two late goals via Marcus Lai and Benjamin Koop that sent the three points to the Northern Beaches.
Manly United had the game’s first real chance on five minutes when Mendes had a tame effort saved by Christopher Marques.
Spirit quickly responded two minutes later, Michael Konestabo’s strike from distance clearing the bar.
In terms of open play opportunities though, the first came 17 minutes in, Konestabo again clearing the left facing post with a right footed strike on the turn.
Spirit were creating all the chances at this point in the fixture. Jared Lum combined with Luiz Lobo inside the box with Lobo taking his time to pick his spot before Levi Kaye palmed it over the bar shortly after.
An inpromptu drinks break with over 15 minutes remaining in the half served the visitors well with Patrick Zwaanswijk’s side creating multiple chances in the remaining minutes of the first half.
Mendes sending a warning shot before his eventual goal on 27 minutes. Mendes used a small pocket of space before forcing Marques into a save to his right.
A pattern of play four minutes later led to the game’s opener as Mendes finished with aplomb smashing his shot that buckled the nets at Christie Park.
And it nearly was 2-0 on two separate occasions shortly after the goal – Seiya Kambayashi rocking the left facing post after bursting free down the left before Harry McCarthy found himself beyond the defence and his shot saved by Marques.
Spirit came out with more intent after the break, trying to play more of the game in the front third. However, they were unable to create any chance of note in the early stages.
After a goalless run of over 300 minutes, the dam finally burst for the hosts past the hour mark. An intricate build up resulting in Richie Darko finding Kavanagh inside the attacking area. The inverted left-back finding a way past Levi Kaye in goal and it was game on for David Perkovic’s men.
Manly’s keeper Levi Kaye then denied the hosts a second on 70 minutes with an incredible reflex save thwarting a Blake Ilitch header.
Turning to his bench, Zwaanswijk’s side finished the stronger, taking the lead once more with just under ten minutes remaining.
A Mendes effort was deflected wide in the build up before Marcus Lai finished at the back post from the resulting period of play and it was party time for the Manly boys.
The icing on the cake was added in injury time as Manly’s Benjamin Koop smashed home a left-footed strike and that was all she wrote as NWS Spirit FC suffered its third loss of the season.
A jubilant Patrick Zwaanswijk was pleased with his team’s output following their third victory of the 2023 campaign.
“It was an even opening quarter hour, then we played some of the best football we’ve played this season.
“We played excellent, but we could have been more clinical with our chances.
“NWS Spirit FC came out strong in the second half and to their credit they came back into it, they pushed us hard, and they deserve credit for it before we retook control.
“It’s a learning curve for us, we have 18 fit players who are pushing for a start, we’re developing a positive environment which will see the team improve as the weeks get on.”
Match Stats
NWS Spirit FC 1 (Corey Kavanagh 61’)
Manly United FC 3 (Bruno Mendes 33’, Marcus Lai 82’, Benjamin Koop 92’)
Saturday 18 March, 2023
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistant Referees: Alessandro Llana & Amber Morris
Fourth Official: Mikayla Ryan
NWS Spirit FC: .1. Christopher Marques, 3. Musashi Kukubo, 4. Kota Odakura, 5. Jordan Gomez (10. Louis Bozanic 82’), 6. Corey Kavanagh, 7. Richard Darko (11. Ollie Wiggin 77’), 9. Mitchell Davidson (17. Matthew Cahill 70’), 13. Simon Nicholas, 20. Jared Lum (2. Blake Ilitch 46’), 21. Luiz Lobo, 23. Michael Konestabo.
Substitutes Not Used: 18. Federico Gagliano. 32. Joel Wade
Yellow Cards: Kokubo, Konestabo, Gomez
Red Cards: Nil
Manly United FC: 20. Levi Kaye, 2. Kieren Paull, 3. Jesse Piriz (6. Finn Ashton 30 (11. Matthew Sim 65’)), 4. James Oates (C), 5. Tom Fay (18. Lucas Rainbird 72’), 7. Seiya Kambayashi, 8. Dom Ferguson (12. Kristian Santich 65’), 10. Bruno Mendes, 19. Alen Aganovic, 23. Harry McCarthy (9. Benjamin Koop 72’), 31. Marcus Lal
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Jack Greenwood, 9. Benjamin Koop,18. Lucas Rainbird
Yellow Cards: Mendes, Ashton, Fay, Koop, Santich.
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Seiya Kambayashi (MU)
2 – Marcus Lai (MU)
1 – Corey Kavanagh (NWS)
By Justin Smith (@smiththejustin).
