There were no famous late comebacks at Christie Park as the Marconi Stallions defeated the NWS Spirit FC 2-0 in their Good Friday clash.
The hosts were still on a high following their famous Round 9, 5-4 victory over the Wollongong Wolves and wanted to continue their momentum with this match.
Continuing his red-hot form from last weekend where he scored the winner, Robert Darko thought he had gotten Spirt to the best start possible in the 3rd minute.
Jumping in the air, Darko’s header hit the back back of the net but it wasn’t to be as the offside flag was raised by the assistant referee.
Aiming for their first back-to-back win of the 2023 NPL NSW Men’s season, NWS Spirit looked aggressive but positive in attack.
This provided David Perkovic’s men to have a number shots on target with the best chance coming off a Luiz Lobo free kick.
Whilst Spirit had most of the chances in the first half an hour, it was the Marconi Stallions who would break the deadlock.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Kyle Cimenti would provide them with the edge in the 31st minute.
Applying pressure on the Spirit’s defence, Cimenti and Jordan Swibel forced a mistake out of Japanese defender Musashi Kokubo.
The goal was nearly averted as the two strikers collided with each other on their way to place the ball inside the goal.
Straight after the half-time break, the visitors had multiple chances to double their score after their high-pressure game plan worked to perfection.
If it wasn’t for Spirit goalkeeper Christopher Marques, Swibel and Hiroaki Aoyama would have added their names to the scoresheet.
Pulling off save after save, Marques looked unbeatable until a brilliant team goal finished by Cimenti got Marconi their second, and his brace in the 56th minute.
A continuous threat in attack, Darko tried everything to keep his side in the game.
Receiving the ball outside the box, the Spirit star unleashed a powerful left-foot strike which was certain to go into the top corner, but was denied by Stallions custodian Jack Gibson
Darko’s intensity lifted NWS Spirit and brought new life into the home team. Being two goals down, they copied Marconi’s textbook on high pressure
From then on, goalkeepers Jack Gibson and Christophe Marques would trade brilliant saves until the final whistle as the Stallions recorded a 2-0 victory continuing its push for top spot on the Premiership ladder.
Marconi Stallions coach Peter Tsekenis was delighted with the victory as this put his side in good stead with a massive top of the table clash against Rockdale Ilinden at the ‘Palace’ next Saturday.
“I though it was a solid performance tonight.
“We played some good football in the right areas.
“We had a game plan and it worked – we got two goals and we were quite solid…I think overall we deserved the result.
“I’ve seen what we can do and I’m quietly confident if we play our game plan that we can beat anyone.”
Match Stats
NWS Spirit FC 0
Marconi Stallions FC 2 (Cimenti 31’ 56’)
Friday 7 April 2023
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Aaron Bloch and Matthew Harris
Fourth Official: Thomas Dale
NWS Spirit FC: 1. Christopher Marques (GK) 3. Musashi Kokubo 4. Kota Odakura 6. Corey Kavanagh 7. Richard Darko 11. Ollie Wiggin (19. Dominic Johns 88’) 13. Simon Nicholas 16. Kyle Riley Shaw 17. Matthew Cahill 21. Luiz Lobo (9. Mitchell Davidson 79’) 23. Michael Konestabo
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Blake Ilitch 5. Jordan Gomez 10. Louis Bozanic 12. Jacob Madden (GK)
Yellow Cards: Konestabo 37’ Wiggin 41’ Nicholas 53’
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions FC: 2. Nathan Millgate 3. Giorgio Speranza 4. Roberto Speranza 6. Domenic Costanzo (21. Justin Vidic 88’) 8. Hiroaki Aoyama 9. Jordan Swibel (12. Samuel Gulisano 78’) 10. Marko Jesic (c) 11. Daniel Bouman 19. Kyle Cimenti 20. Jack Gibson (GK) 23. Brandon Vella
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Natha Foster (GK) 5. Liam Mcging 7. Christopher Hatfield 13. Aleksandar Duricic
Yellow Cards: Vella 16’ Vidic 90+1’ Bouman 90+2’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3– Kyle Cimenti (Marconi Stallions FC)
2– Christopher Marques (NWS Spirit FC)
1– Jack Gibson (Marconi Stallions FC)
-By Ethan Lee Clark
