Sharks snatch late victory over Bulls
Sutherland Sharks fired home a late winner to claim an important three points against Bulls FC Academy on Saturday afternoon at the Sydney United Sports Centre.
Jesse Photi found the opening goal for the Sharks in the 33rd minute before the Bulls’ Rhys Youlley levelled the scores just before halftime.
Super-sub Connor Rose came off the bench to great effect scoring Sutherland’s second goal in the final two minutes of the match to secure the win.
It was a quiet start to the match with neither team getting a shot off within the first 10 minutes.
The visitors looked to utilise Fumoto Kamada early on down the left to create opportunities with the winger skipping to the by-line as his cross flew across the box without reward.
Sutherland customarily took control of the ball in the first half, but the side struggled to get into the final third as the midway point of the first half approached.
The Sharks remained patient in their play and in the 28th minute, Louis Khoury delivered a dangerous left-sided in-swinging ball into the box that was turned behind for a corner.
The possession paid off for the side five minutes later as Photi opened the scoring.
Photi was slipped into the left of the box, opening up his body to arc an excellent right-footed shot into the top-right corner, clipping the woodwork on its way in.
The attacker had a chance for a second goal four minutes before the break latching onto a ball over the top but lobbing it off target.
With the visitors spending most of their first half pinned back, in the final minute of the half, they sprung forward and scored the equaliser.
Edward Caspers played the ball across to the right edge of the box for Youlley who lined up a powerful right-footed strike that flew into the top left corner.
The late Bulls goals sent the sides into the break level with it still all to play for heading into the second period.
Sutherland almost scored within a minute of the restart as Khoury mazed his way into the left of the box before firing a delivery narrowly across the face of goal.
The game became a scrappy affair after this early chance with both teams struggling to put a consistent passage of passes together.
The Sharks almost scored in the 72nd minute as a persistent Photi nicked the ball inside the box and found substitute Nick Sullivan, returning from injury, who dragged his shot wide of the right post.
The hosts remained in the game though, and two great opportunities to steal the points over the next ten minutes.
A cross from the left was stood up to the back post where Ali Auglah directed a strong header goalwards that Sutherland goalkeeper Marko Bulic expertly palmed over the bar 78 minutes in.
Nine minutes later, Auglah was in again, this time from a tight angle in the right of the box forcing Bulic into another crucial save before the ball was cleared.
Just seconds later, the Sharks went down the other end to score the winning goal.
Rose had a defining impact off the bench to bravely poke the ball beyond Bulls’ shot-stopper Alexander Robinson from close range and see it roll into the net.
Damir Prodanovic’s troops saw out the remaining minutes to claim a monumental victory that pushed the Sharks back up the table.
Match Stats
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Rhys Youlley 45’)
Sutherland Sharks FC 2 (Jesse Photi 33’, Connor Rose 88’)
Saturday 6 May 2023
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Kelly Jones
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Blake Sanchez-Cruz
Fourth Official: Jackson Mackie
Bulls FC Academy: 30. Alexander Robinson (GK), 3. Theph Theph, 7. Ali Auglah, 8. Mason Wells (13. Jordan Ivancic 68’), 19. Jesper Webber (14. Sunday Yona 68’), 20. Adrian Knez (15. Mabior Garang 68’), 21. Lachlan Macdonald (12. Charlie Ragg 77’), 22. Edward Caspers (C), 32. Isaac Hovar, 52. Rhys Youlley, 53. Joel Bertolissio
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Anthony Krilic, 40. Griffin Barry (GK)
Yellow Cards: Ali Auglah 57’, Edward Caspers 90+4’
Red Cards: Nil
Sutherland Sharks FC: 1. Marko Bulic (GK), 2. Takahide Umebachi, 4. Mitchell Stamatellis (C), 5. Jesse Photi (7. Connor Rose 77’), 6. Brodie Clarkson, 8. Alexander Brown (10. Nick Sullivan 68’), 11. Fumoto Kamada, 14. Chris Lindsay, 15. Nathan Grimaldi, 25. Oliver Randazzo (21. Luke Sauer 60’), 33. Louis Khoury
Substitutes Not Used: 3. Jordan Roberts, 22. Jacob Cremen-Cowan (GK), 91. Jonty Busch
Yellow Cards: Nick Sullivan 79’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Brodie Clarkson (SS)
2 – Rhys Youlley (BA)
1 – Jesse Photi (SS)
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
