Sharks and Sydney FC share points in entertaining scoreless draw
It may have been a scoreless 0-0 draw but the Sutherland Sharks and Sydney FC entertained the crowd who were on hand to witness the Round 15 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash played at Seymour Shaw on Saturday night.
The visitors were on the defensive in the opening minutes with Louis Khoury having a shot blocked on the edge of the area by Nathan Paull before a goalmouth scramble saw the ball cleared away to safety in what was an encouraging start for the Sharks.
Ben Gibson was unable to gain full control in the 9th minute from a long punt out from the back when turning Mitch Stamatellis just outside the box with keeper Marko Bulic cleaning up – and was unfortunate again moments later when a delightful Alen Harbas ball saw him round the keeper but run the ball out of play.
With Chris Lindsay and Takahide Umebachi taking turns to bomb down the wings, the long ball over the top and through the middle was working well for the hosts.
Clayton Taylor was allowed to run unhindered only to see his left-footed strike fly just wide of the Sharks’ woodwork, the closest either side had come to getting off the mark midway through the half.
Bulic and ‘Special K’ Jaiden Kucharski, always lively, contested a high ball that left both players requiring attention but thankfully both were able to continue.
It was entertaining football with both sides creating half-chances, mainly from distance, until Fumoto Kamada forced Adam Pavlesic into two brave stops, both from tight angles, near the end of the half, however the break was reached leaving the match deadlocked.
Pavlesic found himself cautioned for a handball outside the area in a dangerous position that Sutherland squandered, the ball eventually falling to Luke Sauer who couldn’t weave his way through heavy traffic to get a clean strike on goal.
With the minutes ticking away and the pressure mounting, play became more frantic although Sydney FC had a decent effort from a free-kick to the back stick where Paull succeeded in finding the inside of the far post, before the visitors struck firstly the woodwork and then the bar in two swift passages of play.
A flurry of substitutions ensued an effort to find the opening and possibly winning goal but to no avail.
Jordan Roberts fired across the face when found by Nick Sullivan as Sutherland attempted to force the issue however, they left themselves open once again to the avenue they closed off earlier in the first-half, the long ball over the top.
Kucharski fired a parting shot deep into stoppage time when narrowly missing wide of the uprights from a free-kick.
Despite their best efforts, neither could find the back of the net in an entertaining but ultimately frustrating night for the coaches leaving Sydney FC’s Jimmy van Weeren to comment.
“I don’t think it was just frustrating for me as I know the boys will be too,” he said.
“I think we dominated the chances in the game, but we didn’t work Marko (Bulic) enough in goal and we weren’t good enough in their box to convert the opportunities tonight.
“We created a few chances, particularly in the first-half, with balls in behind their defence but we couldn’t take any and that’s the way it goes sometimes.
“Our position on the table isn’t the greatest of importance to us at this stage as it’s more about bringing the players on and getting week-in, week-out performances from them that is the main aim.
“We are where we are on the table but it’s a long season and we’ll keep trying to play football the way we want it played to turn games like these into wins but that said, Sutherland were very strong at the back tonight and are a difficult side to break down.”
Sharks coach Damir Prodanovic did bemoan a loss of three points but was happy to see his squad sticking to his coaching fundamentals.
“It was a game that could have gone either way tonight and we set up a little differently to usual,” he said.
“We wanted to measure the distances between our back four so we’re happy to get them (Sydney FC) stuck in their back third for long spells.
“I thought our transitional play was very good tonight and we created a few chances, they created a few chances but neither side worked the keepers enough in a game that could have gone either way.
“We are now at the midway point of the campaign and we’re going ok, we’re getting used to the processes we set from Day One and we have a certain way in which I want us to play and now it’s up to the boys to produce that style of football and win more games.
“We need to be better in the second-half of the season, pick up more points but I have to credit the team tonight as their commitment was second to none but also credit to Sydney FC as it was a very tough game.”
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 0
Sydney FC 1st Grade 0
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Saturday 13th May, 2023
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistants: Alessandro Llana and Aaron Bloch
Fourth: Daniel Drewitt
Sutherland Sharks: 1. Marko Bulic, 2 Takahide Umebachi, 4. Mitch Stamatellis, 5. Jesse Photi (7. Connor Rose 55’), 6. Brodie Clarkson, 8. Alexander Brown (10. Nick Sullivan 60’), 11. Fumoto Kamada (99. Jonty Busch 68’), 14. Chris Lindsay, 15. Nathan Grimaldi, 21. Luke Sauer (3. Jordan Roberts 68’), 33. Louis Khoury.
Subs not used: 19. Evan Ball, 22. Jacob Cremen-Cowan
Yellow Cards: Takahide Umebachi 47’, Fumoto Kamada 66’, Brodie Clarkson 79’
Red Cards:
Sydney FC 1st Grade: 30. Adam Pavlesic, 2. Cameron Fong (34. Max Buratto 46’), 4. Nathan Paull, 6. Matthew Scarcella (15. Dylan Rose 83’), 7. Benjamin Gibson (17. Mitchell Glasson 73’), 8. Kealey Adamson (14. Ayouk Mow 83’), 10. Alen Harbas (9. Luka Smyth 53’), 11. Clayton Taylor, 18. Oscar Priestman, 25. Jaiden Kucharski, 29. Aaron Gurd
Subs not used: 20. Max Vartuli, 34. Max Buratto
Yellow Cards: Adam Pavlesic 58’
Red Cards:
Player Ratings
3 – Oscar Priestman (SFC)
2 – Mitch Stamatellis (SS)
1 – Jaiden Kucharski (SFC)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
