Rangers stun Sydney United 58

Mount Druitt Town Rangers produced a hard-fought display to edge out Sydney United 58 1-0 in a feisty encounter at Popondetta Park on Saturday night.
Defender Nikola Djordjevic continued his goalscoring form in 2023 nodding home the winner just after the hour mark to condemn Unite 58 to its seventh loss of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season.
Yianni Perkatis was sent off for a crude challenge in the final three minutes for Sydney United 58 adding further insult to injury.
It was an even opening 10 minutes of the match with neither team able to get control over proceedings.
Anthony Frangie had a shot for the hosts in the 11th minute but his effort from the edge of the box slowly bounced to United goalkeeper Danijel Nizic.
Three minutes later, Sydney United 58 had a chance to take the lead when a corner spilled out to Anthony Tomelic in the box whose side-footed shot flew wide of the right post.
Opportunities were few and far between in the first period with the next meaningful shot coming half an hour in.
Yianni Fragogiannis lined one up from range on the right but saw his shot sail wide.
The game started to heat up as it entered the final six minutes of the half.
United 58 went close 37 minutes in as Bailey Rule motored into the right of the box and forced Dylan Niski into an important save at his near post.
Mount Druitt went down the other end two minutes after with Kotaro Katsuta picking up the ball in the box, but an onrushing Nizic smothered any danger.
In the 42nd minute, United’s Devante Clut took on a first-time effort from a central position outside the box that went just wide of the right post.
The home side had a great opportunity to snatch the lead in stoppage time.
Cooper Coskerie’s right-sided cross found Frangie in the middle who attempted an acrobatic volley that went just over the bar.
The game remained scoreless as the teams went into the sheds for the break.
It was a quiet start to the second half with the only shot coming from United’s Rule who side-footed over from outside the box in the 52nd minute.
The Rangers responded to this shot 13 minutes later as Rhett De Silva’s strike deflected wide of the left post for a corner.
The side found the opening goal from that set piece with Djordjevic’s looping header nestling in the bottom-right corner.
Sydney United 58 looked to turn the scoreline around just three minutes after going behind with Glen Trifiro’s shot on the turn safely held onto by Niski.
The visitors stepped up the pressure in the final 15 minutes throwing numbers forward in the hope of grabbing a late equaliser, but Mount Druitt continued to stand strong.
With five minutes to go, Niski was forced into a top save down to his right from Perkatis’ strike from the edge of the box.
Tempers boiled over just three minutes later as Perkatis saw red for a lunging challenge on Will Harvey leaving United a goal, and now a man down.
The cards were flying out in the final moments with players from both teams receiving a few cautions.
Mount Druitt managed to hold onto their slender leave and claim a crucial victory in their bid to avoid relegation while it was yet another disappointing result for United 58 who have had a less than satisfying 2023 campaign but will be focusing on their Round 7 Australia Cup clash against NWS Spirit FC next Wednesday.
Match Stats
Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC 1 (Nikola Djordjevic 66’)
Sydney United 58 FC 0
Saturday 27 May 2023
Popondetta Park, Emerton
Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC: 20. Dylan Niski (GK), 21. Tarek Elrich (C), 3. Nikola Djordjevic, 4. Cooper Coskerie, 5. Jacob Esposito, 10. Kotaro Katsuta 11. Jackson Bandiera, 12. Will Harvey, 15. Anthony Gallo, 22. Rhett De Silva, 44. Anthony Fangie (27. Stefan Nikolic 75’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Robert Fanella (GK), 2. Lomeo Nicoliello, 8. Junyong Jin, 41. Ivan Sunjic. 43. Abdelelah Faisal
Yellow Cards: Nikola Djordjevic 28’, Tarek Elrich 90’, Will Harvey 90+3’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Danijel Nizic (GK), 2. Christian Gonzalez (12. Hiyori Kawaguchi 46’), 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica (C), 5. Anthony Tomelic (14. Andreas Agamemnonos 61’), 9. Patrick Antelmi, 10. Devante Clut (11. Yianni Perkatis 61’), 16. Ante Bakmaz, 17. Matthew Bilic, 18. Glen Trifiro, 21. Yianni Fragogiannis (13. Alesandro Lacalandra 74’)
Substitutes Not Used: 19. Ante Vojvodic, 20. Luke Cukar (GK)
Yellow Cards: Anthony Tomelic 39’, Adrian Vlastelica 87’
Red Cards: Yianni Perkatis 88’
Referee: Sebastien Brennan
Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki and Daniel Drewitt
Fourth Official: Eric Saba
Player Ratings:
3 – Nikola Djordjevic (MDTR)
2 – Tarek Elrich (MDTR)
1 – Bailey Rule (SU58)
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_