The Wollongong Wolves meant business as they proved too hungry for title chasing Rockdale Ilinden with a convincing 4-0 win at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
The visitors took control almost from the opening minute and it was former Ilinden player Chris McStay who opened the scoring and then set up Lachlan Scott for the second after a powerful run down the right wing.
Takumi Ofunka then stunned the crowd with a true ‘Goal of the Season’ contender when curling home a remarkable free-kick from an acute angle to demolish the hopes of the home side.
Jake Trew bundled in a fourth in the 55th minute in a masterful display by the Wollongong outfit.
Brayden Sorge assumed the Captain’s role with the absence of talisman, and leading NPL NSW Men’s goalscorer Alec Urosevski through suspension
Samuel Riak hit a curling effort from 25-yards out that grazed the Ilinden crossbar in the 2nd minute followed by attempts from both Lachlan Scott and Alex Masciovecchio, up against his former team, were scrambled away by Rockdale showing the Wolves were up for the fight.
Trew broke through the middle for the visitors shortly after but fortunately for the home side, was eventually flagged offside as once again the Ilinden defence was sluggish in spotting the danger.
Masciovecchio sent an in-swinging corner to the back stick however Banri Kanazumi was unable to get a decent touch and fired wide before Ilinden’s new recruit Diego Celis did the same at the other end albeit from open play midway through the half.
McStay then came into his own, bossing the middle of the pitch and played a delightful ball out to the left before motoring into the box in the 28th minute to continue the move and outjump the Rockdale defence to head home and it was 1-0 to David Carney’s troops.
A very classy transition in play and a moment to truly open up what had been, to this point, a very even contest.
One became two when McStay turned provider, revelling in the space afforded him, with a strong run down the right, his cross found Lachlan Scott to power another header past the hapless Ricardo Rizzo to double the lead in the 35th minute.
And it worsened for Rockdale when Ofuka curled in the third, from an acute angle, directly from a free-kick in the final minute of the half. A contender for goal of the season and debatable if he’s ever hit one sweeter than this.
Rockdale found themselves three down at the break and in damage limitation area.
Ofuka played a cut-back diagonal pass for Lachlan Scott immediately after the break that Rizzo did well to bravely save at the feet of the Wolves’ striker, the visitors showing no signs of letting up their relentless grip on the game and hungry for further goals.
Brendan Cholakian scuffed his shot from a Jaden Casella cut-back in an increasingly rare attack for Ilinden, not that they were playing poorly as Wollongong were in the ascendency.
Rockdale rang the changes brining on another two debutante’s in Daniel Collins and Iain Ramsay to replace Lochie Constable and Jaden Casella respectively.
Wolves bundled a fourth over the line in the 55th minute to put the result beyond doubt Trew.
There was little to cheer for Rockdale and less they could take from the game after being comprehensively beaten on the day leaving a jubilant Wolves’ coach, avid Carney to comment.
“It was an excellent performance especially to come away from Rockdale who were top of the league and needed the win,” he said.
“The performances have been there for us this season and it was just the belief in being able to get the goals as I was really pleased with the effort and the way everyone worked tirelessly today.
“An excellent performance, couldn’t be happier in what was a complete team performance today,” he concluded.
It was a sombre Rockdale coaching team leaving co-assistant coach Vedran Jaganjac to state. “Wollongong earned the right to be in the ascendency today and the two boys up top played superbly,” he said.
“They played some physical football which we had a hard time dealing with for whatever reason.
“Credit to Wolves though, they came here hungry and won every second ball and fully deserved to walk away with the points today.
“We need to pick ourselves up and go again next week.”
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden 0
Wollongong Wolves 4 (Chris McStay 28’, Lachlan Scott 35’, Takumi Ofuka 44’, Jake Trew 55’)
Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
Sunday 25th June, 2023
Referee: Nathan Shakespear
Assistants: Matthew Harris and Joshua Kermond
Fourth: Declan Woods
Rockdale Ilinden: 20. Ricardo Rizzo, 4. Nikola Ujder, 8. Isaac Danzo, 9. Bai Antoniou, 10. Brendan Cholakian, 11. Lochie Constable (2. Daniel Collins 52’), 14. Brayden Sorge, 15. Jamie Percevski (42. Ben Wass 71’), 21. Diego Cdelis, 23. Jaden Casella (17. Iain Ramsay 52’), 66. Mathieu Cordier
Subs not used: 1. James Husoy, 16. Brae Owens, 39. Paul Kalamvokis
Yellow Cards: Bai Antoniou 90+2
Red Cards:
Wollongong Wolves: 13. Thomas Butkovic, 5. Banri Kanazumi, 7. Marcus Beattie, 8. Samuel Riak, 9. Takumi Ofuka, 14. Jake Trew, 21. Ethan Beaven, 23. Walter Scott, 24. Lachlan Scott (10. Damon Gray 86’), 25. Alex Masciovecchio (99. Sebastian Hernandez 70’), 88. Chris McStay
Subs not used: 1. Nenad Vekic, 4. Dax Kelly, 17. Jake Lavalle, 29. Thomas Dunn
Yellow Cards: Chris McStay 62’, Sebastian Hernandez 78’
Red Cards:
Player Ratings
3 – Chris McStay (WW)
2 – Takumi Ofuka (WW)
1 – Lachlan Scott (WW)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
