Urosevski magic keeps Premiership hopes alive
Rockdale Ilinden produced a late turnaround to edge out Central Coast Mariners 2-1 to keep its Premiership hopes alive thanks to a wonder goal by competition golden boot slayer Alec Urosevski at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
A freak error at the back for Rockdale presented Bailey Brandtman with a gift to open the scoring for the Mariners.
Lachlan Griffiths equalised with 12 minutes to play for Ilinden before Alec Urosevski scored a goal worthy of winning the points in the 87th minute.
Ilinden had the first shot of the match six minutes in when Urosevski bent a low, powerful free-kick that Mariners goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen parried away.
However, Central Coast opened the scoring four minutes later in an early shock for the title-chasing Rockdale.
Brandtman stole the ball from Griffiths just inside the Rockdale half, racing in on goal and slotting it past goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares.
Ilinden captain Urosevski took on another effort from outside the box midway through the half, but it rolled to Peraic-Cullen.
Urosevski continued to threaten as just before the half-hour mark, a sharp turn in the box saw the forward lash one goalward that Peraic-Cullen, incredibly, tipped onto the left post.
Another opportunity went begging in the 36th minute as Brendan Cholakian’s wide free-kick met the head of Jaden Casella who glanced the ball narrowly wide of the left post.
Despite a barrage from the hosts after conceding, Central Coast kept their slender lead intact until the break.
Central Coast created a good chance four minutes after halftime when Dylan Susovic shifted the ball inside from the right, but his left-footed effort was deflected over.
Shots were few and far between in the second half with Rockdale still chasing the game.
In the 69th minute, Rockdale’s Cholakian turned well in the box before scooping it over the top.
Five minutes later, Brandtman took on a curler from the right of the box for Central Coast that floated just over the crossbar as well.
The home side made a habit of whipping in dangerous set pieces throughout the match, and one finally paid off in the 78th minute.
Collins meeting a left-sided delivery to nod the ball past Peraic-Cullen bravely.
Ilinden piled on more pressure immediately as Urosevski and Lochlan Constable drew two top, low saves from Peraic-Cullen who was keeping the Mariners in the game.
When it looked like time was running out, Rockdale’s captain and talisman stepped up with a spectacular effort.
Bai Antoniou got the ball in from the left for Urosveski who produced one of the goals of the season performing a match-winning bicycle kick straight over Peraic-Cullen.
It was goal number 24 for Urosevski who has quite simply been in stunning form this year.
The side held out and secured the points and with three matches and four points adrift of current league leaders APIA Leichhardt, the race for the NPL NSW Men’s Premiership continues.
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden FC 2 (Daniel Collins 78’, Alec Urosevski 87’)
Central Coast Mariners FC 1 (Bailey Brandtman 10’)
Sunday 6 August 2023
Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Amirhossein Hosnani and Simon Ashari
Fourth Official: Rowan Fisher
Central Coast Mariners FC: 20. Dylan Peraic-Cullen (GK), 11. Bailey Brandtman, 14. Luke Oresti (36. Zachariah Waddell 71’), 22. Andre Parkes, 23. Gianni Di Pizio, 24. Zac Zoricich (C), 25. Jacob Tresoglavic, 26. Max Middleby (19. Aidan Milicevic 71’), 31. Amponsah Antwi, 32. Tommy Edmonds (15. Jordan Segreto 58’), 39. Dylan Susovic (21. Maksim Kasalovic 58’)
Substitutes Not Used: 27. Harry Menham, 30. Lewis Alvarez (GK)
Yellow Cards: Amponsah Antwi 17’, Aidan Milicevic 73’, Gianni Di Pizio 77’
Red Cards: Nil
Rockdale Ilinden FC: 20. Harrison Devenish-Meares (GK), 66. Mathieu Cordier (23. Jaden Casella 20’), 2. Daniel Collins, 3. Lachlan Griffiths, 4. Nikola Ujdur, 7. Alec Urosevski (C), Bai Antoniou, 10. Brendan Cholakian (33. Paul Kalamvokis 90+2’), 11. Lochlan Constable, 14. Brayden Sorge, 17. Iain Ramsay (42. Benjamin Wass 83’)
Substitutes Not Used: 26. Don Baron (GK), 30. Trelawney Brown, 34. Jason Cakovski
Yellow Cards: Brayden Sorge 39’, Alec Urosevski 90+3’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Alec Urosevski (RI)
2 – Dylan Peraic-Cullen (CCM)
1 – Brendan Cholakian (RI)
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
