APIA move closer to Premiership with clinical win over Sky Blues
APIA Leichhardt have secured a clinical 3-0 win over Sydney FC to boost their NPL NSW Men’s Premiership chances, remaining four points ahead of Rockdale Ilinden with just two matches remaining.
Sydney FC’s ultra-young side, filled with sixteen and seventeen year-olds, performed admirably against the league leaders in the first fifteen minutes, winning individual duals and not allowing APIA to take control of the match.
In the 17th minute, the home side had the first real opportunity to open the scoring, however, with Jack Armson latching onto a loose ball after a mistake in the defensive line, driving forwards at the backtracking defenders but then seeing his lashed shot unable to find the target.
Less than a minute later, Jack Stewart forced himself into a dangerous position and looked to curl an effort into the bottom-right corner from just inside the box, but the shot went wide.
APIA, coming off the back of a Wednesday night Australia Cup victory over Goulburn Valley Suns in Victoria, were growing well into the match, playing some aesthetic football through midfield and out wide to progress the ball up the pitch.
Their quick combination play, technical control and ability to recognise space made for striking viewing, while Sydney were showing quality of their own, with both the players and staff adapting impressively to a depleted squad as a result of the senior side’s Australia Cup clash.
In the 27th minute, a clever drive inside from Sean Symons saw his eventual shot clatter awkwardly off the post, before Jack Armson stung the palms of Gus Hoefsloot and forced a strong save from the young Sydney goalkeeper.
Rory Jordan opened the scoring for the league leaders in stunning style in the 32nd minute, finishing off an alluring APIA move.
The home side retained the ball impressively after a throw-in and switched side on multiple occasions, before a tidy touch and pass from Anthony Sparacino found Armson in a pocket of space in between the lines.
The decisive attacking midfielder turned and poked through a perfectly weighted pass to Jordan, who had made a run inside from the left-flank.
Jordan beat Hosfloot to the ball, and chipped the ball into the back of the net with precision and poise to give APIA a crucial lead in the context of the title race.
Three minutes into the first half, Jordan looked to double his and his side’s tally, powering a shot at Hosfloot from an acute angle and forcing a good save from the Sydney goalkeeper.
Jordan was proving a consistent threat for APIA; upon winning back possession deep in the attacking half, he strode forwards and looked to chip the ball into the back of the net but struck the crossbar with his audacious effort.
In the 66th minute, the menacing Jordan did grab his second goal, lashing a ferocious, accurate volley off the far post and into the back of the net.
Some good holdup play from substitute Jason Romero saw his pass find the overlapping run of right-back Yianni Nicolaou, who then swung a cross to the back post.
Jordan picked the ball out of the air beautifully and converted with ease to double APIA’s lead and his tally for the night.
Two minutes later, a dangerous run and cross from Ben Gibson saw the ball roll precariously across goal, as it somehow missed the foot of Bailey Callaghan to halve the deficit.
In the 79th minute, Sydney had the chance to claw a goal back once more, but were prevented by a fantastic Themba Muata-Marlow interception.
A clever, angled ball in behind from Oscar Fryer found the onrushing Ben Gibson in the box, but the forward was beaten to the ball by the APIA central defender to limit the intense danger for the home side.
In the 81st minute, Sydney’s hope of a late comeback was reduced, with Hoefsloot being sent off for preventing a goalscoring opportunity after handballing the ball just outside the box, with Romero rushing onto a Sean Symons through ball.
Due to having made all substitution windows, right-back Morrie Kamara took the reigns in goal, and off the resulting freekick, Romero added to a mid-week Australia Cup brace with a clinical finish into the bottom left-hand corner from just outside the box.
APIA coach Franco Parisi was pleased with his side’s overall performance, with a win next week would guaranteeing them Champions.
“An important three points and it was lovely to come away without conceding in what was a tough eight days with three very important matches for the club.
“I’m totally proud of all the players, it was a squad effort with some individual moments of brilliance but in general the entire squad and club has really dug in most when it counts, and today was a fantastic performance.
“We look forward to NWS Spirit next week and we know their qualities at their home ground – they’ve proven to be one of the sides to beat at their home territory with some incredible last minute winners.
“But tonight, I’m very proud of the effort – the boys have dug deep and I’m proud of the three-points – the must-have three-points – and the clean sheet to make it a complete week.”
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt FC 3 (Jordan 32’, 66’, Romero 83’)
Sydney FC 0
Sunday 13 August, 2023
Lambert Park
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistant Referees: Aaron Bloch and Logan Jones
Fourth Official: Amber Morris
APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Ivan Necevski, 6. Anthony Sparacino, 7. Jack Stewart (9. Jason Romero 60’), 14. Jack Armson (98. Franco Farinella 74’), 15. Themba Muata-Marlow (3. Paul Galimi 84’), 16. Sean Symons, 17. Rory Jordan (23. Dakota Askew 74’), 18. Adrian Ucchino (C) (4. Joshua Symons 84’), 19. Fabian Monge, 21. Michael Kouta, 38. Yianni Nicolaou
Substitutes Not Used: 12. Anthony Bouzanis,
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Sydney FC: 1. Gus Hoefsloot, 4. Aden Green (14. Ayouk Mow 59’), 12. Lachlan Middleton (24. Jared Middleton 59’), 15. Dylan Rose, 16. Joseph Calusic (C), 22. Morrie Kamara, 27. Wataru Kamijo (7. Ben Gibson 45’), 28. Meliwethu Nkomo (34. Max Buratto 78’), 32. Oscar Fryer, 36. Jacob Brazete (21. Louis Agosti 45’), 37. Bailey Callaghan
Substitutes Not Used: 40. Alexander Zaverdinos
Yellow Cards: Green 22’, Rose 52’
Red Cards: Hoefsloot 81’
Player ratings:
3 – Rory Jordan (APIA)
2 – Themba Muata-Marlow (APIA)
1 – Fabian Monge (APIA)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
