Season draws to a close as Olympic and United 58 play out entertaining draw
Sydney Olympic secured a point with a dramatic comeback to end their and Sydney United 58’s disappointing 2023 campaigns with an exhilarating 3-3 draw at Belmore Sports Ground.
Sydney Olympic dominated possession in the opening stages, playing some nice football to keep and progress the ball.
However, in the eight minute, a beautiful build-up sequence from Sydney United – beginning with some great composure from goalkeeper Charles Samushonga and a prepossessing move forwards saw the away side win a penalty off a handball from Ziggy Gordan.
Chris Payne stepped up from the spot, and made no mistake in emphatically converting the ball to the left of Christopher Parsons and into the back of the net.
Sydney Olympic continued to play an attractive brand of football, looking to move through the lines and combine with quick passes, but struggled to create any clear cut chances.
However, their opponents continued to look dangerous and moved forwards with a sense of class and elegance; in the 20th minute, a fluid attack resulted in a freekick on the left hand side, and from an acute angle, Tariq Maia almost caught Parsons out with a cheeky shot, striking the front post with his effort.
In the 39th minute, the home team drew level, with a fantastic, penetrating Oliver Puflett run and finish making the score 1-1.
The forward received a close-range Roy O’Donovan pass, and drove into the open space created by the small, clever run.
Puflett shrugged off a defender as he moved to just outside the D, before lashing a clinical left-footed effort into the bottom-right corner to equalise for the home side.
However, Sydney United took the lead just two minutes later, with an exceptional Payne volley to earn himself a brace and send the away side into the lead.
Upon picking up the ball just inside the box off a clearance from a set piece on the left, Payne cooly controlled the ball before effortlessly slashing a shot into the top left corner with a stunning strike.
There was nothing Parsons could to about the exceptional effort, and Sydney United took the lead once more just before halftime.
Early in the second half, it was Puflett who almost levelled the scores once more, forcing a sharp save from Samushonga after a quickly taken corner and cross from Adam Parkhouse caught United’s backline off guard.
Puflett remained the main threat for Olympic, as a rapid one-two with Parkhouse in the 61st minute forced a crucial block from United’s defence, with the forward shooting powerfully from around the edge of the box.
However, it was the away side who made it three four minutes later courtesy of a clinical Taisei Kaneko finish.
On an attacking transition, Leroy Jennings held up the ball well before finding the overlapping run of Hirori Kawaguchi.
The fullback cut the ball into the box, and after a rebound, Kaneko lashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range to extend United’s ascendancy on the match.
But a minute later, Olympic clawed a goal back, not losing the ball once between their kickoff for United’s third and finding the net for their second.
A smart pass down the line from William Mutch released Michael Vakis on behind, and the youngster volleyed the ball stunningly over Samushonga from a seemingly impossible position to keep Olympic in the game.
With his first touch in the 83rd minute, Darcy Burgess looked to equalise after pikcing up a rebound at the back post for a corner, but United’s defence got in the way to block a goal bound shot from close range.
In the 86th minute, William Angel came off for the final time to rousing applause from the crowd, bringing an illustrious career to an end, retiring as a true Sydney Olympic legend.
And four minutes into extra time, Sydney Olympic completed a stunning, dramatic comeback to finish the campaign with a bang, to the immense frustration of United.
A clever pass from Burgess slid in Roy O’Donovan, who miskicked the ball with his left foot.
However, in true poacher’s style, O’Donovan found a way to make it work, as the ball rebounded off the head of his marker and creeped into the back of the net.
It was disarray for United and drama all-round, but the final whistle was sounded shortly after to bring to an end a set of captivating campaigns from both the Sydney sides.
Both teams were expected to challenge for the Premiership this year but disappointing results throughout the year saw both finish mid-table something both camps will be sure to rectify on 2024.
Olympic especially who were 2022 Premiers will be looking forward to a better season next year.
United 58 will now turn its attentions to their round of 16 Australia Cup clash against the Brisbane Roar this Saturday before taking on APIA Leichhardt FC for the 2023 Waratah Cup at Leichhardt Oval on the 10th of September.
Match Stats
Sydney Olympic FC 3 (Oliver Puflett 39’, Michael Vakis 65’, Roy O’Donovan 90+4’)
Sydney United 58 3 (Christopher Payne 9’, 41’, Taisei Kaneko 64’)
Wednesday 23 August, 2023
Belmore Sports Ground
Sydney Olympic FC: 2. Peter Politis, 5. Ziggy Gordan (23. Jakob Cresnar 45’), 7. William Angel (C) (24. Hagi Gligor 85’), 8. Sam Mcillhatton, 9. Oliver Puflett (10. Darcy Burgess 82’), 11. Adam Parkhouse, 15. William Mutch, 18. Ruben Sanchez Marcano (6. Jack Simmons 45’), 20. Christopher Parsons, 22. Fabio Ferreira (14. Michael Vakis 59’), 99. Roy O’Donovan
Substitutes Not Used: 40. Lucas Pezzano
Yellow Cards: Politis 20’
Red Cards: N/A
Sydney United 58: 3. Bailey Rule (10. Devante Clut 45’), 4. Adrian Vlastelica (C) (22. Leroy Jennings 45’), 6. Christopher Payne (9. Patrick Antelmi 76’), 11. Yianni Perkatis, 12. Hirori Kawaguchi, 13. Alessandro Lacalandra, 14. Andreas Agamemnonos (7. Taisei Kaneko 45’), 15. Tariq Maia (5. Anthony Tomelic 45’), 16. Ante Bakmaz, 17. Matthew Bilic, 50. Charles Samushonga
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Luke Cukar
Yellow Cards: Bilic 70’, Bakmaz 94’, Perkatis 95’
Red Cards: N/A
Player ratings:
3 – Oliver Puflett (SO)
2 – Christopher Payne (SU)
1 – William Angel (SO)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
