Fabulous Ofuka fires Wollongong to first home win

Wollongong Wolves recorded their first home win of the NPL Men’s NSW season, convincingly defeating Hills United 4-0 on Friday night at WIN Stadium keeping their great recent run of form in tact.
Japanese ace Takumi Ofuka was the star of the show, notching a hat-trick.
Ofuka put the hosts in front just before the half-hour mark, and fellow countryman Banri Kanaizumi added a second eight minutes before halftime.
The crafty wideman scored two more goals later in the second half to round out a good night for the hosts in Wollongong.
Hills United had the game’s first chance three minutes in when Glen Kelshaw’s long-range strike from the right flew narrowly over.
Four minutes later, the Wolves went forward. Ofuka took aim from the left of the box, and the ball cleared the crossbar.
The side created a better chance seconds later. Jake Trew slipped into the right channel of the box and managed to cut inside, but he shanked his left-footed effort over.
It took until midway through the half for Wollongong to create another opportunity when Christopher McStay took on a left-footed strike that bounced to Hills goalkeeper Ryan Wood.
United went close themselves a minute later through Yu Okubo. The forward danced his way into the right of the box before unleashing a close-range volley straight into Vedran Janjetovic in the Wollongong goal.
The hosts snatched the lead not long after. Lachlan Scott got to the left by-line and drove it across the box for Ofuka, the winger making no mistake from close range.
Scott was nearly involved in a second goal in the 36th minute. He received the ball in a pocket of space outside the area and sought out the top left corner, however, Wood got across expertly to turn it around the post.
Wollongong doubled their advantage from the resulting corner. McStay’s left-sided ins-winging delivery met Kanaizumi at the far post, who nodded powerfully past Wood.
The Wolves went into halftime with a commanding lead, having grown into the game as it went on.
Hills looked to start the second half strong, getting a shot off within three minutes. Thomas Makko found space on the edge of the box and fired it at Janjetovic.
Scott continued to be a threat for the home side, getting on the end of Trew’s pass into the left of the box just before the hour mark and firing wide of the far post.
On the hour, the Wolves stole possession deep into the Hills half and broke forward, the ball finding McStay in the right of the box, who saw his shot batted away by Wood.
Opportunities continued to flow for Wollongong, with defender Harrison Buesnel heading wide from a corner in the 72nd minute.
Moments later, substitute Sebastian Hernandez rolled a low shot from the edge of the box that Wood got down to his left to save.
They finally found their third goal 78 minutes in, when Ofuka ran through the right channel unchallenged and assuredly slotted the ball past Wood.
Ofuka secured his hat-trick in the 89th minute when McStay played an inch-perfect ball into the Japanese, who sent a composed finish into the bottom left corner. It was his fifth goal of the 2024 season.
Wollongong’s final goal proved to be the last meaningful action of the match with the side earning a 4-0 win in their first outing at WIN Stadium of 2024.
Ofuka said he was delighted to secure three goals on the night but also praised the team’s performance and the fans for coming out to watch.
“I’m so happy to get a hat-trick,” Ofuka said.
“We are so happy to get the three points.
“Everyone worked very hard and the way we did it was great.
“Everyone came down and supported us so we played very well.
“We should keep fighting and keep pushing each other.”
Hills United coach Luke Casserly said he was disappointed in his side’s giveaways through the game, highlighting them as a contributing factor the defeat.
“You have to give credit to Wollongong, they were very good. Very organised and worked really hard. Their movement off the ball was good,” Casserly said.
“Particularly in the first half, not as much in the second half, but for most of the game we just kept turning the ball over.
“If you keep turning the ball over that much, it is going to be difficult every game.”
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves FC 4 (Takumi Ofuka 27’ 78’ 89’, Banri Kanaizumi 37’)
Hills United FC 0
Saturday, 15 March 2024
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Referee: Karl Davies
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harris and Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Ethan Zvargulis
Wollongong Wolves FC: 1. Vedran Janjetovic (GK), 2. Harrison Buesnel, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Samuel Riak, 7. Takumi Ofuka, 8. Andre Takami, 9. Jake Trew (11. Sebastian Hernandez 61’), 24. Lachlan Scott (c) (27. Damon Gray 90’), 25. Alex Masciovecchio (10. Yagoub Mustafa 55’), 88. Christopher McStay
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Oliver Yates, 15. Dax Kelly, 29. Thomas Dunn
Yellow Cards: Harrison Buesnel 53’
Red Cards: Nil
Hills United FC: 1. Ryan Wood (GK), 4. Brian Jamba (26. Thomas Makko 26’), 5. Daniel Petkovski, 6. Isaac Hovar, 8. Eoin Montford, 9. Yu Okubo, 13. Cameron Philip (11. Anthony Frangie 46’), 17. Caleb Jackson-Brown, 19. Glen Kelshaw (c) (2. Rainer Smahel 78’), 24. Sunday Yona (20. Thomas Lopez 65’), 27. Nicolai Muller (10. Jamal Belkadi 65’)
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Emlyn Cross
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Takumi Ofuka (WW)
2 – Banri Kanaizumi (WW)
1 – Christopher McStay (WW)
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_