APIA roll Olympic to continue its course to silverware
APIA Leichhardt have continued its strong run in the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition with a solid 2-0 victory over an under-fire Sydney Olympic side at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
In an astonishing start to the match, Jordan Segreto opened the scoring in just 25 seconds, to continue his exceptional start to the season.
An attempted pass from Ben Gibson out wide to Seiya Kambahasi was intercepted by Jaden Casella, but his touch fell to the feet of the incisive forward.
Segreto picked up possession and drove purposefully towards goal, impressively holding off two opponents, before lashing a powerful strike to make a statement opening at Leichhardt Oval.
APIA’s fast start continued as they threatened with multiple attempts – the first of which was a Jack Stewart shot from just inside the box being blocked with a much-needed deflection.
Noah James was then forced into action over two corner kicks, with the goalkeeper tipping over a unique, almost on target shot direct from an outswinging corner, and then holding a towering header from Josh Symons off the resulting set piece.
However, Sydney Olympic responded by forcing Anthony Bouzanis into action, first from an efficient volley from Michael Vakis and then from a rolling Abraham Majok effort from an acute angle.
The matches lighting fast opening continued, with Jackson Bandiera being found in the box in a good position to equalise, but Bouzanis made a strong stop to prevent the left-back.
The electric Vakis then went close once more; receiving the ball from a quick freekick, a positive first touch saw the winger in behind, but Vakis couldn’t find the target against a stranded Bouzanis.
In the 25th minute, Olympic were presented with another inviting chance, as Roy O’Donovan was found at the back post off a dangerous cross from Majok, but the striker couldn’t gain power or placement with his header in a disappointing end product from the usually aerially proficient Irishman.
The visitors were gifted a golden chance to go level 10 minutes later, with a positive transition pass from O’Donovan finding Majok in behind.
Once more, Bouzanis was forced into a close range one on one battle, and again he importantly prevailed, with Majok’s shot too central to find a way past the strong shot-stopper.
APIA responded with a chance of their own, rattling the crossbar through a powerful left-footed Stewart strike, but minutes later, went one better and found a crucial second goal, much to the dismay of Olympic, who hadn’t converted their plethora of first-half chances.
Stewart’s 40th minute strike was a ruthless, spectacular effort; picking up the ball on the left, the winger dribbled back and inwards to open up an angle, before unleashing from range – metres outside the edge of the box – into the top right corner to double the home side’s advantage.
APIA had a big chance to score once more in a positive flurry after their second goal, as Ben Gibson missed a lucrative cutback from Stewart on the line of the six-yard box.
The first half was a perfect demonstration of APIA’s ruthless quality to create opportunities from any position in any gamestate, with Olympic heading into the sheds ruing an inability to convert their chances.
Olympic looked to halve the deficit early in the second half through a thunderous strike from George Timotheou, with the central defender hitting a bouncing ball from well outside the box with intense venom, forcing Bouzanis to prevent what would have been a strong contender for goal of the season.
APIA then had a good chance to make it three, with a slaloming run from Armson then finding Gibson, who couldn’t product a threatening effort on goal.
Minutes later, a strong channel run from O’Donovan saw an equally impressive cross fond the head of Vakis, who just couldn’t produce enough power to beat the defiant Bouzanis.
In the second half, APIA did well to control the game, remaining threatening but most importantly limiting Olympic’s chances to remain calmly in front.
O’Donovan had another good chance with just one minute of regular time remaining to convert with his head, meeting a threatening cross in from Bandiera, but the marksman just couldn’t find the target.
In additional time, APIA’s substitutes combined to try find a third, with a clever layoff from Nick Sullivan allowing Rory Jordan to take a touch and shoot, but his left-footed, sliced effort dragged just over the bar.
APIA coach Franco Parisis was proud of his side, and complimented the immense quality of the match.
“Very happy with three points and a clean sheet, but the football today I thought was high quality from both teams,” said Parisi.
“Both goals were high quality also, and both teams could have scored a fair few more, but I think in the scheme of things both teams came here to play.
“There was a lot of sexy football, there was a lot of defensive desperation from both sides and there was a lot of individual and creative team moments, so when you look at coming to a football match – of course we’re on the better side of the result so we’re pleased with it – but as a neutral and as a football lover I thought today had everything you could ask for.”
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt FC 2 (Segreto 1’, Stewart 40’)
Sydney Olympic FC 0
Sunday 17 March, 2024
Lambert Park
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Amirhossein Hosnani and Alexis Johnson
Fourth Official: Lara Hogan
APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. Seiya Kambayashi (23. Dakota Askew 83’), 4. Josh Symons, 7. Jack Stewart, 9. Ben Gibson (16. Sean Symons 63’), 14. Jack Armson (11. Rory Jordan 74’), 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 17. Jordan Segreto (8. Nick Sullivan 83’), 18. Adrian Ucchino (C), 21. Michael Kouta (41. Nicholas Azzone 63’), 22. Edward Caspers
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Alexander Parkes
Yellow Cards: Stewart 7’, J. Symons 63’, Azzone 75’, Muata-Marlow 89’
Red Cards:
Sydney Olympic FC: 1. Noah James, 4. George Timotheou, 5. Ziggy Gordon, 7. Jaden Casella (10. Darcy Burgess 60’), 8. Sam Mcillhatton, 14. Michael Vakis (9. Oliver Puflett 60’), 15. William Mutch (2. Peter Politis 85’), 17. Abraham Majok, 23. Jackson Bandiera, 29. George Antonis, 99. Roy O’Donovan (C)
Substitutes Not Used: 18. Teng Kuol, 19. Gianni Di Pizio, 20. Christopher Parsons
Yellow Cards: Mcillhatton 21’, Politis 87’
Red Cards:
Player ratings:
3 – Jack Stewart (APIA)
2 – Anthony Bouzanis (APIA)
1 – Adrian Ucchino (APIA)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
