Scenes as Sydney United 58 break Stallions hearts with magic comeback
Sydney United 58 managed a sensational comeback to take three points from a hard-fought local derby against the Marconi Stallions at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The physical battle saw the Stallions open scoring in the 28th minute through James Temelkovski then follow up with another in the 44th minute through Cameron Windust.
Sydney United 58 took hold of the second half with goals from Aidan Milicevic and Patrick Antelmi to equalise, because securing the lead through Carlos de Oliveira in the 92nd minute.
It was a relatively slow start to the match as both sides settled in.
The first chance of the match came from the hosts in the 5th minute as de Oliveira took at shot at the target, however it stuck to the palms of Marconi custodian James Hilton.
A ball from Domenic Costanzo met Hiroshima Aoyama in the area in the 15th minute, however he wasn’t able to get a shot off as United 58s defence kept it out of play.
Sydney United 58 responded quickly as Bailey Rule crossed into the area, but Milicevic’s header passed over the crossbar.
Costanzo took a chance from afar for the visitors in the 17th minute, but his shot was off target.
Matthew Hatch’s speedy forward run saw him looking dangerous in the 20th minute, however his effort was thwarted by Hilton.
Brandon Vella jumped on an opportunity to intercept in the 28th minute, blazing forward before passing it off to Franco Maya.
Maya used some quick footwork to get in position to let off a shot, sending the ball past Oliver Kalac in goals, with Temelkovski guiding it over the line at the finish.
A hand ball from United 58 in the 44th minute gave Marconi an opportunity from the right edge of the 18-yard box before the break.
Maya sent the ball into the area and a deflection saw it pop up in front of Windust, who simply nodded it over the line.
A free kick from Milicevic found Anthony Tomelic in first-half injury time, but he guided his header outside the sticks leaving the visitors with a two-goal advantage heading into the half-time break.
A free kick early in the second stanza saw the hosts with a chance to get back in the match but Antelmi sent his effort over the crossbar.
A strike from Antelmi from range in the 56th minute brought Hilton into action again as the hosts continued to show their hunger for a goal.
The sustained pressure paid off for United 58 in the 60th minute as they made their way onto the scoreboard.
Hatch received the ball from the left flank and crossed it to Milicevic in the area, who finished it off from in front of the goal.
The goal certainly buoyed the home side as the pace of the match picked up and the crowd grew louder.
The hosts managed the equaliser in the 80th minute through Antelmi, bringing even more life to the fiery derby.
Substitute Alessandro Lacalandra sent a ball into the area, which was kept out by Nathan Millgate.
Shunta Nakamura retrieved the ball and passed to Antelmi in front of goal, who fired it in to finish from close range.
Antelmi was back in action in the 92nd minute, holding the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box before tapping to off to De Oliveira, who fired past a diving Hilton to take the lead for the hosts.
Captain Marko Jesic had the last chance to net an equaliser in injury time from a well-positioned free kick, however his effort skewed just wide of the goal.
Sydney United 58 coach Zeljko Kalac was pleased his side was able to work their way to a victory after a rocky first half.
“In the first half we continued from how we trained on Friday – rubbish,” he said.
“In the first half, it was just so transitional, every time we got the ball we lost it, then we were always chasing so we couldn’t play our style of football.
“All I said to them at half time was ‘this is not us, we need to go out there and show who we are, lift our game by 10 or 20 per cent and we’ll score five goals against this team’.
“We didn’t quite score five, we scored three, but I’ll take that.
“We started retaining the ball, putting together three or four passes and they just couldn’t deal with that.”
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 3 (Milicevic 60’, Antelmi 80’, de Oliveira 92’)
Marconi Stallions 2 (Temelkovski 28’, Windust 45’)
Sunday 21 April 2024
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Aaron Bloch and Joel Crawford
Fourth Official: Hayden Langholz
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Oliver Kalac, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic (21. Dejan Bakrdanikosksi 73’), 8. Shunta Nakamura, 9. Patrick Antelmi, 10. Carlos de Oliveira, 11. Matthew Hatch (7. Jordan Ivancic 73’) 14. Liam McGing, 19. Aidan Milcevic, 22. Stephan de Robillard (13. Alessandro Lacalandra 73’)
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Cristian Gonzalez, 6. Adam Zervas, 17. Mathew Nikolovski
Yellow Cards: Nakamura 22’, de Oliveira 31’, McGing 37’, Vlastelica 42’, Milicevic 89’
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 1. James Hilton, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Cameron Windust, 6. Domenic Constanzo (17. Milislav Popovic 81’), 7. Franco Maya, 8. Daniel Bouman (25. Jonathan Soares 81’, 14. Dylan Susovic 86’), 9. James Temelkovski (21. Jakov Malbasa 81’), 10. Mario Jesic, 11. Hirokai Aoyama, 18. George Daniel, 23. Brandon Vella
Substitutes Not Used: 24. Mackenzie Syron, 26. Matthew Martignago
Yellow Cards: Maya 45’, Bouman 60’, Windust 86’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Aidan Milicevic (SU)
2 – Patrick Antelmi (SU)
1 – Brandon Vella (MS)
-By Madeline Riley
