League leaders Wanderers Walloped by rampaging APIA
In what is sure to have sent a statement to the rest of the league, defending Premiers APIA Leichhardt smashed league leaders Western Sydney Wanderers 6-0 at the Wanderers Football Park in a ruthless display from Franco Parisi’s troops.
After a great win against Rockdale Ilinden only a week ago, it was another fantastic display from the Inner West club.
Three goals to Ben Gibson, two to Jack Stewart and one to Alex Denmead made the difference against the Wanderers who were without several of their best young senior academy players who had just flown back from Melbourne but too late for this game, after last night’s A-League encounter where the Wanderers senior team had an important 4-3 victory over Melbourne Victory.
However, take nothing away from APIA Leichhardt FC in what was a truly outstanding and clinical display of football.
The first opportunity of this enthralling game arrived in the 2nd minute when a long ball forward found Gibson in perfect position, but Wanderers ‘keeper Taiga Harper blocked his attempt beautifully with his right foot.
APIA Leichhardt were at it again in the 10th minute when Jordan Segreto received a beautiful ball from Seiya Kambayashi and then struck the post with his shot in what was a very close call indeed with the Wanderers’ goalkeeper beaten.
In the 19th minute on transition APIA captain Adrian Ucchino was given far too much space in midfield before he found Stewart just outside the box, but the latter’s diagonal shot was across the face of goal and not where he intended it.
A few minutes later Stewart was on the end of a nice APIA move but his close range diagonal shot was just a bit wide of the goal.
APIA then deservedly did break the deadlock in the 25th minute. Themba Muata-Marlow was knocked over by Alex Bonetig at the far post chasing a Stewart cross and referee Craig Fisher had no hesitation in awarding the inner-city visitors a penalty. Stewart stepped up to the mark and with a perfect penalty dispatched the goalkeeper the wrong way and gave APIA the lead.
The Wanderers almost levelled it up immediately afterwards when a Ryan Devine cross from the by-line was headed away by the APIA defence, but only as far as Alexander Badolato who struck a volley that just sailed over the crossbar.
In the 32nd minute Edward Caspers found Stewart who once again tried his luck from just outside the box but, unfortunately for him, his attempt wasn’t too far off and went marginally over the intended target.
In the 39th minute the Wanderers went ever so close when Edmun Haddad skipped past Sean Symons and then tried his luck from just outside the box, but his shot was a very close shave for the crossbar in what was a great moment for the Wanderers on the counterattack.
Just prior to the break unfortunately for the Wanderers though APIA Leichhardt doubled their lead. Playing out from the back, ‘keeper Harper had his clearance intercepted by Rory Jordan who slid the ball across to Gibson who slotted home from close range for his first goal.
During the break Wanderers coach Andrew Christiansen made a double substitution to reshuffle his cards and provide some new spark for his young team, along with numerous positional changes.
However, the first opportunity of the second stanza of play belonged to APIA Leichhardt in the 51st minute with a powerful drive from Gibson on the right that forced Harper into a sharp save to turn the danger away for a corner.
Gibson though didn’t have to wait too long for his second. APIA won the ball in midfield, Stewart fed Gibson the ball and then, with a majestical diagonal shot, he drove it straight into the far corner of the net.
Gibson’s third goal arrived in the 57th minute when Doni Grdic stumbled in defence and was disposed of by the ever alert APIA player who then strode ruthlessly towards goal before finding the back of the net.
Shortly afterwards there was another great chance for APIA when Caspers fed the ball to who-else-but Gibson who fired on target, however the young Wanderers custodian Harper pulled off a great one-handed save to deny him another goal. The Wanderers reply was almost immediate when Badolato had a shot on target that brought out the best in custodian Anthony Bouzanis.
In the 75th minute Alex Denmead, a second half substitute, then made it five for APIA with his first personal goal of the season. It seemed far too simple as he created space on the left before taking the ball into the box and finding the goal.
Jack Armson in the 85th minute was in a perfect position but struck the crossbar with his attempt as APIA almost had their sixth of the afternoon.
However, they did make it six in the 89th minute when Armson fed the ball to Stewart who fired wonderfully on target leaving nothing to chance for the young Wanderers goalkeeper and rounding out the scoring for the visitors for the afternoon.
The statement was clearly set by APIA who have now bridged the gap on the league leaders the Wanderers, making this year’s NPL Men’s NSW competition one of the tightest this competition has ever seen in a long time.
After the game APIA Leichhardt coach Franco Parisi was very pleased with his side.
“We are very happy with the clean sheet and the three points,” he said.
“Our performance was exceptional and it was exactly what we were looking for. In matches like this it can always be challenging and there is a reason why the Wanderers are coming first.
“You need to perform in games like this for the whole 90 minutes and we are pleased that we were able to execute our plan that we had for the whole 90 plus minutes today.
“It was a consistent team effort today and we are very pleased with this performance. We had a big few days starting with a gala night 10 days ago, and for us there were three games in seven days and it was great to win all three. It is a strong competition and we will not get carried away by the result today.”
Match Stats
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS FC: 0
APIA LEICHHARDT: 6 (Stewart 26’ (pen) & 89’, Gibson 44’, 54’, 57’, Denmead 75’)
Sunday 28th April 2024
Wanderers Football Park, Blacktown
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistant Referees: Aaron Bloch, Thomas Bloch
Fourth Official: Liam Smith
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS FC: 1. Taiga Harper, 2. Anthony Pantazopoulos (8. Namory Conde 46’), 4. Doni Grdic, 10. Alexander Badolato, 11. Adam Bugarija, 12. Alex Bonetig (16. Roman Culina 58’), 18. Awan Lual (77. Phillip Gigliotti 46’), 22. Jesse Cameron, 23. Marcus Fernandez, 47. Edmun Haddad (19. Dimo Dimo 67’), 99. Ryan Devine (24. Anthony Barbic 62’).
Substitutes not used: 20. Lucas Sinnott.
Yellow Cards: Bonetig 25’, Gigliotti 64’
Red Cards: Nil
APIA LEICHHARDT: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. Seiya Kambayashi, 4. Josh Symons (23. Dakota Askew 76’), 6. Jordan Segreto (14. Jack Armson 66’), 7. Jack Stewart, 9. Ben Gibson (19. Luigi Ditroia 82’), 11. Rory Jordan (30. Alex Denmead, 66’), 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 18. Adrian Ucchino, 22. Edward Caspers, 25. Sean Symons (41. Nicholas Azzone 76’).
Substitutes not used: 21. Evan Davis.
Yellow Cards: J. Symons 38’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Ben Gibson (ALT)
2 – Jack Stewart (ALT)
1 – Adrian Ucchino (ALT)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo
