APIA show no mercy to young Sky Blues
APIA Leichhardt have continued their chase towards the peak of the NPL Men’s NSW ladder with a cohesive 7-1 victory over Sydney FC at Rockdale Illinden Sports Centre.
APIA Leichhardt grabbed the first goal with a trademark sweeping move in the 16th minute after a competitive start from both sides.
Receiving the ball on the right touchline, Jack Stewart promptly played a swift one-two with Ben Gibson, before finding the striker in behind once more.
Gibson’s cross was parried precariously by Mason Hartnig, and found Jack Armson, who incisively passed the ball around the defence and into an empty net.
Sydney FC looked to respond just a minute later, with a searching ball from Meliwethu Nkomo finding Mitch Glasson in the box, but the striker blazed the ball over the bar after touching it down, ending a good chance in a disappointing fashion.
However, in the 24th minute, Gibson added a goal to his assist to double APIA’s lead as the reigning Champions continued their clinical chase towards top spot.
After being found centrally by Rory Jordan, a heavy touch saw him quickly poke the ball onwards, which found the run of Gibson in behind.
The striker took a smooth touch, before poking the ball calmly past Hartnig to earn APIA a second goal.
Their third came just three minutes later, with Gibson again a major part of the move.
Amidst intense pressure, Gibson intercepted a pass between Sydney’s centre-back pairing, allowing him to converge on goal.
Hartnig made a sharp save in a one on one, but the ball rebounded to the feet of Rory Jordan, who from the edge of the box, calmly placed a shot into the back of the net.
APIA’s storing streak continued strongly, with a 32nd minute goal from Edward Caspers putting the game beyond doubt just after the half an hour mark.
The away side forced their way into the Sydney box, with a deft touch from Gibson settling the move.
The centre-forward played a pass back to Caspers, who smoothly turned, before placing the ball in the bottom-right corner, wrongfooting the goalkeeper and the three Sydney players converging on the midfielder, to classily extend APIA’s lead.
The score didn’t stay at four for long, with APIA adding a fifth from another strike off a rebound.
It was Rory Jordan who began the move, receiving the ball just inside the attacking half.
After nutmegging his onrushing marker, Jordan strode towards goal, before placing a shot at Hartnig.
The goalkeeper saved, but parried the shot into the free Gibson, who passed the ball into the net comfortably from inside the box.
On the stroke of halftime, APIA made it six to heap the misery on Sydney, who had conceded 16 goals in their last five matches prior to this fixture.
A diagonal from Josh Symons found Gibson wide right, who characteristically got the better of his marker, before sliding the ball inside to Jack Stewart.
On the edge of the box, Stewart played a delightful, clipped pass in behind to the onrushing Rory Jordan, splitting Sydney’s entire backline.
In a one on one, Jordan engrossingly improvised; after mis-hitting the original effort with his left, he lobbed the ball – while on his way to the ground – with his right, looping his shot into the back of the net.
In the 57th minute, Gibson was almost presented with a good chance to gain his hattrick, receiving the ball with an empty net thanks to a good run and square pass from Sean Symons, but a vital touch from Hartnig pushed the ball just behind the striker’s run.
Instead, it was Jordan who was the first to earn his third, with the winger sliding a left-footed strike past Hartnig after a good tackle and pass from Caspers, extending APIA’s lead to seven.
In the 80th minute, Sydney FC gained a consolation goal, to reduce the score to 7-1.
After a slip on the ball from Caspers, Lachlan Middleton drove forwards, before slipping a pass out to Mitch Glasson on the right.
The striker took a touch into the box, and from an acute angle blasted the ball into the top-right corner to prevent APIA from keeping a clean sheet.
APIA coach Franco Parisi was proud of his sides victory and the recent form of the away team as they continue to advance up the ladder.
“Disappointed to concede a goal, but I’m very happy with the three points,” he said.
“We’ve been playing some really nice football over the last few weeks – some sexy football – and some nice team goals.
“The effort, the discipline and the compactness of the team is great to see.”
Sydney FC coach Jim Van Weeren complimented APIA for their quality and victory tonight.
“I think APIA are a very good team – Franco and his staff have them very well drilled and organised,” he said.
“They put us to the sword, especially in the first half.
“They were ruthless and really showed their quality.”
Match Stats
Sydney FC 1 (Glasson 80′)
APIA Leichhardt FC 7 (Armson 16’, Gibson 24’, 37’ Jordan 27’, 45’, 62’, Caspers 32’)
Sunday 5 May, 2024
Rockdale Illinden Sports Centre
Referee: Jake Rose
Assistant Referees: Alessandro Llana and Charbel Geha
Fourth Official: Jackson Mackie
Sydney FC: 30. Mason Hartnig, 2. Noah Mathie, 3. Tyler Williams, 5. Meliwethu Nkomo, 10. Tiago Quintal, 11. Marin France, 14. Jared Middleton (4. Joseph Calusic 45’), 17. Ayouk Mow (29. Joseph Lacey 58’), 18. Matthew Scarcella (8. Lachlan Middleton 31’), 19. Mitchell Glasson (C) (33. Mathais Macallister 87’), 24. Wataru Kamijo (6. Dylan Rose 31’)
Substitutes Not Used: 40, Alexander Zaverdinos
Yellow Cards: Glasson 63’
Red Cards: None
APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. Seiya Kambayashi (23. Dakota Askew 38’), 4. Josh Symons (21. Michael Kouta 67’), 7. Jack Stewart (30. Alex Denmead 74’), 9. Ben Gibson, 11. Rory Jordan, 14. Jack Armson (19. Luigi Ditroia 74’), 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 16. Sean Symons, 18. Adrian Ucchino (C) (41. Nicholas Azzone 67’), 22. Edward Caspers
Substitutes Not Used: 27. Evan Davis
Yellow Cards: Gibson 19’, Muata-Marlow 54’
Red Cards:
Player ratings:
3 – Rory Jordan (APIA)
2 – Ben Gibson (APIA)
1 – Edward Caspers (APIA)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
