Manly and United 58 share points in tight affair
Manly United and Sydney United 58 were unable to be separated in a 1-1 draw on Friday night at Cromer Park.
In a game of few chances, Manly took the lead in the first half through Blake Bamgbose before Stephan De Robillard restored parity after halftime.
Manly made a positive start to the match and got a shot off within two minutes.
Saxon Hillyer made room for an effort from outside the area, but the ball cleared the crossbar.
The side threatened again six minutes later when Peter Kekeris’ left-sided free-kick found Rocco Pelle, however, the midfielder nodded wide.
Manly went even closer in the 16th minute as Kieren Paull took on a left-footed strike from the edge of the box that flew just over the bar.
United 58 had a chance 21 minutes in. Carlos De Oliveira found space on the left and fired a curler that Manly goalkeeper Levi Kaye held comfortably.
The hosts took the lead just after the half-hour mark.
Bamgbose latched onto a ball over the top and raced in on goal from halfway before he poked a shot past Oliver Kalac in the United 58 goal.
De Oliveira remained a threat for United 58 and almost equalised for the team in the 38th minute.
A left-sided corner was played along the ground to the attacker, whose consequent curling striker barely bounced past the right post.
Bamgbose could have had a brace on the stroke of halftime, but he scuffed it wide from inside the box.
The home side took their lead into the break after a confident first-half performance.
United 58 conjured up an opportunity nine minutes after halftime.
Tariq Maia lined up a first-time shot from outside the box that Kaye held onto.
The visitors carried on their pressure and went forward on the hour mark.
Patrick Antelmi battled to get control of a right-sided cross, and the ball deflected towards the goal, but Kaye palmed it away to safety.
The side restored parity three minutes later.
Matthew Hatch drove the ball back from the left to the edge of the box for De Robillard who bent a superb strike into the top right corner off the post.
In the 74th minute, Kekeris sought to get Manly back in front when he shifted the ball inside from the left, seeing his shot dip narrowly over.
In the 89th minute, Manly substitute Jack Mason forced Kalac into a sharp save when he arrowed a low shot from the right of the box.
Neither side was able to snatch a winner in the end as they had to settle for a point each.
On a positive note, the hosts did stop United 58’s surge towards the top after the visitors secured four successive victories only to be thwarted by the Northern Beaches outfit.
Match Stats
Manly United FC 1 (Blake Bamgbose 32’)
Sydney United 58 FC 1 (Stephan De Robillard 63’)
Friday 10 May 2024
Cromer Park, Cromer
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki and Isaac Riggs
Fourth Official: Luke Chapman
Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Kieren Paull, 3. Zac Sfiligoi (45. Bilal Belkadi 63’), 4. Jesse Piriz, 6. Saxon Hillyer (34. Jack Mason 79’), 7. Peter Kekeris, 19. Alen Aganovic, 22. Blake Bamgbose (8. Joseph Fox 79’), 25. Rocco Pelle, 29. William Faulder (10. Harry McCarthy 68’), 39. Stefano Rossello
Substitutes Not Used: 14. Stefan Visscher, 31. Jay Coates
Yellow Cards: Blake Bamgbose 53’, Jesse Piriz 90+6’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Oliver Kalac, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic, 8. Shunta Nakamura, 9. Patrick Antelmi, 10. Carlos De Oliveira (52. Ali El-Sabeh 75’), 11. Matthew Hatch, 14. Liam McGing, 15. Tariq Maia, 21. Dejan Bakrdanikoski, 22. Stephan De Robillard (13. Alessandro Lacalandra 66’)
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Cristian Gonzalez, 7. Jorda Ivancic, 17. Mathew Nikolovski, 29. Joshua Attard
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Peter Kekeris (MU)
2 – Matthew Hatch (SU58)
1 – Blake Bamgbose (MU)
Report by Tim Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
