Ilinden oust Sky Blues as pursuit for Premiership continues
Rockdale Ilinden continued its claims to challenge for the 2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW title with a 3-1 victory over Sydney FC at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
Ilinden took the early lead thanks to their main man Alec Urosevski before Mitchell Glasson levelled from the spot just before the break.
Urosevski added his second and 15th for the year from the spot himself in the second half before Giorgio Speranza finished off the scoring in Rockdale’s 3-1 win.
Pre-game, Sydney FC coach Jimmy Van Weeren was able to field one of the strongest side’s he’s had this year bringing in a number of senior A-League youth players with Jaiden Kucharski amongst the pack.
Ilinden were without Bai Antoniou who was serving his third of a four match suspension while the club welcomed back Lachie Constable to the ranks.
Prior to kick-off the club presented fan favourite Alec Urosevski with a trophy for becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer, an award he was given by former record holder Spase Najdovski – a well deserved award for such a fine young gentleman.
Back to the action and Urosevski powered in a shot through a sea of legs in the 8th minute that ‘keeper, Adam Pavlesic, showed tremendous agility in getting down low to his right and push around the post.
Rockdale were unlucky with several tight offside calls however the Sydney FC gloveman was up to the task and ensured the ball stayed out of the net.
Kucharski sent one across the face midway through the half that needed the merest of touches to find the back of the net however it eluded his team-mates and the fixture remained scoreless and finely balanced.
But it was the man of the moment, Urosevski, who opened the scoring from a delightful through ball by Brendan Cholakian, on the half-hour when slipping the ball under the advancing Pavlesic to ease the home side’s nerves.
The lead last only a few minutes as Ilinden ‘keeper, Harrison Devenish-Meares, was adjudged to have brought down Kucharski in the box.
Mitchell Glasson stepped up to force the ball home from the spot and levelled the scores.
Cholakian chanced his arm from the edge of the area but with little power in the shot late in the half, the ball looped up invitingly for Pavlesic to gather comfortably and with no addition to the scoring the game remained level at the break with all to play for in the second-half.
Ilinden were immediately awarded a penalty of their own on the restart taken by the ever-reliable Urosevski, who slammed his side into the lead once more after 48’ minutes. His 15th goal of the year, that put him atop of the Golden Boot charts once more, an accolade he won in 2023 along with the Player of the Year plaudits.
Indeed, the home side came out with renewed vigour and laid siege to the Sky Blues box, the visitors did well to repel.
The pressure paid off when Urosevski and Giorgio Speranza, getting forward at every opportunity, combined well when exchanging passes with the latter adding a well taken third before the hour to extend Ilinden’s lead.
Sydney FC remained dangerous and mounted several energetic forays forward however the Ilinden defence remained tight and denied the visitors anything resembling a decent opportunity of working Devenish-Meares between the sticks.
It was a stern test for Rockdale that pleased Sydney FC Coach Jimmy Van Weeren when stating after the game.
“I felt we largely dominated the second-half but rightly so Rockdale converted their chances to put us under pressure,” he said.
“It came down to that little five minute period where they punished us and I think, for us, the final third we were just a bit off with the final pass to get in behind or free enough to shoot but overall it was a largely positive performance today putting the final score aside.
“We know we have players of quality, and the results will come with game time and consistency but the positive today for us was some of the individual performances,” he ended.
While Rockdale Ilinden coach Paul Dee praised his side for standing up collecting another three points for the year against a tough opponent stacked with quality.
“That was a good test for us today.
“Particularly as they managed to field several players who must be in contention for the club’s senior A-League side.
“Our boys stood up to the challenge well and we controlled the game for the majority and perhaps let up a little after the third goal, but we deserved the win.
“Sydney FC are a good side, make no mistake, but we were able to manage the game minutes across our squad and maybe the intensity dropped off a little bit but overall, the boys executed what we wanted to do so we’re very happy with the result.”
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden 3 (Alec Urosevski 30’, 48p’, Giorgio Speranza 52’)
Sydney FC 1 (Mitchell Glasson 35p’)
Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
Sunday 12th May 2024
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistants: Ethan Zvargulis and Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Thomas Dale
Rockdale Ilinden: 1. Harrison Devenish-Meares, 2. Daniel Collins, 3. Lachie Griffiths, 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo (23. Hunter Elliott 81’), 7. Alec Urosevski (17. Brae Ovens 84’), 8. Dean Pelekanos (16. So Kataoka 77’), 10. Brendan Cholakian (22. Blake Ricciuto 77’), 11. Lachie Constable, 14. Brayden Sorge, 66. Mathieu Cordier (15. Yinka Sunmola 77’)
Subs not used: 20. Ricardo Rizzo (Gk)
Yellow Cards: Isaac Danzo 80’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney FC: 20. Adam Pavlesic, 2. Noah Mathie, 4. Joseph Calusic, 6. Dylan Rose (14. Jared Middleton 50’), 8. Lachlan Middleton, 18. Matthew Scarcella, 19. Mitchell Glasson, 22. Will Kennedy (13. Jacob Brazete 66’), 24. Wataru Kamijo (5. Richard Nkomo 66’), 29. Joseph Lacey (10. Tiago Quintal 46’) (16. Pearson Kasawaya 76’), 11. Jaiden Kucharski.
Subs not used: 30. Mason Hartnig
Yellow Cards: Joseph Calusic 28’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Lachie Constable (RI)
2 – Alec Urosevski (RI)
1 – Giorgio Speranza (RI)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
