Kekeris the hero as Manly edge out Wolves in stoppage time
Manly United battled to a late 2-1 win over Wollongong Wolves on Saturday night at Cromer Park.
Stefano Rossello gave Manly the lead heading into halftime before Lachlan Scott equalised soon after the break.
Peter Kekeris won the points for Manly with a stoppage-time penalty.
United got the first shot away five minutes in when Harry McCarthy lined up from the edge of the box, but Wollongong goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic held on.
Takumi Ofuka took the ball down the other end for the Wolves taking on a curler from the left edge of the box that cleared the crossbar.
Christopher McStay then took aim in the ninth minute with a half-volley that went over as well.
The Wolves maintained their momentum and went close again in the 18th minute.
Alex Masciovecchio’s right-sided cross found Scott in the middle, whose first-time volley was well-saved by Levi Kaye in the Manly goal.
Manly responded to this pressure 25 minutes in through William Faulder, who sent a squirming shot from the edge of the box into Janjetovic’s arms.
McStay continued to threaten for the Wolves from range and fired another effort that deflected off the right post.
United went forward themselves a few moments later as Paull’s long-range shot flew over.
The side went one better in the 41st minute and took the lead.
Saxon Hillyer slipped the ball into the left channel of the box for Rossello, who rifled it into the right corner.
It was an instant impact for Rossello, scoring after coming on as a substitute less than 10 minutes beforehand.
Manly took their advantage into halftime following an all-action first half at Cromer Park.
After a competitive start to the second period, Scott restored parity for the visitors 55 minutes in.
Scott made room for a shot in the box that bounced back to him, and he then slotted a low finish into the bottom right corner.
The Wolves nearly had it all to do again in the 61st minute as United struck the woodwork.
Kekeris pulled off some sharp footwork to shift the ball inside from the left before lashing a powerful right-footed strike that cannoned off the left post.
As the game entered the latter stages, it looked like either side could win it with chances flowing.
Wollongong went close to completing the turnaround in the 76th minute when McStay drove an effort from the right of the box past the left post.
The Wolves continued to pressure Manly, and substitute Damon Gray had a chance 89 minutes in when he took the ball down in the area, but his shot bounced comfortably for Kaye.
The side were left to rue missed chances when Dylan Ryan was deemed to have pulled down Paull in the box, seeing a penalty awarded for Manly in stoppage time.
Kekeris stepped up and sent a low, accurate effort into the bottom right corner as Janjetovic dived the other way.
The Wolves’ game went from bad to worse from the resulting kick-off.
Ryan was shown his second yellow card for a miss-timed challenge, leaving the team to finish the game with 10 players.
Deeper into injury time, Manly’s Rocco Pelle was shown a second yellow card himself, meaning both teams finished the game a player down.
Moments later, the final whistle was blown as Manly edged out Wollongong to claim a valuable three points in the season.
Match Stats
Manly United FC 2 (Stefano Rossello 41’, Peter Kekeris 90+2’)
Wollongong Wolves FC 1 (Lachlan Scott 55’)
Saturday 18 May 2024
Cromer Park, Cromer
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistant Referees: Daniel Cornofsky and Eric Aglieco
Fourth Official: Joshua Kermond
Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Kieren Paull, 4. Jesse Piriz, 6. Saxon Hillyer (8. Joseph Fox 72’), 7. Peter Kekeris, 10. Harry McCarthy (39. Stefano Rossello 35’) (11. Connor Rose 52’), 19. Alen Aganovic, 22. Blake Bamgbose (27. Corey Cronin 72’), 25. Rocco Pelle, 29. William Faulder (3. Zac Sfiligoi 72’), 45. Bilal Belkadi
Substitutes Not Used: 31. Jay Coates
Yellow Cards: 25. Rocco Pelle 77’ 90+6’
Red Cards: Rocco Pelle 90+6’
Wollongong Wolves FC: 20. Vedran Janjetovic, 2. Harrison Buesnel, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Samuel Riak, 7. Takumi Ofuka, 10. Yagoub Mustafa, 11. Sebastian Hernandez (9. Jake Trew 72’), 24. Lachlan Scott, 25. Alex Masciovecchio (27. Damon Gray 72’), 88. Christopher McStay
Substitutes Not Used: 3. Darcy Madden, 8. Andre Takami, 13. Oliver Yates, 29. Thomas Dunn
Yellow Cards: Yagoub Mustafa 50’, Dylan Ryan 90+1’ 90+3’
Red Cards: Dylan Ryan 90+3’
Player Ratings:
3 – Peter Kekeris (MU)
2 – Kieren Paull (MU)
1 – Lachlan Scott (WW)
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
