Stallions batter Wanderers in statement victory
The Marconi Stallions sent a statement to the rest of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition following a comprehensive 5-2 victory over former table toppers Western Sydney Wanderers at a bitterly cold and windy evening in Sydney’s west.
The scores were even at 1-1 at the end of the first half thanks to an early goal to each side, but the experienced Stallions simply ran away with it in the second stanza play with four more goals to condemn the Wanderers to their third defeat in four games and dislodge them from first place on the ladder.
The visitors were dealt two massive blows pre-match due to the suspensions of veteran defender Nathan Millgate and star striker James Temelkovski while the Wanderers had a key out in their leading marksman Nathaneal Blair.
The game opened with an early goal to Marconi in the 4th minute through Hiroaki Aoyama. It really came out of nothing after a Domenic Costanzo cross from the left was deflected and reached Daniel Bouman who hit it from fairly close range and then, finally, Aoyama made no mistake and turned it in.
In the 6th minute though Western Sydney Wanderers hit straight back thanks to captain Zachary Sapsford. He did all the work himself coming in from the right and drifting towards the middle, before firing from just outside the box to equalise in what was a frantic start to the game.
In the 14th minute the home side came close to doubling their score when Alexander Badolato found Adam Bugarija who shot straight on target, but he was denied beautifully by the Marconi custodian. From the ensuing corner, the ball reached Dylan Scicluna who received it from some distance outside the box and sent a thunderbolt towards goal but, in the end, it was parried away magnificently by the ever-alert James Hilton.
In the 31st minute Marconi Stallions went ever so close. A Franco Maya free kick from the left reached Cameron Windust at the back post who headed it from point-blank range, but goalkeeper Taiga Harper pulled off a miraculous block to deny the visitors.
Just prior to the break a header from Marconi captain Marko Jesic called Harper into action again and while it wasn’t the greatest of saves, it certainly did the job.
Right on the stroke of halftime a cross by Costanzo reached an unmarked Maya in the box but he headed wide of the intended target.
The first opportunity of the second stanza of play belonged to the Wanderers in the 50th minute. Bugarija found an unmarked Marcus Younis who fired on target but Windust cleared incredibly off the line with almost his back turned, as the young academy team thought that they had broken through.
However, in the 52nd minute it was Marconi that took the lead through Aoyama once again. From the right, the talented Japanese midfielder curled the ball beautifully into the far corner of the net and there was really nothing that ‘keeper Harper could do to prevent that one.
Marconi then made it three in the 59th minute when a long ball found Costanzo on the fly on the left and he controlled it superbly, before a snooker-like shot on the grass beat the Wanderers goalkeeper.
It was then four in the 76th minute when a free-kick from Maya reached Windust in the box before he centred it for Jesic who, from very close range, turned it in with ease and it was no more than Marconi deserved.
The wheels fell off in the 83rd minute when a header from Alex Badolato back to his own goalkeeper went into the net for the easiest of own goals for Marconi.
In the end a very late goal to Bugarija was a mere consolation for the Western Sydney Wanderers as he rounded the goalkeeper to score.
After the game the coach of Marconi Stallions Peter Tsekenis of was very pleased with his side and the win.
“They are a good side and were leading the competition for a reason,” he said.
“We discussed a few things at the break and got it right and we totally dominated the game in the second half. We should have also scored some more in the first half.
“Overall it was an important three points after our loss with nine men last week to Blacktown but we know what we have in us and this win gives our boys some confidence going into the second round of the season.”
However, over in the Western Sydney Wanderers dressing room Andrew Christiansen was clearly a disappointed figure.
“The first half was okay and we played our football,” he commented.
“However, the second half got away from us and I felt that we were disrupted by external factors that we can’t control.”
Match Stats
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS: 2 (Sapsford 6’, Bugarija 94’)
MARCONI STALLIONS: 5 (Aoyama 4’, 52’, Costanzo 59’, Jesic 76’, Badolato o.g. 83’)
Saturday 18th May 2024
Wanderers Football Park Blacktown
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki, Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Jackson Mackie
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS: 1. Taiga Harper, 4. Doni Grdic, 6. Dylan Scicluna, 7. Marcus Younis (99. Ryan Devine 79’), 10. Alexander Badolato, 11. Adam Bugarija, 14. Zachary Sapsford, 16. Roman Culina, 22. Jesse Cameron (77. Phillip Gigliotti 69’), 23. Marcus Fernandez (24. Anthony Barbic 63’), 25. Ryley Hollingdale (18. Awan Lual 79’).
Substitutes not used: 20. Lucas Sinnott, 27. Julian Cop
Yellow Cards: Scicluna 62’, Culina 74’
Red Cards: Nil
MARCONI STALLIONS: 1. James Hilton, 3. Cameron Windust (26. Matthew Martignago 88’), 4. Anton Minaric, 6. Domenic Costanzo, 7. Franco Maya, 8. Daniel Bouman (39. Luka Knezevic 88’), 10. Marko Jesic, 11. Hiroaki Aoyama (14. Dylan Susovic 79’), 16. Liam Youlley (29. Luke Raso 75’), 18. George Daniel (21. Jakov Malbasa 79’), 23. Brandon Vella.
Substitutes not used: 24. Mackenzie Syran.
Yellow Cards: Youlley 58’, Windust 69’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Cameron Windust (MS)
2 – Domenic Costanzo (MS)
1 – James Hilton (MS)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo
