Blacktown City no match for high flying APIA
APIA Leichhardt have moved to the provisional top position of the NPL Men’s NSW ladder after a statement 3-1 victory over Blacktown City at Leichhardt Oval.
In a thoroughly intense opening well worthy of a match of the round, it was Blacktown City who had the first major chance of the game.
A beautiful first-time pass from Mario Shabow found the onrushing Travis Major in behind, who, from a wide right position, played an exceptional low cross into the path of Joey Gibbs.
The striker looked poised to emphatically open the scoring, but Major’s pass was just slightly too powerful and Gibbs couldn’t gain any meaningful contact on his shot.
In the 14th minute, APIA responding with a strong double chance of their own.
A clever pass on the left from Rory Jordan found Jordan Segreto, who had drifted into space ahead of the winger.
Segreto drove to the byline, before cutting the ball back across to Edward Caspers, who skewed a good opportunity from just outside the box.
His mis-hit shot fell to Jack Stewart, who – with a snapshot – placed a left-footed effort precariously just past the post.
Two minutes later, APIA secured the all important opening goal, courtesy of a beautiful, patient, flowing move.
After patiently retaining possession, Stewart found a central pocked of space and efficiently switched the ball out to the onrushing Sean Symons.
Symons promptly played a clever outside of the boot pass into the feet of Jordan, who then returned the favour with a wonderful bit of skill to release Symons in behind.
Symons – reinvented as a fullback for a significant part of the 2024 season – illustrated a full, explicit recitation of his days further up the field, calmly converting past Tristan Prendergast and into the back of the net.
Blacktown almost responded with a fantastic chance in the 19th minute, with a good turn and pass from Joey Gibbs releasing Martin Fernandez in behind, but the forward squandered a splendid opportunity in a one on one with Anthony Bouzanis.
With the match becoming increasingly intense and exciting, the sides continued to trade chances, with a just a poor touch from Jack Stewart preventing him from almost definitely doubling APIA’s lead after being released in behind off an incisive pass from Ben Gibson.
A thunderous shot from Travis Major then stung the palms of Bouzanis, before Blacktown were presented with another guilt-edged chance to level the scores, with good strength from Jak O’Brien allowing him to manipulate the jump of Dakota Askew and receive the ball in behind on the left.
O’Brien quickly slid a pass across to Gibbs, who was now in a one on one with Bouzanis, but he couldn’t convert with the desperate pressure from Josh Symons helping Bouzanis to make an important, yet disappointingly routine save.
In the 37th minute, Blacktown were given their best opportunity yet to equalise, with a handball from Josh Symons off a Jak O’Brien shot giving the away side the perfect opportunity to find their goal.
The sharpshooter made no mistake, converting the ball past Bouzanis to level the scores at Leichhardt Oval, adding to an already thrilling clash.
Just after the half-time break, APIA created – from an intense press – a golden opportunity to regain their lead, but a curling strike from Rory Jordan just bent the wrong side of the post.
The home side then found the back of the net in the 52nd minute courtesy of an alluring disguised pass from Stewart, which was finished by Jordan Segreto, but Segreto had just strayed offside in his run.
The match was growing increasingly tense in the minutes that followed, with Blacktown beginning to control possession, pinning APIA deep.
Both sides knew the importance of three points in this fixture, with neither happy to settle for a draw.
APIA then responded with a stint of their own possession, which led to another major chance.
A long shot from Nicholas Azzone troubled Prendergast, who spilled the rebound into the feet of Jack Armson, but the goalkeeper made a strong reaction save at close range off a disappointing finish from Armson.
But off the resulting corner, APIA found their goal.
A clipped ball in from Armson found Dakota Askew at the far post, and the fullback made no mistake with his header, powerfully sending the home side in front once more.
Blacktown almost provided an instant respond, with a clipped close range effort from inside the box agonisingly clipping the crossbar, keeping APIA’s lead intact.
In the 83rd minute, APIA all but sealed an integral three points, with a clinical Seiya Kambayashi strike providing relief to what had been a vigorous defensive effort since finding the lead.
An excellent inside run from Jack Stewart allowed him to find Jordan in the centre, who than ran at Blacktown’s defence.
He slid the ball just beyond himself into the feet of Seiya Kambayashi, who found the net with an exceptional first-time strike from his left foot.
APIA defended strongly for the remainder of the match – including a goalline clearance from Jack Armson – and held onto a crucial three points, propelling them to the summit of the NPL Men’s NSW ladder.
“As we now start the second round, we want to start on a better note than we did last time,” said APIA coach Franco Parisi on the match.
“Blacktown are a tough side – everyone knows that – so going in halftime at 1-1 and finishing off at 3-1 – we’re very pleased with that.
“Disappointing to concede a goal in the manner that it was, but I thought our boys were excellent.
“We had a tough week with three games in seven days, so total credit to the boys for their mental and physical toughness.
“Really pleased with the result because it’s three points that are desperately needed, three points against a strong Blacktown and three points that we’ll take into the next tough period of games coming up.”
Meanwhile, Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden was disappointed with the result, but pleased with the overall performance of his side.
“I thought it was a really good game of footy to watch,” he said.
“Whilst disappointed in the result, I’m not disappointed in the performance.
“We’re sort of lacking a few numbers at the moment and backing up week after week with all these games, but not making any excuses – at the end of the day, their subs did well for them when they came on and we probably missed a couple of chances that could have put us in front even at halftime.
“But full credit to them, they’re a really decent footy team, but again, I’m pretty impressed with my boys as well.”
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt FC 3 (S. Symons 17’, Askew 69’, Kambayashi 83’)
Blacktown City FC 1 (J. O’Brien 40’)
Saturday 25 May, 2024
Leichhardt Oval
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harris and Charbel Geha
Fourth Official: Joshua Kermond
APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 4. Josh Symons (21. Michael Kouta 75’(, 7. Jack Stewart, 9. Ben Gibson (30. Alex Denmead 79’), 11. Rory Jordan, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 16. Sean Symons, 17. Jordan Segreto (2. Seiya Kambayashi 75’), 18. Adrian Ucchino (C) (41. Nicholas Azzone 64’), 22. Edward Caspers (14. Jack Armson 64’), 23. Dakota Askew
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Alexander Parkes
Yellow Cards: Denmead 84’, Muata-Marlow 87’
Red Cards: None
Blacktown City FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast, 5. Grant Lynch, 7. Travis Major, 8. Jak O’Brien, 10. Mario Shabow (C), 12. Tyren Burnie, 16. Ben Berry, 17. Martin Fernandez (11. Danny Choi 66’), 18. Nicholas O’Brien, 22. Jacob Manti, 23. Joey Gibbs (42. Lachlan Henderson 77’)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Cayden Henderson, 28. Jayden Grumley, 29. Zachary Butler, 53. Yusei Miki
Yellow Cards: Fernandez 23’, Choi 74’
Red Cards: None
Player ratings:
3 – Rory Jordan (APIA)
2 – Themba Muata-Marlow (APIA)
1 – Dakota Askew (APIA)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
