United 58 put Spirit to the sword with much-needed win
Sydney United 58 have returned to the winner’s circle with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over the NWS Spirit on Wednesday Night at the Sydney United Sports Centre.
Both sides came into the clash down several key players but after an even first half, it was United 58 who ran away with the result in the second half.
Carlos De Oliveira opened the scoring with a screamer from a free-kick in the 22nd minute, in what would be the only goal of the first half.
Alessandro Lacalandra doubled the lead on the other side of halftime whilst Patrick Antelmi made his impact felt off the bench with United 58’s third goal just after the hour mark
United 58 came out of the blocks firing and nearly could’ve opened the scoring as a cut-back cross from Lacalandra narrowly missed his oncoming support in attack.
After falling behind in the opening stages, Spirit enjoyed a strong period in attack and answered back with a few chances of their own.
Shunta Nakamura had the best chance of the opening 15 minutes after he opened up the angle from the edge of the box but couldn’t get the desired curl on his effort and just missed the back post.
United 58 opened the scoring through De Oliveira in the 22nd minute, converting a free-kick he won through his own moment of brilliance. The skilful playmaker picked out the top corner from the edge of the 18-yard box and gave his side a much-needed goal to start the contest.
Minutes after conceding it was the visitors who regained the momentum of the contest and looked threatening when going forward.
Oliver Kalac was called into action on a handful of occasions and continued to come up big for United 58, stopping a low-driven effort from Jesse Michel in the pick of the saves.
Marco Arambasic found himself front and centre of the action by first receiving a yellow card for a physical challenge shortly before his close-range header bounced back off the post.
Spirit looked desperate to answer back prior to the break and again went on to dominate a short period of the game to end the half.
Ollie Wiggin’s first-time effort which agonisingly sailed past the back stick was the best chance the visitors had to level the contest and were left disappointed to go into the break down by one goal.
After a relatively even first half, the final 45 minutes were controlled by the hosts on both sides of the ball.
Arambasic found himself with the first chance of the second half after a perfect delivery from De Oliveira picked him out, but his header fell comfortably into the path of Chris Marques.
Simon Nicholas did his best to keep United 58’s tally at one after his courageous goal-line clearance from a De Oliveira effort that was destined to find the back of the net.
United 58’s number ten found himself central to his side’s attack once again as his header put Lacalandra through on goal where the youngster cleverly chipped Marques to double the hosts’ lead.
Moments after being substituted on, Antelmi found himself on the scoresheet after he pounced on a defensive mishap. The United 58 talisman put himself through on goal and calmly slotted his chance to extend the lead to three.
With the result all but secured for United 58, Spirit pounced and looked to get a goal of their own back.
Breaking away through the counterattack on a number of occasions, the visitors threatened to find the back of the net but were ultimately left empty handed by a valiant United 58 defence.
Ritchie Darko came the closest for Spirit with his piercing, long range effort forcing a world-class save from Kalac.
Tariq Maia nearly made it four-nil for the hosts after he drilled his effort into the crossbar in what would ultimately be the final chance of the match.
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 FC 3 (De Oliveira 22’, Lacalandra 58’, Antelmi 65’
NSW Spirit FC 0
Sunday 9 June 2024
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Logan Jones
Assistant Referees: Arinath Gobinath and Travis Griffith
Fourth Official: Matt Staples
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Oliver Kalac, 2. Christian Gonzalez (40. Malik Chamseddine 89’), 5. Anthony Tomelic, 6. Adam Zervas (35. Jy Kingham 89’), 7. Jordan Ivancic, 8. Shunta Nakamura (11. Matthew Hatch 73’), 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 12. Marco Arambasic (9. Patrick Antelmi 57’), 13. Alessandro Lacalandra (29. Joshua Attard 72’), 14. Liam McGing, 15. Tariq Maia
Substitutes Not Used: 17. Mathew Nikolovski
Yellow Cards: Arambasic 36’
NWS Spirit FC: 1. Christopher Marques, 3. Kyle Shaw, 4. Jarred McKinley, 7. Richard Darko, 10. Michael Konestabo, 11. Ollie Wiggin (12. Titus Macharia 59’), 13. Simon Nicholas, 16. Ante Bakmaz, 17. Jacob Chidiac (34. Noah Peacock 74’), 19. Jesse Michel (40. Malik Chamseddine 89’), 20. Jared Lum (14. Jacob Sullivan 74’),
Substitutes Not Used: 18. Zachary Cianci, 21. Luis Lobo, 31. Joel Wade,
Red Cards: Nil
Yellow Cards: Wiggin 20’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Carlos De Oliveira (SU)
2 – Oliver Kalac (SU)
1 – Anthony Tomelic (SU)
By NPL NSW Men’s reporter Dominic Criniti, @dominiccriniti
