Stallions outclass hapless APIA to reignite their season
Marconi Stallions have picked up a vital three points with a sensational 4-1 victory over bitter rivals APIA Leichhardt at Lambert Park.
It was an intense first fifteen minutes of the match, as APIA looked to play out from the back while Marconi looked to force mistakes through settling before choosing their moments to press.
APIA’s intent and quality prevailed for the most part, but they struggled to create any major chances, with their final pass just not sticking.
The intensity continued throughout the half, with both sides remaining resolute, restricting chances in classic derby fashion.
The first significant chance of the match came in the 31st minute through some excellent work from APIA’s outlet, Ben Gibson.
On the halfway line, the striker robbed Anton Mlinaric of possession, and drove forwards into space.
With only Nathan Millgate back, Gibson took a calm touch around the desperate defender, who slid in, before also rounding the onrushing goalkeeper James Hilton.
However, from an acute angle, the striker couldn’t fashion enough power on his strike, with Mlinaric recovering well to atone for his original mistake.
Gibson had another good chance six minutes later off a sweeping APIA move, which resulted in a visionary, pin-point pass from Edward Caspers finding the run of his teammate in the box.
The striker used his agility and composure to take a touch back onto his right foot, giving him the perfect chance to curl the ball into the opposite side of the goal with time from inside the box, but Gibson couldn’t find the target.
Minutes later, APIA were made to pay for the missed opportunity, as Marconi opened the scoring with a stunning header from Marko Jesic.
After threatening multiple times with balls into the box, a deep, central cross from Franco Maya found the head of Jesic.
With his back to goal, the attacking midfielder flicked the ball on magically, over the outstretched arms of Anthony Bouzanis and into the back of the net.
It was a sensational goal – a header worthy of an opener of any derby around the world – and Marconi now found themselves in front of their bitter rivals.
APIA looked to respond with two threatening opportunities, and then were presented another major chance again through progressive, deep build-up.
Baiting in the Marconi pressure, APIA found Sean Symons on the left, who then slid in Jordan Segreto, who had a channel to exploit with Millgate having to come across from centre-back to continue the pressure after right-back Brandon Vella advanced.
Segreto played a pass across goal, but with both Jack Armson and Gibson free in the middle, neither could find a meaningful shot, with the latter directing an effort towards goal but seeing his importantly shot cleared off the line by George Daniel in an exceptional defensive effort.
As APIA looked to go into the break ruing their missed chances, Marconi struck again in devastating fashion to take a 2-0 advantage into the sheds.
A clever ball in behind from Liam Youlley off a quick freekick found the run of James Temelkovski in behind.
The composed striker promptly twisted clear of Dakota Askew, and with the goal at his mercy, made no mistake in finding the bottom corner with a strong finish.
It was a clinical, clever goal that epitomised the decisiveness that Marconi possessed that APIA lacked in the first half, with the home side nevertheless rightly disappointed at coming into the second stanza with a two-goal disadvantage.
However, Marconi’s clinical edge continued, as they added a third goal just two minutes into the second half.
Dominic Costanzo lead the charge on a scintillating counter-attack, striding forwards before rounding Josh Symons with ease.
Costanzo then squared the ball to Temelkovski, who picked up possession just inside the box at the centre of the goal.
Rather than rushing a shot, Temelkovski showed tremendous intelligence and poise, and with APIA retreating in heavy numbers, he calmly slid possession on to Franco Maya, who made no mistake in scoring emphatically, giving Marconi a crucial 3-0 lead.
In the 53rd minute, APIA looked to have clawed a goal back, but he was denied by a stunning double save from Hilton.
First, he prevented a powerful Segreto shot from close range with a stunning dive, before recovering to save a scrambled effort from Michael Kouta.
In the 62nd minute, Marconi adding a fourth in stunning style through another brilliant Jesic goal.
After some good wide play, an original low ball in the box was cleared, but his shot fell the way of Jesic on the edge of the box.
The Marconi captain lashed an impeccable effort towards goal, finding the top-corner in brilliant fashion.
In the 85th minute, APIA found a goal back, with a long-range , low-driven effort from Nick Sullivan forcing Hilton into a save.
The goalkeeper denied the initial effort, but parried the ball into the path of Luigi Ditroia, who tapped the ball home from point-blank range.
The home side were subsequently presented with another chance, as a long ball in behind found Jack Armson, but the attacking midfielder cleared the bar with his effort from an acute angle.
Costanzo then almost added his name to the scoresheet, forcing a smart save from Bouzanis off a freekick to keep the scoreline to four.
Marconi coach Peter Tsekenis was delighted with the victory and the way his side has responded from back to back defeats.
“It’s always a tough game here at Lambert Park against a really good side – I was just looking for a reaction from our defeat to Olympic mid-week which was hard to take,” said Tsekenis.
“So what better way to come here against title contenders away from home to show where we’re at and to prove to ourselves that we’re better than we’ve been the last week or so, and the boys came out and proved that.
“It was a good effort, got the goals and was a comfortable victory in the end.”
Meanwhile, APIA coach Franco Parisi was disappointed with the result which saw his side fall back seven points adrift from current table toppers Rockdale Ilinden, but isn’t deterred to continue pushing for the future.
“Three points is what we were looking for today and we haven’t got it, so from that point of view it’s extremely disappointing,” said Parisi.
“The game at 0-0 could have gone either way, but I think the third goal just after halftime had an impact on the game.
“We still believe in what we’re doing and we’ll keep following that pathway, and we’re not really dismayed or deterred by the result we’ve seen tonight.”
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt FC 1 (Ditroia 85’)
Marconi Stallions FC 4 (Jesic 39’, 62’, Temelkovski 45+2’, Maya 47’)
Sunday 16 June, 2024
Lambert Park
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistant Referees: Matthew Mcorist and Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Rowan Fisher
APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. Seiya Kambayashi, 4. Josh Symons, 9. Ben Gibson (19. Luigi Ditroia 72’), 14. Jack Armson, 16. Sean Symons (30. Alex Denmead 65’), 17. Jordan Segreto (8. Nick Sullivan 72’), 18. Adrian Ucchino (C) (41. Nicholas Azzone 65’), 21. Michael Kouta, 22. Edward Caspers (7. Jack Stewart 54’), 23. Dakota Askew
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Alexander Parkes
Yellow Cards: Kouta 90’
Red Cards:
Marconi Stallions FC: 1. James Hilton, 2. Nathan Millgate (3. Cameron Windust 51’), 4. Anton Mlinaric, 6. Domenic Costanzo, 7. Franco Maya (21. Jakov Malbasa 70’), 8. Daniel Bouman (11. Hiroaki Aoyama 57’), 9. James Temelkovski, 10. Marko Jesic (C) (17. Milislav Popovic 70’), 16. Liam Youlley (34. Julian Monge 70’), 18. George Daniel, 23. Brandon Vella
Substitutes Not Used: 40. Patrick Williams
Yellow Cards: Bouman 20’, Maya 25’, Daniel 90’
Red Cards:
Player ratings:
3 – Marko Jesic (MS)
2 – James Temelkovski (MS)
1 – James Hilton (MS)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
