Five-star performance as Ilinden smash hapless Hills
Rockdale Ilinden have extended their lead at the top of the NPL Men’s NSW ladder with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Hills United at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.
The first big chance of the match came after just three minutes, where a mis-hit clearance from Noah Casserly incidentally found the feet of Alec Urosevski, who was charged down well by Ryan Wood to prevent an early opener.
Wood was forced into action moments later as an intricate move found So Kataoka in behind, who forced a good save from Wood with an effort at the near-post.
However, Wood could do nothing about Rockdale’s opener, which came after a strong, intense opening fifteen minutes.
The attack was begun by Hunter Elliot, who won a ball in the air and found Urosevski, who capitalised on an attacking transition to find the run of Mathieu Cordier in behind.
Cordier sprinted forwards, arriving assertively in the box before squaring the ball to Elliott, who had continued his run forwards.
The right-back tapped the ball into an empty net and put the league leaders in prime position to add another three points to their sensational season.
In the 18th minute, Rockdale were given a significant opportunity to double their lead, as a mistake from Thomas Makko in the box gave Urosevski the chance to score his 23rd league goal of 2024 from 12 yards.
Rockdale’s captain and talisman made no mistake, blasting the ball into the bottom right corner to give the home side a clinical two-goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes.
In the 32nd minute, Rockdale added a third to continue their complete first-half performance.
After a period of patient, probing possession, a direct run from Cordier allowed him to put a dangerous delivery into the box.
At the back post, Lochlan Constable hooked the ball back, finding Brendan Cholakian who quickly played the ball back to Urosevski.
The centre-forward beat his opponent with a swift chop, before calmly finding the bottom corner to earn himself a brace.
Hills United then forced a save from Rockdale debutant Nicholas Sorras, before Cholakian nearly added his name to the scoresheet after connecting with a rapid cross from Cordier, which came from another good run down the left flank.
Rockdale’s domination continued in the second half, as Urosevski secured his hattrick with a 53rd minute goal.
After receiving the ball from Elliott between the lines, Cholakian turned gracefully before slipping through Urosevski with a delightful ball.
From inside the box, and under heavy pressure from Noah Casserly, Urosevski calmly converted a right-footed effort past Wood, displaying his immense composure, strength and technique to finish a fantastic Rockdale goal.
Urosevski then almost added a fourth, with a good save from Wood denying the striker from range.
Rockdale were providing a comprehensive demonstration of not just their quality and synergy in and out of possession, but their will and desire to out-work opponents, with their intensity too much for Hills United to compete with.
Their ball speed was consistently sharp throughout the game – complimented by their movement – while after losing possession, they looked desperate to regain it as quickly as possible.
In the 74th minute, they added a fifth, with a header from Lochlan Constable off a Cholakian corner extending their lead.
They were then presented with another golden chance in the 78th minute, with a precise cross from Elliott finding substitute Bai Antoniou at the far post, but the forward missed the target from close range.
Rockdale assistant coach Nick Stavroulakis was delighted with the result, as Rockdale have opened up a nine point gap at the top of the ladder, albeit with APIA able to make up some of that distance with two games in hand.
“For us, week by week we try to make sure we stick to our way,” he said.
“It was good to get the debutants out with Nicholas Sorras in goals and So (Kataoka) in the middle of the park in their first starts for the club.
“I felt like they gelled in really well, especially Nick being in goals for the first time, it was good to have a clean sheet with him.”
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden FC 5 (Elliott 15’, Urosevski 19’, 32’, 54’, Constable 74’)
Hills United FC 0
Sunday 30 June, 2024
Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Charbel Geha
Fourth Official: Thomas Dale
Rockdale Ilinden FC: 1. Nicholas Sorras, 2. Daniel Collins (3. Lachlan Griffiths 77’), 4. Roberto Speranza, 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo (22. Blake Ricciuto 77’), 7. Alec Urosevski (C), 10. Brendan Cholakian (15. Olayinka Sunmola 77’), 11. Lochlan Constable (17. Brae Ovens 83’), 23. Hunter Elliott, 66. Mathieu Cordier (9. Bai Antoniou 77’), 77. So Kataoka
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Ricardo Rizzo
Yellow Cards: Collins 65’
Red Cards: None
Hills United FC: 1. Ryan Wood, 5. Daniel Petkovski, 6. Isaac Hovar (12. Jordan Lane 67’), 8. Yerasimakis Petratos, 9. Yu Okubo, 11. Anthony Frangie, 15. Noah Casserly, 20. Thomas Lopez, 22. Byron Ginn (19. Glen Kelshaw 45’), 26. Thomas Makko (77. Dimi Petratos 55’), 27. Nicolai Muller (C) (91. Lachlan Sepping 45’)
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Cameron Philp, 21. William Loucas
Yellow Cards: Kershaw 67’
Red Cards: None
Player ratings:
3 – Alec Urosevski (RI)
2 – Mathieu Cordier (RI)
1 – Isaac Danzo (RI)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
