Cordier injury overshadows Rockdale drubbing of United 58
Rockdale Ilinden’s charge for the 2024 NPL Men’s NSW Premiership continued to roll on thanks to an emphatic 4-0 victory over rivals Sydney United 58, although the match was overshadowed by a season ending injury to one of its major stars Mathieu Cordier at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
Brendan Cholakian opened the scoring when blasting home from close range before So Kataoka toe poked into the net to double the lead and Bai Antoniou added the third on 30 minutes before Kataoka and Alec Urosevski combined to add a fourth all before half-time albeit a grand touch of luck involved.
Ilinden coach Paul Dee saw his charges take the field in resilient mood but the Cordier injury certainly brought a sombre mood around the ground.
Patrick Antelmi broke through for the first shot in anger for the visitors but was flagged offside in the opening moments in a brisk start to the match but a mix up at the back allowed Urosevski to have a dip but his scuffed effort led to nothing more than a goal-kick after good work from Lachie Constable down the right when twice standing up Jordan Ivancic.
Oliver Kalac saved superbly from Constable at the back stick in a point blank reaction save in the 12th minute just prior to a devastating injury to Cordier who required much attention before heading to hospital with what looked to be a broken leg. Liam McGing received his marching orders for a reckless tackle in the 13th minute. The game was stopped for a lengthy period whilst the player received treatment on the ground with an Ambulance called in a massive blow for Rockdale and a distressing sight on any football pitch.
It meant a backline reshuffle for the visitors in a rear-guard action who looked to utilize their pacey attack in hitting over the top against the league leaders. Bai Antoniou replaced the injured Cordier for Rockdale when play eventually resumed but it was a somewhat galvanized Rockdale side on the restart when Blake Riccuito came close from the free-kick, awarded for the foul prior, headed against the bar in what was the 13th minute. It proved the precursor for a goal blitz the visitors had no answer for.
It didn’t take long for Rockdale to assert their man advantage when Cholakian blasted home the opener in the 17th minute, Rockdale exploiting their one man advantage to great effect.
Antoniou released the ball to Urosevski whose ball across the face couldn’t be tapped home by Constable but the secondary ball was toe poked home by Kataoka in the 26’ minute to double the home lead before Antoniou and Urosevski both claimed the third on the half hour, eventually given to the former, and a fourth with the ball coming off the body of the Rockdale Captain who added Ilinden’s fourth, again with the assistance of Kataoka.
It was all United 58 could do to contain a surging home side, intent on inflicting as heavy a defeat on their visitors as possible plus increasing their goal difference.
Kalac was again called into action on the restart holding on to the ball on the line from a Constable effort after lead up work from Urosevski, Antoniou and Cholakian, Antoniou blasting over shortly thereafter.
Urosevski had a shot deflected out for a corner in 59’ minute that came close to a fifth goal but was eventually cleared in what was as close to one-way traffic as is possible to get.
Kalac again saved well from a long range thunderbolt off Giorgio Speranza as the hungry Ilinden sought further goals with the ‘keeper at his very best to turn a Cholakian curling shot around the post.
Speranza then had a shot blocked on the line with the rebound blasted high over the woodwork, Rockdale not as accurate since the restart despite creating many opportunities but credit United 58 in putting on a strong second-half shift to keep the score down.
Substitute Dean Pelekanos was fouled on the edge of the area and took the free-kick which went under the wall but was again deflected out for a corner.
Rockdale kept knocking but their guests refused to open the door again.
The full-time whistle sounded and Ilinden moved nine points clear at the top of the league ladder, the Marconi Stallions its nearest rivals as the club continued its objective in clinching the Premiership.
Sydney United 58 coach Zeljko Kalac always ready with his time after a match was none too pleased with the result and declined, somewhat understandably, to make comment after the whistle leaving Ilinden Coach, Paul Dee to state.
“The players really wanted to do ‘Cords’ (Mathieu Cordier) proud after the incident and I think they did that,” he said.
“It’s never good to see any player injured like that and we just want to make sure he is ok.
“A four-nil win, three points and a clean sheet is always a good thing but the importance for us is with ‘Cords’ and a full and speedy recovery,”
The result, though important, became secondary to the well being of Mathieu Cordier and the thoughts of all at Football NSW wishing him well for a full and speedy recovery.
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden 4 (Brendan Cholakian 17’, So Kataoka 26’, Alec Urosevski 30′, 32’)
Sydney United 58 0
Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
Sunday 14th July 2024
Referee: Sam Kelly
Assistants: Matthew McOrist and Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Matt Staples
Rockdale Ilinden: 1. Nicholas Sorras, 2. Daniel Collins, 5. Giorgio Speranza (3. Lachie Griffiths 76’), 6. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alec Urosevski, 10. Brendan Cholakian (15. Yinka Sunmola 70’), 11. Lachie Constable (8. Dean Pelekanos 70’), 22. Blake Ricciuto (4. Roberto Speranza 76’), 23. Hunter Elliott, 66. Mathieu Cordier (9. Bai Antoniou 13’), 77. So Kataoka,
Subs not used: 20. Ricardo Rizzo
Yellow Cards: Blake Riccuito 39’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney Utd 58: 1. Oliver Kalac, 3. Bailey Rule (5. Anthony Tomelic 46’), 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 7. Jordan Ivancic, 8. Shunta Nakamura, 9. Patrick Antelmi (28. Luiz Lobo 60’), 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 14. Liam McGing, 15. Tariq Maia, 19 Aiden Milicevic (6. Adam Cervas 46’), 32. Mason Wells (13. Alessandro Lacalandra 46’)
Subs not used: 2. Christian Gonzalez, 58. Ryan Warner
Yellow Cards: Patrick Antelmi 26’
Red Cards: Liam McGing 13’
Player Ratings
3 – So Kataoka (RI)
2 – Isaac Danzo (RI)
1 – Alec Urosevski (RI)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
