Points shared as Olympic and APIA battle it out in rescheduled fixture
Sydney Olympic and APIA Leichhardt played out a tense 1-1 draw in a Round 21 rescheduled NPL Men’s NSW fixture at Nestrata Jubilee Stadium, with an early red-card to Themba-Muata Marlow making for an intriguing affair.
Although gallant as they were with ten-men, APIA dropped further points and have failed to pick a victory in their last three matches and are now 11 points adrift of current league leaders Rockdale Ilinden with five matches remaining.
Sydney Olympic were presented with the first significant chance of the match, as a direct ball found the run of Abraham Majok in behind.
The forward was presented with time to strike, but couldn’t find a way past Anthony Bouzanis, who stood strong to prevent an opening goal for the home side.
In the 15th minute, the game was altered significantly, as Themba Muata-Marlow received a red-card for a last man tackle after Majok received another ball in behind. That decision was made to haunt the visitors as it meant APIA’s job to secure three points got that much harder with ten-men.
APIA, looking to rebound from a draw and a loss in their recent two games, now found their backs against the wall, with Olympic knowing three points would be critical for their hopes in the finals race.
A shot from Peter Politis in the 19th minute provided a warning to APIA, but the away side responded to the send off well, dropping into a sound defensive block while remaining positive in possession.
In the 25th minute, they threatened with a Jack Stewart strike from outside the box, and were dominating the match despite the numerical disadvantage.
However, three minutes later, Olympic found an important lead, with APIA once more unable to deal with a ball over the top.
An accurate, clipped ball from Sam Mcillhatton drew the attention of the onrushing Anthony Bouzanis, but Adam Parkhouse nipped ahead, leaving the goalkeeper stranded and the goal gaping.
Running onto the ball, Majok made no mistake, passing into an empty net to open the scoring for the home side at Nestrata Jubilee Stadium.
In the 37th minute, Olympic were centimetres off finding a second, with the lead somehow remaining at one goal.
A through ball from William Mutch found the run of Majok in behind, who promptly produced a lobbed square pass to Roy O’Donovan, who was free at the back post.
But the Irish marksman skewed his header, and Dakota Askew, most likely by accident, hit the ball onto the crossbar, before then producing a more telling, but just as crucial clearance, with Mcillhatton waiting to pounce.
Three minutes later, APIA were presented with a golden chance to equalise, as a patient, flowing move then found the underlapping run of Edward Caspers in the box.
Caspers, who had fallen, played a creative, spontaneous one-two with Ben Gibson, with the midfielder then able to strike from inside the six-yard box, but Caspers couldn’t find the target from close range.
Just four minutes into the second half, APIA were rewarded for their strong performance considering the red card, as Edward Caspers won a penalty for the away side.
Ben Gibson stepped up and cooly converted, passing the ball past Christopher Parsons after waiting to watch where the goalkeeper would move.
Olympic promptly began to dominate the ball, but they were struggling to break down a resolute APIA defence, with the away side still very much in the match.
The away side had a chance in the 64th minute, with Roy O’Donovan dispossessing Adrian Ucchino centrally and then whipping a curling effort towards goal, but Bouzanis was ready and made a sharp save.
Olympic threatened again in the 69th minute, with O’Donovan almost netting a stunning goal off a Jack Simmons freekick, but they couldn’t find the lead with time running out.
The home side were continuing to create, however, as Adam Parkhouse was given a good opportunity to find the net in a long-range one-on-one against Bouzanis, before being freed again moments later down the left, but not finding a teammate in the middle with his low cross.
In the 81st minute, Olympic missed another good opportunity; a Simmons corner found the head of Michael Glassock, but an attempted redirect was skewed by Ziggy Gordan, and Bouzanis collected the ball thankfully.
That chance proved to be Olympic’s last, as APIA remained strong and the game finished 1-1.
APIA coach Franco Parisi was proud of his sides effort, with their point emblematic of a strong performance with ten men.
“I thought we started the game really well with some sexy football, but the game turned – not just with the red card but the goal conceded – so we regrouped and I thought we did enough to get into halftime,” he said.
“At half-time, our focus was to win the second half.
“The intention was to win by more than one goal, but at least we can say we won the second half.
“The character, belief and effort from the players was inspiration for me, so I can’t ask for much more than that.”
Match Stats
Sydney Olympic FC 1 (Majok 28’)
APIA Leichhardt FC 1 (Gibson 50’)
Wednesday 17 July, 2024
Nestrata Jubilee Stadium
Referee: Stephan Lucas
Assistant Referees: Charbel Geha and Alexis Johnson
Fourth Official: Isabella Mossin
Sydney Olympic FC: 20. Christopher Parsons, 2. Peter Politis, 4. Michael Glassock, 5. Zygmunt Gordon, 8. Sam Mcillhatton (29. George Antonis 63’, 9. Oliver Puflett (14. Michael Vakis 63’), 11. Adam Parkhouse (18. Teng Kuol 79’), 12. Zac Zoricich, 15. William Mutch, 17. Abraham Majok (6. Jack Simmons 63’), 99. Roy O’Donovan (C)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Montgomery Partington, 10. Darcy Burgess
Yellow Cards: Majok 56’, Mutch 65’
Red Cards:
APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 4. Josh Symons (21. Michael Kouta 72’), 7. Jack Stewart (14. Jack Armson 45’), 9. Ben Gibson (19. Luigi Ditroia 78’), 11. Rory Jordan (30. Alex Denmead 78’), 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 17. Jordan Segreto, 18. Adiran Ucchino (C) (29. Maksim Kasalovic 72’), 22. Edward Caspers, 23. Dakota Askew
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Alexander Parkes
Yellow Cards: S. Symons 76’
Red Cards: Muata-Marlow 15’
Player ratings:
3 – Ben Gibson (APIA)
2 – Michael Glassock (SO)
1 – Anthony Bouzanis (APIA)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
