Spirit put Manly to the sword
A relentless NWS Spirit FC claimed a big three points with a 4-2 victory over Manly United 4-2 in round 27 National Premier League Men’s NSW action at Christie Park, Saturday evening.
It was a much needed three points for the hosts which moves them away from the bottom two for the time being, this one had a bit of everything in a thrilling encounter.
The tone for this one was set in the opening ten minutes. Jesse Michel had the games first chance after he out muscled his marker on the end of a Simon Nicholas ball down the left in the 2nd minute. Michel denied by Jay Coates in the visitors net.
While Manly went close on a couple of occasions in the 7th minute, Spirit keeper Chris Marques doing just about enough to deny Presley Ortiz before Ortiz headed wide right from close range seconds later.
Manly however took the lead six minutes later, Peter Kekeris beating a lethargic Spirit defence to the ball before squaring it across the face, the initial ball behind Benjamin Koop who was able to asses his options before finding the top right corner.
In response, Spirit then took control of proceedings and looked most likely through the link up of Michael Konestabo and Jacob Chidiac on the left hand side. Chidiac winning a free kick in the 23rd minute which saw a bending Jared Lum effort denied by Coates. Before the likes of Konestabo, Michel and Chidiac also tried their luck.
Spirit finally got their equaliser after the half hour, Chidiac picking up the ball after a press on halfway,taking the ball towards goal before placing his shot into the bottom right corner.
The hosts completed the first half turnaround as they found their second. A patient period of possession was seen before the break paid off when Ante Bakmaz found Jesse Michel with a ball from deep. Michel beating the keeper to it heading into a open goal.
David Perkovic’s side almost added a third in the 47th minute, a Jared Lum free-kick floated to the back post where Grant Cornwell forced Coates into another handy save.
NWS Spirit did not have to wait long for its third of the match as they continued to press their opponents. Zachary Cianci headed home from close range after a Chidiac ball from the left just after the 50th minute mark. Chidiac was having a belter of match so far.
Now needing a response, Manly United got a goal back in the 56th minute. Ortiz scored a memorable strike from distance. His right footed effort from the edge of the area finding the bottom left corner, a peach of goal following his mid-season transfer from St George City.
The wind was then taken out of Manly’s sails when Jesse Piriz received a second yellow with ten minutes remaining,
Two NWS Spirit FC substitutes then combined in the final minute of regulation to seal the three points for hosts.
Jayden Tran found Richie Darko from the left who finished from close range.
The win saw Perkovic’s troops jump Manly United in the standings ahead of a big Australia Cup game against Tasmanian outfit Glenorchy Knights on Wednesday evening.
Match Stats
NWS Spirit 4 (Chidiac 32’, Michel 45+4’, Cianci 50’, Darko 90’)
Manly United 2 (Koop 13’ Ortiz 56’)
Saturday 3 August, 2024
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Referee: Jackson Mackie
Assistant Referee: Amber Morris & Alexis Johnson
Fourth Official: Michael Weiner
NWS Spirit: 1. Christopher Marques (GK), 3. Kyle Shaw, 5. Frankie Ljucovic, 8. Grant Cornwell, 10. Michael Konestabo, 13. Simon Nicholas, 16. Ante Bakmaz (22. Yannis Frerck 54’), 17. Jacob Chidiac (21. Jayden Tran 85’), 18. Zachary Cianci (15. Takeru Sugita 72’), 19. Jesse Michel (7. Richard Darko 54’), 20. Jared Lum (6. Corey Kavanagh 85’).
Substitutes Not Used: 31. Joel Wade
Yellow Cards: Lum 79’
Red Cards:
Manly United: 2.Kieren Paull, 4.Jesse Piriz, 6.Saxon Hillyer (16. Zayne Ahluwalia 64’), 7.Peter Kekeris, 9.Benjamin Koop (11. Connor Rose 64’), 18.Presley Ortiz, 19.Alen Aganovic, 25.Rocco Pelle (5. Thomas Fay 67’), 31.Jay Coates, 39.Stefano Rossello (8. Joseph Fox 67’), 45.Bilal Belkadi (3. Zac Sfiligoi 45’)
Substitutes Not Used: 41.Anthony Carreras
Yellow Cards: Sfiligoi 47’, Piriz 59’, Kekeris 77’
Red Cards: Piriz 81’
Player Ratings
3- Jacob Chidiac (NWS)
2- Michael Konestabo (NWS)
1- Jay Coates (MU)
By Justin Smith
