Newly crowned Waratah Cup Champions APIA Leichhardt secured a home final with a 4-1 victory over Hills United pushing Luke Casserly’s troops closer to relegation at Lambert Park.
Franco Parisi’s side were in a confident mood from the outset scoring inside two minutes before running away with it after a clumsy Daniel Petkovski red card in the first half.
A clash which had consequences at both ends of the table, APIA started as they finished midweek in the Cup final which saw them defeat Premiers Rockdale Ilinden 3-0.
A quick counter saw Ben Gibson break through the Hills defence, the striker out muscling his marker before slotting it into the bottom right.
While the visitors best chance of the opening quarter hour came from the set piece. Maki Petratos putting his free-kick into the wall before the follow up cross was cleared away two minutes after that.
It was the hosts who were creating the better chances though with Jack Stewart denied by a Jordan Lane block inside the area after Rory Jordan cut the ball back to him from the left by-line approaching the 13th minute.
Hills United responding with a good chance before the 20th minute, a cross from the right finding Yu Okubo whose header down in front of goal didn’t find a team mate.
However it was APIA who doubled their lead before the 25th minute, Jack Stewart having his effort deflected fortuitously past Ryan Wood. The assist coming from Sean Symons with a low cross to his feet.
The two goal lead became tougher to peg back for the visitors after the sending off of Petkovski just after the half hour. APIA taking full control of proceedings after that incident holding plenty of possession.
The half concluding with a flurry of chances at either end in the final five minutes. APIA’s Ben Gibson drawing a terrific save from Wood as it headed for the top left corner after a one-two unlocked the Hills defence. While Anthony Frangie tried his luck from long range which went wide left of the target.
The hosts then put the result beyond doubt deep into first half injury time. Ben Gibson with a lovely assist following a direct run gave Jack Armson his first goal of the match.
Despite the scoreline, both sides were showing good intent in the opening stages of the second half. Michael Kouta doing well to deny Okubo the opportunity to shoot after a Lachaln Sepping ball forward in the first notable chance of the second half.
But once again, the hosts had an answer with Kouta scoring from a variation in the set piece after 50 minutes. Muata-Marlow heading the ball down to the Waratah Cup Player of the Match recipient across goal.
Hills United managed a consolation goal in the final ten minutes through Thomas Lopez who combined with fellow substitute Jamal Belkadi in the 82nd minute.
The result locked in a home semi-final for APIA before their round 30 clash with NWS Spirit while Hills United have a must win fixture against Blacktown City next weekend to have any hopes of staying alive in the NPL Men’s competition in 2025.
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt FC 4 (Gibson 2’, Stewart 25’, Armson 45+2’, Kouta 50’)
Hills United 1 (Lopez 82’)
Saturday 17 August, 2024
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: Kelly Jones
Assistant Referee: Cameron Wright & Joshua Kermond
Fourth Official: Isabella Mossin
APIA Leichhardt: 20. Alexander Parkes, 7. Jack Stewart (30. Alex Denmead 63’), 9. Ben Gibson, 11. Rory Jordan (2. Seiya Kambayashi 63’), 14. Jack Armson, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow (13. Jared Macerola 80’), 16. Sean Symons (41. Nicholas Azzone 45’), 21. Michael Kouta, 22. Edward Caspers (6. Anthony Sparacino 80’), 23. Dakota Askew, 29. Maksim Kasalovic.
Substitutes Not Used: 27. Evan Davis
Yellow Cards: Symons 32’, Muata-Marlow 41’, Sparacino 94’
Red Cards: Nil
Hills United: 1. Ryan Wood, 5. Daniel Petkovski, 7. Yerasimakis Petratos (20. Thomas Lopez 59’), 9. Yu Okubo (24. Sunday Yona 76’), 11. Anthony Frangie (14. Samuel O’Connor 45’), 12. Jordan Lane, 13. Cameron Philp, 16. Lachlan Sepping (7. Wade Giovenali 59’), 22. Byron Ginn, 26. Thomas Makko, 77. Dimi Petratos (10. Jamal Belkadi 59’)
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Emlyn Cross
Yellow Cards: Petkovski 33’
Red Cards: Petkovski 33’
Player Ratings
3- Jack Stewart (AL)
2- Ben Gibson (AL)
1- Rory Jordan (AL)
By Justin Smith
