APIA knocked out by ruthless United 58
Sydney United 58 have booked their spot in the NPL Men’s NSW Semi-finals against Premiers Rockdale Ilinden with a 2-1 victory over rivals APIA Leichhardt in a blistering match of football at Lambert Park – this completed their 100% over the 2024 Waratah Cup Champions defeating them three times this season.
APIA began the match in a composed manner, looking to build-up with patience and precision, with Sydney United 58 looking to impose themselves with their intensity.
It was, as expected, an electric beginning to proceedings, with a loud, vocal grandstand helping to create a pulsating, tense atmosphere at Lambert Park.
Both sides provided plenty of threat in the first 15 minutes, but neither were able to create any clear-cut opportunities, with either the final pass – or a pass in the build-up to the crux of the move – often falling short.
It was United 58 who had the first significant shot of the match, after a ball into the box from Anthony Tomelic found the feet of Patrick Antelmi.
The striker took a menacing first touch forwards, momentarily escaping the presence of Themba Muata-Marlow.
Under heavy pressure from the central defender, Antelmi unleashed from close range, but saw his shot drag wide of the post.
In the 25th minute, APIA had a significant chance, with Jack Armson realeasing Rory Jordan in behind after the winger won the ball wide.
Jordan advanced towards goal before playing in an intimidating low cross to the back post, but his pass was just ahead of Jack Stewart, evading the winger in what would have been a sure-fire first goal at Lambert Park.
United 58 quickly responded with two strong shots, which were saved spectacularly by Anthony Bouzanis.
Firstly, after making an energetic run up the line from left-back, Matthew Hatch received the ball from Aidan Milicevic, only to be denied at the near post by APIA’s goalkeeper.
Then, in the second phase of the resulting corner, a thundering effort from range off the left boot of Tariq Maia was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Bouzanis in what would have been a sensational first goal in this Elimination Final.
Up the other end, APIA were beginning to excite with their trademark flowing passing moves through the centre, but were struggling to convert neat interplay into shots.
In the 38th minute, APIA created two major opportunities in quick succession, but just couldn’t find their goal to open the scoring.
A neat one-two between Ben Gibson and Edward Caspers released the latter in behind, who engaged in a one on one with Oliver Kalac, but was denied by a good save from the goalkeeper.
Straight after, a threatening ball in from Jack Stewart found Sean Symons at the back post,
But it wasn’t just APIA who were struggling to convert their clear-cut opportunities, with United 58 quickly failing to capitalise on one of their own.
Running with the ball on a counter-attack, Antelmi drove at the defence before releasing Aidan Milicevic in behind with a perfect opportunity to finally open the scoring.
The attacking midfielder let the ball roll across his body and then looked to sneak a shot back across goal, past Bouzanis, but the goalkeeper came in clutch, making a highly significant save to keep the match scoreless.
It was the last chance in what was an action-packed first half, where both sides just couldn’t capitalise on the multitude of opportunities they created to find a goal at Lambert Park.
The first chance of the second stanza came just four minutes in, where a cutting one-two between Jack Stewart and Seiya Kambayashi allowed the latter to drive in behind and find Jack Armson on the edge of the box.
Armson was able to take a touch and line up a shot, but couldn’t find sufficient accuracy with his effort in something of an early let off for United 58.
United 58 then quickly created their first chance in the second half, with Carlos De Oliveira latching onto a clipped ball in behind from Antelmi.
From what looked like an improbable angle, De Oliveira struck a low effort across goal, dragging precariously wide of the post.
The two rivals continued to trade chances with Ben Gibson then forcing a save from Kalac on transition after a purposeful run in behind from the right flank.
In the 61st minute, Kalac denied APIA again, with the hosts creating yet another strong opportunity.
A pin-point through-ball from Armson found the run of Gibson in behind, who then waited on the ball before laying it off to Jack Stewart, who had made a lung-bursting run forwards.
The winger struck a powerful effort first-time, with Kalac saving the near-post effort to as both sides continued to push for the opener.
But in the 66th minute, it was United 58 who opened the scoring, with Carlos De Oliveira netting a stunning strike to give the away side the advantage at Lambert Park.
As APIA desperately looked to block an attack down the centre, the ball fell to De Oliveira on the edge of the box.
The left-winger struck a low effort with his left-foot which skimmed perfectly into the bottom right corner, past the outstretched, diving arms of Bouzanis and into the back of the net.
APIA were now facing an uphill battle to remain in contention for the Championship in a nail-biting last 20 minutes at their home ground.
They threatened with efforts outside the box from Gibson and Stewart, before seeing a Rory Jordan strike from inside the box blocked valiantly by Bailey Rule.
In the 79th minute, a towering Themba Muata-Marlow header off an Armson corner almost found the back of the net, but he was denied by a vital save from Kalac.
And just moments later, that save proved to be even more crucial, with United 58 doubling their lead at Lambert Park.
A good ball down the right flank from Rule found the run of Milicevic, who played a teasing ball into the box.
His cross found the foot of Patrick Antelmi, who clinically converted on the volley, sending United 58’s fans into raptures in a highly important goal in the context of the match and both teams’ seasons.
Just two minutes later, APIA had a chance to halve the deficit, but from inside the box, Armson couldn’t convert, striking over the crossbar in a major opportunity for the home side.
In the 85th minute, Bouzanis prevented United 58 from making it three, making a strong save against a stunning effort from range by Milicevic.
Time was swiftly running out for APIA, but in the 88th minute, APIA found their goal, setting up a pulsating final few minutes of this Elimination final.
After intercepting a pass, Armson poked the ball through to Gibson, who took an exceptional touch to move in behind and open up space for the shot.
The striker then placed the ball past a helpless Kalac, giving APIA a fighting chance to reach the semi-finals.
And four minutes into added time, APIA looked to have produced a sensational equaliser.
After a sustained attack, a poked ball from Armson found the onrushing Seiya Kambayashi, who cut the ball back to Rory Jordan in the box.
The winger agonisingly struck the crossbar with the effort, and despite intense calls from APIA and their fans that the ball had crossed the line, the referee adjudged that it wasn’t a goal.
It was a devastating end for APIA, but a major win for United 58, who booked a spot in the semi-finals against Rockdale Ilinden with a strong win over their rivals.
“It was a fantastic game of football,” said United 58 coach Zeljko Kalac.
“Two very, very good footballing teams put on a showcase today.
“We came out on top and I thought it was a fantastic performance from our boys.
“We played some really good football and scored some cracking goals.
“We made it difficult for ourselves at times, but I thought both goalkeepers were outstanding tonight.
“It was a fantastic game of football and I’m really proud of my boys.”
United 58 now face 2024 NPL Men’s NSW Premiers Rockdale Ilinden this Sunday at the Ilinden Sports Centre (1pm) with the hope of claiming yet another huge scalp en-route to next Saturday’s Grand Final at CommBank Stadium
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt FC 1 (Gibson 87’)
Sydney United 58 FC 2 (De Oliveira 66’, Antelmi 79’)
Wednesday 28 August, 2024
Lambert Park
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Jake Rose
APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. Seiya Kambayashi, 7. Jack Stewart, 9. Ben Gibson, 11. Rory Jordan, 14. Jack Armson, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow (41. Nicholas Azzone 90’), 16. Sean Symons (23. Dakota Askew 75’), 18. Adrian Ucchino (C) (29. Maksim Kasalovic 67’), 21. Michael Kouta, 22. Edward Caspers
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Alexander Parkes, 30. Alex Denmead, 48. Max Court
Yellow Cards: Ucchino 55’, Askew 90+5’
Red Cards:
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Oliver Kalac, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica (C), 5. Anthony Tomelic, 7. Mason Wells (13. Alessandro Lacalandra 72’), 9. Patrick Antelmi (52. Ali El-Sabeh 90’), 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 11. Matthew Hatch, 15. Tariq Maia, 19. Aidan Milicevic (6. Adam Zervas 90’), 21. Dejan Bakrdanikoski
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Cristian Gonzalez, 8. Luiz Lobo, 58. Ryan Warner
Yellow Cards: Rule 43’, Bakrdanikoski 44’, Lacalandra 90+6’
Red Cards:
Player ratings:
3 – Oliver Kalac (SU)
2 – Anthony Bouzanis (APIA)
1 – Carlos De Oliveira (SU)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
