Sizzling Stallions put Blacktown to the sword and book its ticket to the Big Dance
Marconi Stallions have secured their spot in next Saturday’s NPL Men’s NSW Grand Final at CommBank Stadium in style with a scintillating 6-2 victory over Blacktown City at Marconi Stadium.
It took the home side just a minute to open the scoring, as they capitalised on a sloppy start from Blacktown City.
After a cheap giveaway in build-up, Marko Jesic intercepted and drove forwards, before finding space for a shot against Grant Lynch.
From the edge of the box, Jesic curled a perfect shot past the outstretched gloves of Tristan Prendergast, finding the back of the net via the post.
It was the perfect start for Marconi, with Jesic once more providing the goods in his 250th appearance for the club.
Blacktown City weren’t demotivated, however, and threatened on multiple occasions shortly after as they searched for an equaliser.
But in the 8th minute, it was Marconi who stunningly doubled their lead, with the home side making the perfect start in their quest to make the Grand Final.
After anticipating a second ball, Franco Maya strong strongly into space down the centre, before finding Jesic with a clever ball.
Jesic, from the right, squared a pass to James Temelkovski, who bamboozled his defender by letting the ball roll across his body.
Now in space from just past the penalty spot, the striker made no mistake in doubling Marconi’s lead, curling an accurate, purposeful strike around Prendergast to give his side a significant advantage in a horrendous start for Blacktown.
In the 14th minute, Blacktown looked to respond and come back from their poor opening, with a ball from Nicholas O’Brien finding Danny Choi in behind.
From the right flank, the skilful winger cut inside before unleashing a curling shot towards goal, which just couldn’t find the target.
Two minutes later, Blacktown threatened again, with a threaded ball from Choi finding the run of Martin Fernandez inside the box.
Fernandez looked to sneak the ball into the back of the net, but James Hilton had read the danger well, rushing out to make an important save.
In the 19th minute, a one-two between Mario Shabow and Nicholas O’Brien allowed the former to drive forwards, before picking out Travis Major inside the box.
Major touched the ball onto Fernandez who produced a strong effort towards the far post, and was denied by a strong save from Hilton once more.
But once more, it was Marconi who proved the move clinical, netting their third in the 24th minute to seemingly put the game beyond doubt.
After a good dribble forwards, Temelkovski found Jesic out wide before continuing his run into the box.
Jesic returned the ball to the sharpshooter with a teasing, low cross, with Temelkovski nipping in ahead of Jackson Bandiera to receive inside the box.
From point-blank range, and under no pressure from Blacktown’s defence, Temelkovski fired home to give the home side a three goal lead inside 25 minutes.
Four minutes later, Blacktown found a route back into the match, with Martin Fernandez netting the rebound after Travis Major missed an original penalty won by Danny Choi.
But once more, Marconi scored, with Domenic Costanzo scoring a delightful goal to reinstate the home side’s three goal advantage.
After a clever turn from Temelkovski, the striker found Domenic Costanzo inside the box with a large amount of space and time to cut inside.
The winger did just that, before producing an instinctual, beautiful chip over a stranded Prendergast, finding the back of the net in a marvellous manner.
And in the 40th minute, Temelkovski earned himself a sensational first-half hat-trick, heading the ball home after a pinpoint inswinging corner from Franco Maya.
And to rub salt into an already gaping wound for Blacktown, in stoppage time, they conceded once more, with Jesic netting his second of the match from the rebound of an originally missed penalty after Temelkovski was tripped by Prendergast inside the box.
It was an utterly insane first-half, with Marconi capitalising clinically on Blacktown’s lack of defensive effort, and scoring some simply sensational goals to take an astonishing five goal lead into the sheds.
Blacktown began the second half strongly, reducing the deficit with a Grant Lynch header after a freekick from Adam Berry was flicked on by his brother Ben.
But in the 51st minute, their chances were reduced from slim to borderline none, with Danny Choi being sent off to reduce Blacktown to 10.
Following the red card, Blacktown continued to hold possession, but struggled to break down a resolute Marconi block.
The home side were happy to see this game out, with their eyes already turning towards the excitement of the Grand Final against Rockdale Ilinden.
In the 77th minute, Marconi had the chance to net their seventh goal, with a good ball in from George Daniel finding a free Temelkovski at the back post, but the striker was unable to connect with the ball in a rare missed chance for the home side.
Seven minutes later, a rifling strike from Jacob Maniti struck the crossbar for Blacktown, but any goal now would be simply a consolation, as Marconi waltzed their way into what is set to be an exhilarating NPL Men’s NSW Grand Final.
Speaking on the win, Marconi coach Peter Tsekenis said, “It was all deserved.
“A lot of the experts and critics had us ninth this year, and we’re in the Grand Final after finishing second in the competition.
“We’ve showed we can score goals against anyone and we can put any team to the sword on our day, so it’s going to make for an interesting Grand Final next week.”
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions FC 6 (Jesic 1’, 48’, Temelkovski 7’, 24’, 40’, Costanzo 33’)
Blacktown City FC 2 (Fernandez 29’, Lynch 49’)
Sunday 1 September, 2024
Marconi Stadium
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Alessandro Llana and Aaron Bloch
Fourth Official: Brodie Merchant
Marconi Stallions FC: 1. James Hilton, 2. Nathan Millgate, 4. Anton Mlinaric (3. Cameron Windust 45’), 5. James Bayliss, 6. Domenic Costanzo (19. Kyle Cimenti 74’), 7. Franco Maya, 8. Daniel Bouman (17. Milislav Popovic 65’), 9. James Temelkovski (20. Yuki Kitano 82’), 10. Marko Jesic (C) (14. Dylan Susovic 82’), 18. George Daniel, 23. Brandon Vella
Substitutes Not Used: 40. Patrick Williams
Yellow Cards: Mlinaric 7’, Millgate 49’, Vella 57’, Costanzo 66’
Red Cards:
Blacktown City FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast, 5. Grant Lynch, 7. Travis Major (23. Joey Gibbs 74’), 8. Jak O’Brien, 10. Mario Shabow (C) (6. Adam Berry 45’), 11. Danny Choi, 12. Tyren Burnie, 16. Ben Berry (4. Lachlan Campbell 80’), 17. Martin Fernandez, 18. Nicholas O’Brien (22. Jacob Maniti 74’), 24. Jackson Bandiera (3. Jayden Trenkoski 45’)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Cayden Henderson
Yellow Cards: Lynch 54’
Red Cards: Choi 51’
Player ratings:
3 – James Temelkovski (MS)
2 – Marko Jesic (MS)
1 – Franco Maya (MS)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
