Ilinden salvage opening day draw
It was a tough start for reigning National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW Premiers Rockdale Ilinden who etched out a hard-fought 2-2 draw against local rivals St George City at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Saturday.
It didn’t take long for the blue touch paper to be lit as the home side looked to make a statement opening to their campaign, but it was Marc McNulty who slotted home the first goal of the evening from the spot after earning a penalty at the expense of the hapless Blake Riccuito with 31’ minutes on the clock.
Another counter-attack in the second-half, after Ilinden almost levelled at the other end, saw Caio De Godoy double the visitors lead in a masterful display of solid defending and counter-attacking football.
Rockdale mounted a spirited comeback in the second-half with goals to talisman Alec Urosevski and a late James Nikolovski equaliser to rescue the points for the hosts.
A myriad new recruits, particularly for the visitors, couldn’t dampen the atmosphere of football under the lights albeit, as expected, it was a cagey start to the fixture until Ilinden skipper, Alec Urosevski came close to charging down the ball at the feet of visiting ‘keeper Jack Kenny however, clever footwork from the custodian averted the danger in just the 7th minute.
Jesse Photi broke the backline five minutes later but Nick Sorras stood tall and gathered at the second attempt as City mounted their first meaningful attack of the match when beating the offside trap.
Urosevski forced a corner, after more good work from Kenny denied the striker, that was overhit in the swirling breeze and the danger abated in what was turning into a strong and determined battle of attrition with chances becoming scant or wasted.
It was proving a typical opening day fixture with the importance firmly placed on not losing, especially in a burgeoning derby such as this.
Louis Khoury found himself in the book on the half-hour mark before Mark McNulty won a penalty in the 31st minute when brought down by Blake Riccuito. He duly dispatched the spot-kick to give City the lead.
In reply, Brendan Cholakian had a effort blocked after a jinking run and a second attempt falling to Hunter Elliott who brought another fine save out of Kenny but with the ball slipping from his grasp it bobbled in front of Urosevski who couldn’t connect to restore parity late in the half.
McNulty was in again at the other end and attempted to lob Sorras in the 43rd minute with his effort sailing safely over the woodwork as far as the healthy number of home supporters were concerned.
Khoury also came close to doubling the lead before the break yet City held the slenderest of leads going into half-time although Ali Auglah nearly levelled when sending a left-footed shot wide of the upright in stoppage time.
Photi still had time to add another for St George but sent his header wide in the last action of the half.
City were adept at getting numbers behind the ball and hitting on the counter, one such move leading to the opener, with Rockdale not allowed to show the flair and fluidity that led them to the Premiership in 2024 but with 45’ minutes still to play there was plenty of time to turn things around with all to play for.
Ilinden had two penalty shouts waived away in quick succession on the restart, much to the chagrin of the home support but desperate defending saw Auglah’s attempt from a corner somehow kept out before De Godoy went up the other end on the counter and, after a goalmouth scramble, netted City’s second of the night leaving Rockdale with a mountain to climb.
A beautifully timed defence splitting through ball from Cholakian released Urosevski who made no mistake in reducing the deficit in the 62nd minute that rejuvenated the home side into action bringing a string of smart saves from Kenny and his defenders.
Kenny again saved denied a tricky Urosevski effort when trying to slip the ball in at the near post, Rockdale beginning to gain the initiative.
A succession of corners for Ilinden produced a goal-line clearance in the now greasy rain sodden conditions however the equalizer remained an elusive commodity despite their best efforts.
Much credit must go to the defensive organization of City though who dealt with almost everything thrown at them until James Nikolovski found the back of the net from yet another corner in the 87th minute to break the visitors resolve and hearts in equal measure.
It was a very spirited performance from City who, with only a couple of training sessions together, produced a masterclass of counter-attacking football that left new coach, Manny Spanoudakis, to comment at the whistle.
“You never think you’ve got the game won against Rockdale, you always have to be on your guard,” he said.
“We did well tonight when you consider the squad was really only assembled late last week so I’m very happy with the boys. As basic a game plan as we could muster in so short a space of time, we executed it very well and we knew they would come at us and I’m a little disappointed we couldn’t hold out but I’m proud of the team.
“We only put the team together on Wednesday afternoon and to see them adapt and adopt what I asked of them is a promising sign and to come here and get a point is pleasing, and may be all the more valuable in a 30-game season, but I felt we could have put another couple of half-chances away and taken all three points. That said, a very decent performance against a very good side.”
While Ilinden’s Assistant Coach Paul Dee was happy that Rockdale put up a fight to rescue the points.
“It’s good that the players came back in the second-half and responded to the task.
“However I felt the opening 45’ minutes was a typical opening to the season and a pretty scrappy affair and not too fluent.
“We had to show a bit of character to come back from 2-nil down and we had a lot of momentum in the second-half and perhaps that could have been the three points in the end but proud of how we came back and finished off the game.
“It’s a long season so a point is a point and we move on to our next game on Friday night.”
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden 2 (Alec Urosevski 62’, James Nikolovski 87’)
St George City 2 (Marc McNulty 32p’, Caio De Godoy 55’)
Ilinden Sports Centre
Saturday, 8th February 2025
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistants: Aaron Bloch and Joon Park
Fourth Official: Harriet Gee
Rockdale Ilinden: 1. Nick Sorras, 2. Hunter Elliott (14. Brayden Sorge 72’), 4. James Nikolovski, 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alec Urosevski, 9. Moudi Najjar, 10. Brendan Cholakian (17. Brae Ovens 84’), 11. Lachie Constable (88. Chris McStay 61’), 22. Blake Ricciuto, 24. Ali Auglah (23. Oliver Puflett 61’)
Subs not used: 18. Jordan Graoroski, 20. Ronan Mulgrew
Yellow Cards: 5. Giorgio Speranza 75’
Red Cards: Nil
St George City: 1. Jack Kenny, 3. Caio De Godoy, 4. Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika, 8. Domonic Cox, 9. Marc McNulty (16. William Kounnas 78’), 11. Fumoto Kamada, 15. Nathan Grimaldi, 19. Jesse Photi (10. Paulo Mitry 81’), 23. Dakota Askew (2. Matthew Wahby 78’), 25. Brodie Clarkson, 33. Louis Khoury
Subs not used: 5. Goncalo Agrelos, 7. Nathan Roberts, 13. Cameron Kemp
Yellow Cards: 33. Louis Khoury 29’, Brodie Clarkson 45+2’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Brendan Cholakian (RI)
2 – Jack Kenny (SGCFC)
1 – Dominic Cox (SGCFC)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
