Stallions break Ilinden hearts once more
Marconi Stallions have become Rockdale Ilinden’s bogey team as the 2024 Champions secured a hard fought 2-1 victory at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Saturday in what was an entertaining Grand Final rematch.
In front of a bumper crowd, Franco Maya silenced the home fans with a well taken goal midway through the first half before Ilinden’s all-time leading goalscorer Alec Urosevski levelled the margin notching home from the spot. The game looked destined for a draw but Kyle Cimenti had other ideas as the former Ilinden player strode home to secure maximum points to the Stallions in what was a heart-breaking end for Rockdale.
Urosevski had a couple of early half chances blocked by the lively Stallions defence with the visitors having the ball in Rockdale’s net in the 6th minute that was ruled out for an offside decision in a surprisingly open start to the match.
However, they were not to be denied when Maya opened the scoring in the 17th minute when firing in across the box to ripple the net.
George Daniel almost doubled the lead moments later but a superb save from Nick Sorras kept the score down to one.
For a third match in a row, Rockdale would need to come from behind to get anything from the game.
The Ilinden gloveman was again called into action and kept out a fierce Lachie Griffiths drive, as the ex-Ilinden midfielder did his bit to spoil the hosts party.
Marko Jesic needed to clear off the line from an Isaac Danzo effort as the pendulum swung the other way in the 25th minute.
Indeed, Rockdale were mounting a spirited fightback but were finding goals hard to come by.
Urosevski went down under a hefty challenge with Marconi ‘keeper James Hilton that required treatment on the edge of the area but the game restarted with a drop ball in the visitor’s favour. A contentious decision according to the home support. Their luck appeared to change in the 38th minute when Brendan Cholakian was felled inside the area by Brandon Vella with Urosevski slotting home to give his side a sniff at the three points at the break.
In truth, the tackling left nothing to be desired and was heavy from the start, no quarter asked, none given with a smattering of cautions being handed out in a physical game.
Lachie Constable attempted an audacious semi-bicycle kick near the end of the half that sailed over the bar as Marconi found themselves in a rear guard action but were ever dangerous on the counter with their pace and agility however, the scores remained locked after an eventful 45 minutes.
Tensions were still running high at the restart before the goal hungry Urosevski had an overhead shot ruled out for offside in the 47th minute whilst Maya saw his curling free-kick just clear the woodwork at the other end. It was fast paced, high action drama as two top sides went head to head, a match that in days past would best be described as ‘hard but fair.’
Sorras pulled off another brilliant save from a Jesic header to deny the Stallions Captain when diving full length to palm the ball out for a corner, Marconi now enjoying a spell in the ascendency.
Ilinden broke through soon after, Urosevski raced through but Hilton, coming off his line, turned hero when somehow keeping the ball out with his feet.
There were opportunities aplenty at both ends that neither could tuck home to secure all three points in a battle royale Match of the Round.
Griffiths went close once more when flashing a header wide of the upright midway through the half.
That was until the 78th minute when Marconi beat the offside trap and substitute Kyle Cimenti, on for Jesic, strode in to give the visitors the lead for the second time.
Hunter Elliott made a brief appearance on the field for Rockdale when replacing Urosevski in the 80th minute before seeing red just seven minutes later reducing the home side to ten players for the remainder of the match.
A tough ask for a team looking to claw their way back into a tremendous match.
It would prove too large a task to overcome as once again Marconi put one over Rockdale leaving Stallions’ Coach, Peter Tsekenis, to state.
“It’s a pleasing result in this type of game and we know this is a tough place to come,” he said.
“It’s all about getting the three points at this stage and building on it particularly against a team you would expect to be in the mix at the end of the season.
“It was a hard game but it’s what you expect from one of the top teams and the boys did well. We took the lead and gave it away but we created chances and took the one we needed in the end.
“The team gave it their all and we still have some boys to come into the side that are key to this squad so get through this game with the players we had is very pleasing,” he concluded.
Rockdale Ilinden’s assistant coach Paul Dee although upset with the defeat, saw some promising signs.
“This was a tough, physical game tonight.
“It could have gone either way but a lapse at the end has cost us.
“It shows our character that the boys still wanted to attack and get something from the game and that’s the type of football we want to play here. We are creating the chances to score goals and we’ll work on that of course, but if we continue to play this way the goals will come.
“We were disappointed with the result of course, but we saw encouraging signs for the team in the way they kept going right to the end.”
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden 1 (Alec Urosevski 39p’)
Marconi Stallions 2 (Franco Maya 17’, Kyle Cimenti 78’)
Ilinden Sports Centre
Saturday, 22nd February 2025
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistants: Aaron Bloch and Blake Sanchez-Cruz
Fourth Official: Ayad Naji
Rockdale Ilinden: 1. Nick Sorras, 4. James Nikolovski, 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alec Urosevski (2. Hunter Elliott 80’), 9. Moudi Najjar (24. Ali Auglah 74’), 10. Brendan Cholakian (18. Jordan Graoroski 90+2’), 11. Lachlan Constable (17. Brae Ovens 80’), 14. Brayden Sorge, 22. Blake Ricciuto, 23. Oliver Puflett (88. Chris McStay 80′)
Subs not used: 20. Ronan Mulgrew
Yellow Cards: James Nikolovski 40’, Brendan Cholakian 53’, Blake Ricciuto 70’, Giorgio Speranza 74’
Red Cards: Hunter Elliott 87’
Marconi Stallions 1. James Hilton, 2. Tyren Burnie, 4. Anton Mlinaric, 5. Lachlan Griffiths, 7. Franco Maya (24. Matej Busek 88’), 8. James Bayliss, 10. Marco Jesic (9. Kyle Cimenti 67’), 14. Jake Trew, 17. Damien Tsekenis, 18. George Daniel, 23. Brandon Vella
Subs not used: 3. Cameron Windust, 12. Julian Monge, 20. Patrick Williams, 22. Aleksander Gvozdenovic
Yellow Cards: Lachlan Griffiths 26’, Brandon Vella 30’, Anton Mlinaric 50’, Jake Trew 56’, Franco Maya 64’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Franco Maya (MS)
2 – Lachlan Griffiths (MS)
1 – Nick Sorras (RI)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
