Danzo sinks gallant Rangers in injury time
Isaac Danzo was the toast of Rockdale Ilinden as his stoppage time winner was the difference in the 2024 Premier’s heart stopping 3-2 victory over a gallant ten-man Mt Druitt Town Rangers outift at Popondetta Park on Saturday.
Rockdale Ilinden FC held much of the possession in the opening stages and were probing for the first chance of the game.
The Rangers held firm and had their own chance from a corner. It swung in but swept away in a tense first stanza.
The visitors first real chance came from an acrobatic effort from Christopher McStay whose overhead kick went over the bar.
Rangers responded in kind through Caleb Jackson-Brown. He drove down the wing and fizzed an effort wide of the mark.
Moudi Najjar almost created the opener. His shot deflected into the path of Alec Urosevski who couldn’t find enough contact on the ball.
Pedrinho tried to spark the Rangers with a drive through the midfield which earnt them a corner.
The Brazilian swung in the resulted corner which took a deflection off Blake Ricciuto’s head and found the back of the net for 1-0 in the 38th minute.
Rockdale returned serve from a corner themselves. Najjar swung it in and it fell to big defender James Nikolovski and his header was tipped over by Rangers custodian Dylan Niski.
The visitors did make it 1-1 in the 44th minute. Brendan Cholakian’s shot fell in the path of Najjar who hooked the ball home to score his first of the 2024 season.
Rangers were dealt a heavy blow right after the break. Jared Macerola saw red after a dangerous tackle in the 50th minute.
From the resulting free-kick, McStay clipped it onto the head of Ricciuto who forced Niski into another big save.
Brayden Sorge surged past the Rangers defence before he cut it back to Cholakian who swept it past the post.
The visitors hit the lead in the 71st minute through who else but Urosevski. Niski made the initial save on Rockdale then Urosevski tapped home for 2-1.
Rangers, although with ten men, pushed hard for an equalizer. They spied Rockdale keeper Nicholas Sorras off his line and tried to chip him.
They did get a chance to draw level from the spot after substitute Garang Awac was fouled in the box by Sorras. Fellow substitute John Azar stepped up and slotted home for 2-2 in the 89th minute much to the delight of the Rangers fans who thought they had rescued a point.
Rockdale tried to snatch the lead back immediately. A header fell onto the head of substitute Brae Ovens who nodded wide.
There was one final twist left in the game in stoppage time. Rockdale had a late set piece which was blocked.
It fell to Isaac Danzo who cushioned the ball into the top corner to queue epic celebrations for Rockdale who won 3-2 in the 95th minute.
The visitors saw out the final minutes of the game and earned a priceless three points on a steamy evening at Popondetta Park.
Post match, Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC coach Andrew Montgomery reflected on the result against one of the top sides:
“I thought we were magnificent for the most part.
“We battled right to the end and I’m proud of how we did against what I think, is the top team in the division.
“Credit to them but I am focusing on our work which was good today,” said Montgomery.
For Rockdale Ilinden FC assistant coach Vedran Jaganjac, the former defender spoke about the resolve his playing group showed to earn the three points.
“I am glad we walked we away with three points , we did our job and I could not have been prouder of the players.
“We are built on bouncing back and winning is what we do.” said Jaganjac.
Match Stats
Saturday 1 March 2025
Popondetta Park
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Amirhossein Hosnani & Lindsay Edmonds
Fourth Official: Liam Smith
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 2 (OG ’38 Azar ‘88)
Rockdale Ilinden FC 3 (Najjar ’44 Urosevski ’71 Danzo ‘90+4)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC: 1. Dylan Niski, 2. Alexander Trajanoski, 3. Joseph White, 4. Zac Sfiligoi, 6. Jared Macerola, 9. Joseph Gibbs (7. Garang Awac ’80), 10. Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos (11. John Azar ’75), 15. Caleb Jackson-Brown, 20. Thomas Lopez (9. Rocco Fragale 60), 21. William Rankin, 22. Jude Rankin (14. Olayinka Sunmola ’45)
Unused subs: 16. Stefan Giglio, 17. Cooper Coskerie
Yellow cards: Fragale ‘78
Red cards: 6. Jared Macerola ‘50
Rockdale Ilinden FC: 1. Nicholas Sorras, 4. James Nikolovski, 5. Girogio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alec Urosevski, 9. Moudi Najjar (24. Ali Auglah ‘69, 10. Brendan Cholakian (17. Brae Ovens ’80), 11. Lochlan Constable (23. Oliver Puflett ’69), 14. Brayden Sorge, 22. Blake Ricciuto, 88. Christopher McStay (19. Cakovski ’90)
Unused subs: 16. Michael Marcevski, 20. Ronan Mulgrew
Yellow cards: Puflett ‘85
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings:
3: Brayden Sorge (RCK)
2: Caleb Jackson-Brown (MTDR)
1: Moudi Najjar (RCK)
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
