Late Ilinden equaliser thwarts Wolves
It took a last gasp equaliser from the league’s most prolific striker Alec Urosevski to send the Wollongong Wolves packing with a point in a hard fought 1-1 all draw at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Saturday.
The visitors took the lead in 4th minute when ex-Ilinden player Alex Masciovecchio found the net and celebrated in some style with a backflip as Wolves’ netted in their first attack which stunned the 2024 Premiers.
The early strike sparked Wollongong, yet to lose a match this season despite their 11th position on the ladder, into further action and they almost doubled the lead but for a diving Nick Sorras turning the ball around the post for a corner as Brayden Sorge needed to clear off the line shortly thereafter.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic as Rockdale worked their way back into the game however, they were finding the visitors defence a tough nut to crack
A succession of corners to Rockdale nearly produced an opening for Moudi Najjar but for the ball to take a wicked bounce off the pitch just as the striker was about to unload with Wollongong able to clear before Urosevski came close to restoring parity with a toe-poke that crept slowly and agonisingly wide of the upright.
Urosevski, with his back to goal, was in once again late in the half but Oliver Yates, between the sticks, somehow managed to keep the Wolves’ lead intact as the Ilinden frontman attempted to get the ball under control.
Brendan Cholakian dinked one over the top with the onrushing Yates, sprinting off his line, to deny another Urosevski opportunity when gathering under pressure as the half drew to a close with the visitors enjoying the slenderest of leads at the break.
On the restart, Blake Ricciuto couldn’t connect cleanly with a header from a free-kick out on the right when Wollongong’s ever reliable back line parted giving Ilinden a golden opportunity to level that was ultimately spurned.
Oliver Puflett and Matthew Keremelevski, making his first appearance of the season after serving suspension from last year, replaced Ali Auglah and Brayden Sorge respectively in the 53rd minute as Ilinden looked to change the point of attack and add some fresh legs into the fray against Dylan Ryan who was having an immense game.
Najjar and Cholakian combined with the latter sending a curling shot wide of the woodwork as Rockdale pushed and probed for an opening.
Nick Olsen then linked up with Masciovecchio on the break however the former’s shot ended up in the side netting on the hour mark after rounding Sorras but found the angle too tight.
The Rockdale gloveman had to be on his toes when tipping out another Olsen shot that was destined for the top corner two minutes later.
The same player stole in to send yet another ball across the face before Yates denied Urosevski once more at the other end before substitute Brae Ovens tried his luck from distance that flashed wide.
A mad scramble in the Ilinden box prevented Wollongong from doubling their lead as the end-to-end entertainment continued into the final quarter-hour.
Harrison Buesnel denied Isaac Danzo when set-up by Urosevski, the home side pushing their guests deeper into their own half but remaining unable to square the ledger.
Olsen one again stole the ball, this time from Ricciuto when nipping it off his toes and set off up field on a solo run but curled his shot around the post.
Ovens forced Yates into action however the ‘keeper spilt the ball with Urosevski reacting quickest to fire home with his back to goal and it was game on once more for the hosts.
The Wolves grazed the bar almost immediately when Woon Sub Sim shot from fully 35-yards out and had Sorras beaten. Urosevski’s goal certainly set-up a grandstand finish in this fixture, one that has never failed to produce plenty of talking points over the years.
Marcus Beattie warmed the hands of Sorras in stoppage time and Keremelevski nearly grabbed all the points for Rockdale.
The chances kept coming regularly with each wanting the win and but for nerves playing their part it was a case of what might have been as the points were shared.
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden 1 (Alec Urosevski 88’)
Wollongong Wolves 1 (Alex Masciovecchio 4’)
Ilinden Sports Centre
Saturday, 8th March, 2025
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistants: Arinath Gobinath and Blake Eastwood
Fourth Official: Charbel Geha
Rockdale Ilinden: 1. Nick Sorras, 4. James Nikolovski, 5. Giorgio Speranza (19. Jason Cakovski 84’), 6. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alec Urosevski, 9. Moudi Najjar (17. Brae Ovens 70’), 10. Brendan Cholakian, 11. Lachlan Constable, 14. Brayden Sorge (99. Matthew Keremelevski 53’), 22. Blake Ricciuto, 24. Ali Auglah (23. Oliver Puflett 53’)
Subs not used: 16. Michael Marcevski, 20. Ronan Mulgrew
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Wollongong Wolves: 1. Oliver Yates, 2. Harrison Buesnel, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. James Anagnostopoulos (77. Raphael Le’al 84’), 7. Woon Sub Sim, 17. Marcus Beattie, 21. Nicholas Olsen, 24. Lachlan Scott (9. Damon Gray 87’), 25. Alex Masciovecchio (11. Sebastian Hernandez 70’), 29. Ben Giason
Subs not used: 13. Daniel Solky, 15. Dax Kelly
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Dylan Ryan (WW)
2 – Alec Urosevski (RI)
1 – Nick Olsen (WW)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
