Ten-men United 58 push Spirit till the end
A late injury time goal saw NWS Spirit FC keep their unbeaten start to the National Premier League Men’s NSW season alive with an epic 1-1 draw with Sydney United 58 FC at Christie Park on Saturday evening.
Handing debuts to both Luke Zuvela and Michael Pratezina, the visitors looked a significant goal threat with Pratezina scoring their go-ahead goal in the 33rd minute. That goal looked like being the winner right up until Jamie Percevski found an equaliser in injury time that broke the hearts of the visitors and its travelling fans.
In challenging conditions, the game started as a low tempo affair in stop-start fashion.
The first chance on goal coming after ten minutes.
Spirit goalkeeper Chirstopher Marques parrying a Mason Wells shot from the right side of the box into the path of Luke Zuvela who couldn’t steer in home on debut.
The hosts created their first opportunity inside the quarter hour. A patient build up down the left saw Takumi Ofuka thread a pass through to Yu Okubo whose shot across goal missed to the right of the target.
It was the visitors who were looking the more dangerous though creating another good opportunity in the 20th minute – Luke Zuvela going for the spectacular with an attempted bicycle kick over the bar, Mason Wells finding him with a cross from the right.
Sydney United found their opener in the 33rd minute just minutes after surviving a shout for a penalty at the other end, Another debutant in Michael Pratezina opened his account with a low drive into the bottom right corner as Michael Glassock cut the ball across the face.
The visitors nearly added a second in spectacular fashion in first half injury time, club skipper Adrian Vlastelica with a free-kick from halfway which was tipped over the bar by a retreating Marques.
Needing inspiration, Spirit began to find their grove after the break. Michael Konestabo sent a shot high over the bar with a left footed strike in the 54th minute after a Simon Nicholas cut back.
Zayne Ahluwalia then swung in a cross from the right wing which saw Ofuka presented with a golden chance at the back post. His effort flashing across the face ten minutes into the half.
United’s Carlos De Oliveira had a chance to double the visitors advantage on the hour, but his long range shot hooked just wide of the left post.
Just as the game was looking like drifting to a one-nil result, the visitors were reduced to ten when substitute Patrick Antelmi was sent off less than 20 minutes after coming on for lashing out at his opponent.
Spirit almost capitalised immediately through a Corey Kavanagh shot which narrowly missed the target to the right after he won the ball in midfield.
The hosts rescued a point with a goal in injury time after applying significant pressure in the final ten minutes, Jamie Percevski heading home from a late Franki Ljucovic corner in the 93rd minute to rescue a point for the hosts.
Match Stats
NWS Spirit 1 (Percevski 90+3’)
Sydney United 58 FC 1 (Pratezina 48’)
Saturday 14th March, 2025
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Rowan Fisher & Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Mujtaba Ebrahimi
NWS Spirit: 1. Christopher Marques, 5. Jordan Perez, 6. Corey Kavanagh , 7. Frankie Ljucovic, 8. Grant Cornwell (14. Marco Arambasic 58’), 9. Yu Okubo, 10. Michael Konestabo, 13. Simon Nicholas, 15. Jamie Percevski, 19. Zayne Ahluwalia (17. Jacob Chidiac 70’), 22. Takumi Ofuka (3. Kyah Williams 87’).
Substitutes Not Used: 12. Robert Fanella, 20. Austin Oates, 23. Lincoln Gilmour.
Yellow Cards: Ahluwalia 45+2, Konestabo 90+7, Marques 90+7
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastellica, 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 11. Matthew Hatch (32. Leroy Jennings 67’), 14. Liam Mcging, 16. Anthony Krilic, 17. Michael Glassock, 23. Mason Wells (13. Allesandro Lacalandra 87’), 37. Luke Zuvela (9. Patrick Antelmi 56’), 43. Michael Pratezina (15. Tariq Maia 67’).
Substitutes Not Used: 31. Josip Orlovic, 6. Thomas Makko.
Yellow Cards: Vlastellica 65’, Mcging 89’, De Oliveira 90+7’, Glassock 90+8’
Red Cards: Antelmi 73’
Player Ratings
3- Michael Pratezina (SU)
2- Frankie Ljucovic (NWS)
1- Luke Zuvela (SU)
By Justin Smith
