United 58 edge out Wolves in drizzly clash
Sydney United 58 edged past Wollongong Wolves 2-1 on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Ian McLennan Park.
United 58 took the lead courtesy of Mason Wells midway through the half before Mario Shabow doubled their advantage later in the second period.
Nicholas Olsen scored in second-half stoppage time to halve the deficit for the Wolves, but it was too late to help the side find a route back into the game.
The Wolves almost made the perfect start to the match within five minutes when Olsen’s effort from the right of the box deflected off United 58 defender Liam McGing onto the right post.
The visitors weathered the early storm and built some nice combinations, mainly down the left with Matthew Hatch and Leroy Jennings combining well.
In the 21st minute, midfielder Carlos De Oliveira found some space centrally and sent a dipping strike thundering back off the crossbar.
United 58 built on this momentum and grabbed the lead 25 minutes in.
Alessandro Lacalandra latched onto a clever ball into the left channel and picked out Wells in plenty of space, whose first-time volley was excellently saved by Yates. However, the rebound returned to the winger who snuck the ball over the line.
In the 36th minute, Wollongong came close to an equaliser when Olsen picked out Raphael Le’ai in behind down the right, but he failed to make meaningful contact with his shot.
The away side took their slender lead into halftime after an engaging first half at Ian McLennan Park.
The second half adopted a slower tempo as United 58 struggled to control possession as they had in the first period but remained disciplined in their defensive shape.
Sydney United 58 continued to be a sporadic threat going forward and came close to a second goal in the 67th minute when Bailey Rule’s long-range strike was tipped over by Yates.
Masciovecchio nearly found the goal the Wolves craved a couple of minutes later as Scott poked the ball through to him in the left of the box. The wide player lashed a left-footed shot goalwards that Prendergast batted behind for a corner.
Less than two minutes after Masciovecchio’s chance, United 58 grabbed their second goal of the game. Rule escaped down the right and drilled the ball into the box for Shabow, who steered a simple finish into the goal.
Wollongong kept pushing for a goal and almost had one 79 minutes in when Le’ai’s cross from the left found Scott, but the striker hit his shot straight at Prendergast.
Not long after, Marcus Beattie hit the post from the right of the box for the Wolves.
The side found their consolation deep in stoppage time when Olsen snatched at a half-chance in the box, beating Prendergast with a low shot.
Olsen’s late goal proved too late for Wollongong to get back into the match as they lost their second game in a row.
United 58 coach Ante Juric said he was pleased with his team’s performance in patches as they gained their second win of the season.
“I wasn’t happy with the first five to ten minutes. For whatever reason, we were a step behind, but then the last 30 of the first half we were definitely the better team,” Juric said.
“Second half, again, wasn’t the best, even though we created a few on the break. We seemed not to keep the ball.
“Overall, I’m happy.”
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves FC 1 (Nicholas Olsen 90+3’)
Sydney United 58 FC 2 (Mason Wells 25’, Mario Shabow 72’)
Sunday 30 March 2025
Ian McLennan Park, Kembla Grange
Referee: Brodie Merchant
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harrison and Lachlan Hines
Fourth Official: Luke Chapman
Wollongong Wolves FC: 1. Oliver Yates, 2. Harrison Buesnel, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. James Anagnostopoulos, 7. Woon Sub Sim, 17. Marcus Beattie, 21. Nicholas Olsen, 24. Lachlan Scott (11. Liam Ball 81’), 25. Alex Masciovecchio (10. Damon Gray 70’), 29. Ben Giason, 77. Raphael Le’ai (4. Dylan King 88’)
Substitutes Not Used: 8. Sebastian Duarte, 13. Daniel Solsky, 15. Dax Kelly
Yellow Cards: Banri Kanaizumi 62’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 11. Matthew Hatch, 13. Alessandro Lacalandra (22. Stephan De Robillard 89’), 14. Liam McGing, 17. Michael Glassock, 23. Mason Wells, 32. Leroy Jennings (12. Richard Darko 73’), 43. Michael Pratezina (8. Mario Shabow 46’)
Substitutes Not Used: 15. Tariq Maia, 16. Anthony Krilic, 31. Josip Orlovic
Yellow Cards: Mario Shabow 62’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Liam McGing (SU58)
2 – Carlos De Oliveria (SU58)
1 – Bailey Rule (SU58)
Report by Tim Gibson
