Stunning strike seals win for Blacktown over the Sharks
Blacktown City took out a hard fought 1-0 victory over a resolute Sutherland Sharks outfit at Landen Stadium on Saturday.
As both teams entertained the crowd on hand at Seven Hills, it was Jak O’Brien’s stunning strike early in the first half that all but separated the two teams.
Gusting winds across the Sydney region made life difficult for all teams with anything lofted in the air, crosses particularly causing havoc and both sides guilty of being caught out in the early stages.
Then came the breath taking opener. O’Brien fired City ahead with a stunning volley from the edge of the area after great lead-up work down the right via Mitch Mallia. It was a goal worthy of the admission price, so sweetly met and struck, and one that will be viewed many, many times before the season’s conclusion. Every week this competition throws up something quite brilliant and this was no exception.
Sutherland, rocked briefly, took the game to City but were unable to find a way through however, Blacktown are more than adept at soaking up pressure and hitting on the counter, a very well drilled and organised side by Coach Mark Crittenden and his assistants. That said, the soft underbelly displayed by the Sharks last season has certainly been addressed by Steve Zoric and Co. allied to a very pleasing and effective brand of football being played.
Apart from the goal, it proved an even contest in the opening stanza although Travis Major could, and perhaps should have doubled the lead when played through in the 29th minute but managed to spray the ball wide of the woodwork under close attention from the Sutherland defence.
Only time would tell if it was a moment to rue.
Another Major run and shot, this time weaving through down the left, was well saved by ‘keeper Daniel Nizic just after the half-hour. Blacktown producing the better of the opportunities in the first-half.
Martin Fernandez forced another fine save out of Nizic when set-up, again, by Mallia, enjoying his game once more and producing some elegant and silky football, as City created the passes to split the Sutherland back line.
Sutherland would justly be happy to hit the break down by the solitary goal whereas City would be scratching their heads wondering how they were not ahead by more as a very entertaining 45’ minutes of football came to an end.
Peter Grozos replaced Nick Sullivan for the start of the second-half as the Sharks looked to change the point of attack but were almost further behind immediately but had Nizic to thank for keeping yet another Fernandez shot out.
There was an undertone to the match which surfaced briefly on a couple of occasions which brought the players together leaving no-one in any doubt as to what the result meant for both sides, goal scorer O’Brien finding himself in the book after one such incident.
Jacob Garner, elevated from the U20s, was adjudged to have committed a foul awarding Blacktown a free-kick just outside the area in the 52nd minute that Jak O’Brien took and forced a corner with Nizic again to the rescue.
Both Grant Lynch and O’Brien had further chances to increase the lead but the score remained at 1-nil to further frustrate City.
O’Brien also managed to send another effort agonisingly wide of the upright shortly after with Sutherland, for all their endeavour and hard work, yet to muster a meaningful strike on goal.
Mallia was outstanding. His runs down the right, the tricks, flicks and crossing/pull-backs a delight and a constant thorn in the Sharks’ side all evening. Winning a free-kick on the edge of the area, he managed to get the ball and over a 5-man wall in the 72nd minute that Nizic was again able to keep out.
Perhaps the only thing lacking was a goal to cap off a 5-star performance.
Substitute Grozos managed a shot on target near to the final whistle but from fully 35-yards out, it didn’t trouble Cayden Henderson between the sticks for City as Sutherland went all out in attack in trying to salvage something from the game but it wasn’t to be and Blacktown held on to record their fourth victory.
Match Stats
Blacktown City 1 (Jak O’Brien 9’)
Sutherland Sharks 0
Landen Stadium, Seven Hills
Saturday 5th April, 2025
Referee: Thomas Dale
Assistants: Blake Eastwood and Blake Sanchez-Cruz
Fourth Official: Rowan Fisher
Blacktown City: 1. Cayden Henderson, 4. Lachlan Campbell, 5. Grant Lynch, 6. Adam Berry, 7. Travis Major, 8. Jak O’Brien (9. Keanu Moore 67’), 14. Mitchell Mallia (22. Jacob Maniti 86’), 16. Benjamin Berry, 17. Martin Fernandez (11. Danny Choi 72’), 18. Nicholas O’Brien (10.
Maksim Jez 67’), 23. Jakob Cresnar
Subs not used: 20. Zac Bowling, 24. Jackson Bandiera Yellow Cards: Jak O’Brien 48’, Travis Major 80’, Cayden Henderson 90+3 Red Cards: Nil
Sutherland Sharks: 1. Danijel Nizic, 2. Lachlan Macdonald, 4. Lachlan Fields (20. Jacob Tresoglavic 59’), 6. Mo Ahmed, 8. Nick Sullivan (7.Peter Grozos 46’), 15. Matthew Moric, 17. Richard Shoueiki (14. Dylan Susovic 67’), 21. Jerry Skotadis, 22. Kotaro Katsuta, 23. Mason Fernandez, 26. Jacob Garner Subs not used: 10. Yerasimikis Petratos, 30. Sebastian Arranz, 87.Thomas Stobierski
Yellow Cards: Jacob Garner 52’, Matthew Moric 90’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Mitch Mallia (BC)
2 – Jak O’Brien (BC)
1 – Daniel Nizic (SS)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
