Olympic no match for ruthless Rockdale
Sydney Olympic were no match for a rampaging Rockdale Ilinden who confidently defeated the Blues 4-0 at the Ilinden Sports Centre in front of a healthy crowd on Sunday.
The game was evenly fought by both teams early on with the first opportunity coming in the 14th minute after captain Alec Urosevski found winger Ali Auglah in the box, though Olympic keeper Jack Gibson advanced well to make a good save.
Gibson stepped up once more with another save in the 17th minute after catching a well-hit volley down the middle from outside the box by Giorgio Speranza.
Ex-Olympic shot stopper Nicholas Sorras nearly gifted his former club the opening goal in the 24th minute when a horrid pass from a goal kick went straight to Cyrus Dehmie, but the striker failed to get a good connection as his strike fell calmly back into Sorras’ arms.
Urosevski put the hosts in front in the 29th minute with a beautiful curling effort into the top left corner, his 17th goal of the season so far.
The Blues were inches away from equalising in the 45+2nd minute through a good free kick strike by Dylan Ruiz-Diaz, which forced a strong save from an outstretched Sorras towards his right side.
Ilinden found their second right after the break in the 46th minute after an attempted bicycle kick from Urosevski saw the ball fall into the path of Moudi Najjar, with the winger then tapping it home.
The visitors nearly reduced the deficit back to one in the 49th minute via a shot from Teng Kuol, though it was cleared off the line by defender Blake Ricciuto.
Rockdale then scored their third in the 62nd minute, thanks to a composed finish into the bottom right from former Blues playmaker Brendan Cholakian.
The home side put the game to bed with a wonderful strike into the bottom right by Brae Ovens, which proved to be the final kick of the contest.
Rockdale Ilinden Assistant coach Paul Dee expressed his pleasure with the result, especially in that his side was able to grow into the match. .
“In the start we began slowly but then we worked into the game and I think in the latter stages of the first half and then the second half we controlled the game pretty well. We deserved the win, dominated possession and chances and it was a good performance in the end,” Dee told Football NSW.
When asked how pleasing it was to get the win over a team like Olympic, Dee said.
“It’s great. The NPL is full of good derbies, good emotional games. This is one of them, it means a lot to both clubs. For our fans to celebrate here at home with a win of that nature, it is really good for our club.”
Dee added that it is imperative they do not get complacent and continue growing and getting better as a side.
“We have got a pretty clear style of play and we are getting better and better at it as the year is evolving. We have just got to keep working on the things we need to keep improving and not take our foot off the gas because it is a really tough competition. You have got to show up each week.”
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden 4 (Alec Urosevski 29’, Moudi Najjar 46’, Brendan Cholakian 62’, Brae Ovens 90+3’)
Sydney Olympic 0
Sunday 4 May
Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Referee: Brodie Merchant
Assistant Referees: Alessandro Llana and Alexandar Zastavnikovic
Fourth Official: Nicholas Farmer
Rockdale Ilinden: 1. Nicholas Sorras, 2. Hunter Elliott (16. Michael Marcevski 88’), 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alec Urosevski (23. Oliver Puflett 77’), 9. Moudi Najjar (18. James Graoroski 77’), 10. Brendan Cholakian, 14. Brayden Sorge, 22. Blake Ricciuto, 24. Ali Auglah (17. Brae Ovens 77’), 88. Christopher McStay
Substitutes Not Used: 11. Lochlan Constable, 16. Michael Marcevski, 20. Ronan Mulgrew
Yellow Cards: Hunter Elliott 18’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney Olympic: 1. Jack Gibson, 5. Ziggy Gordon, 9. Cyrus Dehmie, 10. Jack Armson (19. Gianni Di Pizio 77’), 11. Adam Parkhouse, 12. Zac Zoricich, 14. Seth Clark, 17. Joshua Hong, 18. Teng Kuol (16. Bailey Callaghan 70’), 22. Dylan Ruiz-Diaz (7. Michael Vakis 53’), 28. Doni Grdic
Substitutes Not Used: 6. Thomas Wiffen, 13. Monty Partington
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3: Blake Ricciuto (RI)
2: Alec Urosevski (RI)
1: Brendan Cholakian (RI)
-By Dimitri Kallos
