Ilinden reign supreme in valiant victory over Stallions
Rockdale Ilinden have set the cat amongst the pigeons as their 1-0 victory over staunch rivals the Marconi Stallions at Marconi Stadium on Sunday has reignited the race for the 2025 NPL Men’s NSW Premiership.
Marconi were sitting five points clear on top of the ladder and a win would have created an eight-point gap but it wasn’t to be.
Rockdale are in the joint-best form in the competition and despite playing for over half an hour a player down, after Hunter Elliott received his second yellow card, they delivered Marconi their second defeat of the season.
Rockdale Ilinden almost struck gold in the 6th minute when a free kick from Chris McStay was met by a header from Brayden Sorge and, with goalkeeper James Hilton beaten, it was left to James Bayliss to miraculously clear the ball off the line.
In the 11th minute Hilton pulled off a brilliant save down low at the near post after Ali Auglah danced his way nicely into the box, before unleashing a direct shot that the Marconi custodian dealt with very well indeed.
However, only a minute later, the team with all the ascendancy early in the game broke through and it was no more than Rockdale deserved at that point. A swinging ball in from the left by McStay caused some confusion in the box for a hesitant defence and Cholakian took full advantage by bringing the ball down nicely before scoring the opener.
On the half hour mark the home side finally had their first real chance of the encounter. Dominic Costanzo with a really strong challenge won the ball before feeding it neatly to Damian Tsekenis, but his shot was deflected away for a corner.
Matej Busek then came ever so close for Marconi in the 36th minute when from the left, and from close range, he forced goalkeeper Nicholas Sorras into a great save to turn the ball away for a corner. The exciting and at times feisty, with five yellow cards, first half didn’t offer any more goal chances as Rockdale Ilinden marched into the sheds with a slender lead.
The second half’s first note took a while and arrived in the 59th minute when Elliott received his second yellow card for a midfield foul, and therefore a red, which left Rockdale Ilinden to play out the remaining half hour plus with ten players.
Paul Dee the coach of Rockdale Ilinden then made a double substitution a few minutes later. He took off Cholakian and Auglar and sent on Matthew Keremelevski and Moudi Najjar respectively in order to plug holes in the defence and add fresh legs to the visiting side.
There was a golden chance for Marconi in the 73rd minute when a shot from Bayliss from just outside the box was slightly deflected by James Nikolovski and this forced ‘keeper Sorras into making a truly outstanding save to turn the ball over the crossbar for a corner.
A few minutes later a dangerous, looping cross in the wind from the left by Costanzo was once again dealt with impeccably by Sorras between the sticks.
In the 81st minute Sorras pulled off one of the great saves of the season. A header from Damian Tsekenis forced the Rockdale custodian to backpedal and to turn the ball once again over the crossbar for a corner. From the resultant corner there was a powerful shot from Bayliss that Sorras punched away with composure to once again demonstrate what a great game he was having.
Well into stoppage time McStay found himself with the ball at his feet as he dribbled beautifully into the box before forcing goalkeeper Hilton into making a great save one-on-one in what was the last opportunity of the game.
Afterwards Rockdale Ilinden FC coach Paul Dee was delighted with the win. “It was a really good battle between two really good sides,” he said.
“No one was going to take a backward step today and that was a highly resilient effort from us.
“We are really pleased to get the three points. Marconi and Rockdale are really good teams and when they go head-to-head you get a really good game like today.
“We defended resolutely which is a really good sign for us and our attempts to get the ball through the midfield and into attacking areas was also really good today.”
Match Stats
MARCONI STALLIONS: 0
ROCKDALE ILINDEN FC: 1 (Cholakian 12’)
Sunday 8th June
Marconi Stallions, Bossley Park
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant referees: Alessandro Llana, Matthew Harris
Fourth Official: Andres Castro
MARCONI STALLIONS: 1. James Hilton, 2. Tyren Burnie, 6. Dominic Costanzo, 7. Franco Maya-Valiente (15. Jawad Rezai 93’), 8. James Bayliss, 10. Marko Jesic, 16. Liam Youlley (9. Kyle Cimenti 84’), 17. Damian Tsekenis, 18. George Daniel, 23. Brandon Vella, 24. Matej Busek (14. Jake Trew 77’).
Substitutes not used: 11. Milislav Popovic, 12. Julian Morge, 20. Patrick Williams
Yellow Cards: Youlley 28’, Maya 35
Red Cards: Nil
ROCKDALE ILINDEN FC: 1. Nicholas Sorras, 2. Hunter Elliott, 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alec Urosevski (23. Brae Ovens 89’), 10. Brendan Cholakian (99. Matthew Keremelevski 66’), 11. Lochlan Constable (18. Jordan Graoroski 86’), 14. Brayden Sorge (4. James Nikolovski 46’), 22. Blake Ricciuto, 24. Ali Auglah (9. Moudi Najjar 66’), 88. Chris McStay.
Substitutes not used: 20. Ronan Mulgrew, 23. Oliver Puflett.
Yellow Cards: Sorge 19’, Auglah 25’, Elliott 35’, Nikolovski 72’
Red Card: Elliott 59’
Player Ratings
3 – Nicholas Sorras (RI)
2 – Chris McStay (RI)
1 – Dominic Costanzo (MS)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo
