Inconsisent season continues for Olympic as Blacktown City record critical win
After defeating the Marconi Stallions last week, Sydney Olympic’s up and down season was there to be seen by all after falling to an efficient Blacktown City outfit, going down 2-0 at Jubilee Stadium on Saturday.
Olympic were left to rue their failure to convert their opportunities as they fell in the crucial game that has now extended the gap between the two teams to nine points, with the result providing another boost to the visitors’ aspirations of finals football.
Blacktown took the advantage in impressive fashion in the 18th minute after Jakob Cresnar met teammate Jak O’Brien’s pass on the volley, striking it beautifully on his left past Olympic keeper Jack Gibson.
The Blues produced their first chance in the 24th minute after captain Adam Parkhouse went for a curling finish into the bottom left that went wide of the target.
Olympic’s best opportunity of the first half fell in the 39th minute following an excellent over-the-top ball from Jack Armson that played through Cyrus Dehmie, though the striker was unable to control it and release a shot in time.
The hosts followed it up with another great chance in the 40th minute from a corner with centre half Ziggy Gordon unleashing a header and a shot on his right from close range, both of which hit Dehmie.
Olympic continued the pressure after the break as they created chances to no avail, with Adam Parkhouse’s right-footed shot from a tight angle in the 52nd minute forcing a save out of Cayden Henderson for the first time in the game.
Blacktown fell just short of doubling their lead in the 57th minute when a beautiful cross from Adam Berry was headed on by O’Brien in the box, with Gibson producing a strong diving save to his right to keep it out.
The visitors eventually found their second in the 61st minute after Thomas Wiffen gave away a penalty, with O’Brien slotting it into the bottom left despite Gibson guessing correctly.
O’Brien came agonisingly close to sealing a brace with an extraordinary effort from well outside the box that cannoned into the crossbar and deflected away.
The visitors hung on to keep the clean sheet and wrap up the three points.
Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden was left very pleased with the effort from his side, particularly praising their organisation and discipline in a tough game.
“I thought we were well-organised.
“At the end of the day we were happy to give away a bit of possession as long as we stayed organised and that’s what it was it was all about,” Crittenden told Football NSW.
“You know against Olympic you’re not going to get a whole lot of chances so it was important that we took them.”
He stated his joy in how the team has responded in the last few games off the back of some poor results before then.
“We have been a little up and down and we had a chat a few weeks back about where we think we were at. I thought last week we were good, and I think this week we were better,” Crittenden said.
“From a discipline point of view, we were pretty close to being as good as we have been for the season, against a really good team as well.”
Match Stats
Sydney Olympic 0
Blacktown City 2 (Jakob Cresnar 18’, Jak O’Brien 61’ pen.)
Saturday 28 June
Jubilee Stadium
Referee: Logan Jones
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harris and Alessandro Llana
Fourth Official: Jake Rose
Sydney Olympic: 1. Jack Gibson, 5. Ziggy Gordon, 6. Thomas Wiffen (15. Luca Pecora 62’), 9. Cyrus Dehmie, 10. Jack Armson, 11. Adam Parkhouse (7. Michael Vakis 62’), 12. Zac Zoricich, 14. Seth Clark, 17. Joshua Hong, 18. Teng Kuol, 22. Dylan Ruiz-Diaz (16. Bailey Callaghan 85’)
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Monty Partington, 23. Jackson Fowler, Samuel Bosnjak
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City: 1. Cayden Henderson, 4. Lachlan Campbell, 5. Grant Lynch, 6. Adam Berry (19. Sebastian Hayward 81’), 7. Travis Major, 8. Jak O’Brien, 10. Maksim Jez, 12. Daniel McHugh (11. Danny Choi 73’), 14. Mitchell Mallia (17. Matin Fernandez 62’), 18. Nicholas O’Brien, 23. Jakob Cresnar (24. Jackson Bandiera 81’)
Substitutes Not Used: 9. Keanu Moore, 40. Cooper Rogers
Yellow Cards: Lachlan Campbell 68’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3: Jak O’Brien (BC)
2: Adam Berry (BC)
1: Jack Armson (SO)
-By Dimitri Kallos
