Second-half show sees Wolves overcome Manly
Two second-half goals secured Wollongong Wolves a 2-0 win over Manly United on Saturday evening at Macedonia Park with recently appointed coach Julio Miranda continuing his team’s great run of form since taking over the club.
Despite creating opportunities in the first half, the Wolves went into the break level with United.
Nicholas Olsen opened the scoring just before the hour mark, and Marcus Beattie sealed the victory in the final 10 minutes.
The first half got off to a stop-start first few minutes with both teams struggling to hold onto the ball high up the field.
Around 10 minutes in, Lachlan Scott nearly put the hosts ahead when Woon Sub Sim’s cross fell to him in the box, but United goalkeeper Kaye saved well.
Midway through the half, Kaye was called into action again; this time Olsen’s shot forcing the shotstopper to save from close range.
Manly conjured up an opportunity of their own in the 27th minute. Farah Koko’s right-sided cross found Jess Piriz, who headed over.
With nine regular first-half minutes to play, Wollongong came even closer to the opener. Olsen set off on a mazing run down the right and found Flynn Madden centrally, but the midfielder poked the ball onto the bar.
Moments later, Manly returned fire through Darcy Burgess – the midfielder’s shot dragged wide of the right post.
The Wolves took the ball down the other end, winning possession and breaking quickly. Madden found Scott in the left of the box, but yet again, Kaye produced a sharp stop.
The teams went into the sheds level after a slow first half at Macedonia Park.
Wollongong created the first chance of the second half three minutes in through Alex Masciovecchio, whose central shot was caught by Kaye.
The lively Koko then fired wide as he cut in from the left for Manly six minutes later.
In the 58th minute, Wollongong made the breakthrough courtesy of Olsen. Masciovecchio slipped a clever ball into the right channel for the attacker, who saw the ball bounce back to him following what seemed to be a mix up with Kaye and one of his defenders before prodding into the net.
United responded well to conceding, getting the ball moving into the attacking third. In the 68th minute, Harry McCarthy played Koko into the left channel of the box – this time Daniel Solsky made the save at his near post.
Three minutes later, Kaye produced a spectacular double save for Manly, denying Olsen and Scott in quick succession.
Wollongong were almost left to rue their missed opportunities in the 80th minute when substitute Will Faulder send a curling effort crashing onto the bar.
Two minutes after this scare, the Wolves doubled their lead. Beattie placing a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom left corner.
Despite late shots from McCarthy and Faulder, Manly could not find a way back into the game as they went down 2-0 to Wollongong.
Wolves coach Julio Miranda said that his team can be good as any team in this league as he extended his unbeaten run since taking over to three games.
“I though after the first 20 minutes we took control of the game,” Miranda said.
“We should have been up at halftime.
“We made it a little bit hard ourselves.
“I think there is a little bit of belief that is starting to sink with the boys which is good.”
Miranda also said that he was pleased with the showing of central defender Dax Kelly who came into the team, with regular start Banri Kanaizumi suspended.
“Dax is the dream player that you want to have in your squad,” he said.
“When he is needed, he’ll step up. He has a good attitude at training and a good attitude generally do with football.”
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves FC 2 (Nicholas Olsen 58’, Marcus Beattie 82’ )
Manly United FC 0
Saturday 19 July 2025
Macedonia Park, Berkeley
Referee: Ayad Naji
Assistant Referees: Alessandro Llana and Simon Ashari
Fourth Official: Damien Delovski
Wollongong Wolves FC: 13. Daniel Solsky, 2. Harrison Buesnel, 4. Dylan Ryan, 7. Woon Sub Sim, 15. Dax Kelly, 17. Marcus Beattie, 21. Nicholas Olsen, 23. Flynn Madden, 24. Lachlan Scott (77. Raphael Le’ai 85’), 25. Alex Masciovecchio (11. Sebastian Hernandez 75’), 29. Ben Giason
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Oliver Yates, 6. James Anagnostopoulos, 8. Sebastian Duarte, 9. Damon Gray
Yellow Cards: Harrison Buesnel 29’
Red Cards: Nil
Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Aaron O’Driscoll, 3. Matthew O’Donoghue (15. Max Martinello 75’), 4. Jesse Piriz, 8. Stefano Rossello (29. Will Faulder 75’), 9. Benjamin Koop (10. Harry McCarthy 20’), 11. Lucas Meek (14. Maxwell Pengelly 82’), 17. Farah Koko, 19. Alen Aganovic, 23. Darcy Burgess, 28. Jacob Chipman (25. Cai Evans 82’)
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Anthony Cerraras
Yellow Cards: Jacob Chipman 40’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Marcus Beattie (WW)
2 – Levi Kaye (MU)
1 – Dax Kelly (WW)
Report by Tim Gibson
