Hilton heroics send Stallions Preliminary Finals
A stellar penalty shootout performance from keeper James Hilton proved the difference as Marconi Stallions took down Sydney United 58 in the Elimination Final, winning 3-2 on spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw after extra time at Marconi Stadium on Wednesday night.
It was a hard-fought, fiery clash between the two historic clubs filled with chances, goals, and red cards.
It was the Stallions who eventually emerged victorious after 120 minutes of football and a tense shootout, setting the stage for a blockbuster Semi Final against rivals APIA Leichhardt this Sunday at Lambert Park with the winner advancing to the 2025 NPL Men’s NSW Grand Final to be played next Saturday at Jubilee Stadium.
The first major chance of the game fell to United 58 in the sixth minute when Marko Arambasic released a good effort towards the bottom left, but it was stopped superbly by Hilton.
The Stallions made them pay soon after in the 13th minute when some good pressure saw Dom Costanzo intercept the ball in the middle of the field and dribble it all the way into the box before calmly finishing it into the bottom right.
The visitors nearly brought it level in fantastical fashion when Hilton came out for a long ball from Liam McGing in the 24th minute, with Mason Wells managing to get the first touch but hitting it too hard as it ultimately went out before he had a chance to tap it into the net.
Marconi nearly made it two in the 27th minute after an excellent ball from Damian Tsekenis found Marko Jesic in the box, though the captain’s volleyed effort lacked conviction as it went into the hands of Vedran Janjetovic for an easy save.
Jesic again came close to scoring in the 32nd minute when a ball from the right by Tyler Burnie fell to him, with the Marconi captain unleashing a well-placed shot towards the bottom right as Janjetovic again intervened with a strong save.
Franco Maya produced a stunning lobbed strike near the halfway line in the 45+2nd minute that nearly caught out Janjetovic, though the veteran keeper was able to backpedal enough and tip it away.
United 58 came inches away from levelling it in the 52nd minute after a Carlos De Oliveira free kick ball was headed on by Adrian Vlastelica towards Anthony Tomelic, who then struck the ball just wide of the top left corner.
The visitors eventually found their equaliser after the referee awarded them a penalty in the 59th minute for a foul by Lachlan Griffiths on Arambasic, with Tomelic stepping up to the spot and depositing the ball into the bottom right just outside the reach of a diving Hilton on the hour mark.
United 58 nearly took the lead themselves in the 68th minute after some excellent pressure on the Marconi defence saw them take the ball just outside the box before De Oliveira took a shot that he ultimately sent over the crossbar.
The hosts restore their advantage in the 85th minute when James Bayliss took a shot from inside the box towards the left of the goal, but it was intercepted by Gabriel Tilo who produced a crucial block.
With no winner scored, the game progressed to extra time and United 58 suffered an early setback when Carlos De Oliveira was handed his second yellow in the 96th minute, putting the visitors down to ten players.
Marconi created a strong chance in the 113th minute when Costanzo sent in a ball from the left that found Jordan Swibel, though the substitute’s header fell directly into the arms of Janjetovic.
Matej Busek tested Janjetovic with a powerful shot from range in the 119th minute, with the United 58 keeper making the initial save before his teammate Liam McGing popped up to hit the rebound to safety.
The game had one last turn in the 120+1st minute when Griffiths was given his second booking, bringing the game level once more with ten apiece right before the ref called the end of extra time, sending the match to penalties.
The pressure of the shootout definitely weighed on the kickers as the first takers for both United 58 and Marconi missed, with Hilton saving it at the bottom right and then Janjetovic in the bottom left.
Bailey Rule and Swibel converted the next kicks to make it 1-1 after two penalties each before Hilton produced another quality save in the bottom left to keep out Richard Darko’s effort.
Brando Vella squandered the chance to put the Stallions ahead, sending his shot over the bar, though he was rescued by his keeper who guessed correctly again and saved Patrick Antelmi’s strike into the bottom right.
Matej Busek slotted his spot-kick into the bottom left to give Marconi the lead in the shootout for the first time, with United 58’s Aidan Milicevic striking his penalty sweetly into the top left off the underside of the crossbar to keep his team alive.
Costanzo then stepped up to the spot and the game’s first goal scorer powered the ball into the top left to give the hosts the win.
Marconi coach Peter Tsekenis was left in awe of the clash.
“How good is that for the football fan? Outstanding. Good advert for football. Great atmosphere. Two good teams, historic teams. You can’t ask for more out of a football match,” Tsekenis told Football NSW.
The Stallions manager admitted his side should have wrapped things up earlier, while praising United 58 for valiantly staying in the contest.
Tsekenis called Hilton’s display “outstanding”, stating he was the difference.
“He is a fantastic keeper and he should be playing at a higher level. Today he showed his real value.”
When asked about their huge clash with APIA, he noted:
“I’ve got to see where the bodies are at. Some sore bodies, suspensions. We will assess everything in the next couple of days and then we will focus on APIA.”
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 1 (Dom Costanzo 13’)
Sydney United 58 1 (Anthony Tomelic 60’ pen)
Wednesday 3 September
Marconi Stadium
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Cameron Wright
Fourth Official: Rowan Fisher
Marconi Stallions FC: 1. James Hilton, 2. Tyren Burnie, 5. Lachlan Griffiths, 6. Dom Costanzo, 7. Franco Maya (24. Matej Busek 72’), 8. James Bayliss, 10. Marko Jesic (9. Kyle Cimenti 84’), 13. Tass Mourdoukoutas (12. Julian Monge 106’), 17. Damian Tsekenis (99. Jordan Swibel 79’), 18. George Daniel, 23. Brandon Vella
Substitutes Not Used: 14. Jake Trew, 20. Patrick Williams
Yellow Cards: Lachlan Griffiths 39’, Franco Maya 55’. Damian Tsekenis 56’, Brandon Vella 101’, Matej Busek 117’
Red Cards: Lachlan Griffiths 120+1’
Sydney United 58: 21. Vedran Janjetovic, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic, 8. Mario Shabow (15. Adrian Knez 98’), 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 14. Liam McGing, 19. Aidan Milicevic, 22. Gabriel Tilo, 23. Mason Wells (12. Richard Darko 90+1’), 30. Marco Arambasic (9. Patrick Antelmi 72’)
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Finn Ballard-McBride, 31. Josip Orlovic, 43. Michael Pratezina
Yellow Cards: Adrian Vlastelica 56’, Carlos De Oliveira 61’, Bailey Rule 105’, Adrian Knez 117’
Red Cards: Carlos De Oliveira 96’
