UNSW and Marconi Share the Spoils in Entertaining 2-2 Draw
UNSW FC and Marconi Stallions played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at The Village Green on Saturday evening, with both sides taking the lead during a lively contest but ultimately unable to find the decisive winner despite a host of chances at either end.
Marconi came out firing following their first league defeat the previous week and immediately put the home side under pressure. Their early surge forced a diving save from Tristan Prendergast before the visitors struck the post moments later as UNSW struggled to settle.
The early blitz eventually paid off when Teng Kuol broke the deadlock. The forward needed just two touches to set himself before drilling a shot from outside the box into the bottom-right corner to give the Stallions the perfect start.
UNSW responded quickly and were level just five minutes later with their first meaningful attack. Oliver Puflett found space on the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful strike that Joel Wade managed to get a hand to, but the effort had too much pace and slipped past the goalkeeper at his near post to make it 1-1.
The contest then opened up with both sides creating opportunities. Franco Maya and Marko Jesic came closest for Marconi while Jyden Harb looked the most dangerous for the home side as the tempo remained high.
UNSW edged ahead just before the break after Harb chased down a long ball and spotted Wade off his line. His ambitious effort from distance slipped through the grasp of the Marconi goalkeeper, allowing the alert Lopes to pounce on the loose ball and tap into the empty net.
The home side carried their momentum into the second half and controlled possession for large stretches of the opening twenty minutes after the restart, dictating the tempo as Marconi were forced to absorb pressure.
The Stallions, however, remained patient and eventually found their equaliser with fifteen minutes remaining. Pressing high up the pitch, the ball was worked wide to substitute Tyren Burnie who delivered a driven low cross into the box where Damian Tsekenis arrived to finish from close range and bring the scores level once again.
Both sides pushed hard for a late winner as the pace of the match continued to surge in the final stages, but neither defence could be broken for a third time and the points were ultimately shared.
After the match, UNSW FC head coach Gabe Knowles felt his side had produced a strong performance and believed they had opportunities to claim all three points.
“We were good value,” Knowles said.
“Two big chances at the end of the game to win it, it’s frustrating on that part but we played well and we matched it with Marconi.
“We’re still missing five or six key players, so we’ll keep getting better but hopefully that’s a bit of belief there today.”
Match Stats
UNSW FC 2 (Oliver Pufflett 9′, Kevin Lopes 32’ )
Marconi Stallions 2 (Teng Kuol 4’, Damian Tsekenis 76’)
Saturday 7th March, 2026
The Village Green
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Sebastian Ruskin and Adam Maher
Fourth Official: Alec Baele
UNSW FC: 1. Tristian Prendergast, 3. Emilio Vinci, 5. Claudio Fabiano (4. Liam Wood 33’), 6. Grant Lynch, 9. Kevin Lopes (11. Jack Fulton 61’), 14. Lachlan Campbell, 15. Corby Fowler (22. Gil Duffy 74’), 17. Jyden Harb, 19. Oliver Pufflett (16. Kai Kamikura 74’), 20. Anthony Barbic, 21. Alexander Malfara
Substitutes Not Used: 7. Matias Da Silva Santos, 12. Cassius Flavell, 24. Thomas Hynes
Yellow Cards: Lachlan Campbell 38’, Alexander Malfara 90
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 1. Joel Wade, 4. Anton Mlinaric, 5. George Daniel, 6. Teng Kuol (17. Sunday Yona 71’), 7. Franco Maya Valiente (3. Cameron Windus 64’), 9. Damian Tsekenis, 10. Marko Jesic (2. Tyren Burnie 64’), 11. Matej Busek (21. Noah Anderson 71’), 14. Jack Armson, 16. Luca Pecora, 23. Quinten Blair
Substitutes Not Used: 12. Julian Monge, 18. Dimi Petratos, 20. Oliver Yates,
Yellow Cards: Jack Armson 90’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Jyden Harb (UNSW)
2 – Jack Armson (MAR)
1 – Teng Kuol (MAR)
By Keane McKenna
