United 58 conquer Stallions at the Palace
Sydney United 58 have blown the title race wide open after handing Marconi Stallions their first home defeat and snapping their 14-game unbeaten run with a 1-0 triumph at Marconi Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors handed Marconi their first defeat since the reverse fixture between the two clubs at Easter in a result that has huge ramifications in the context of the title race, bringing United 58 to within four points of the Stallions and reducing the league leaders’ overall advantage in first to just one point.
The two sides gave very little away in the opening portion of the first period as they each stopped the other from creating any opportunities.
It took until the 25th minute for a chance to come when Marconi’s James Bayliss delivered an excellent ball forward to Damian Tsekenis, who unleashed a curling effort that forced United 58 custodian Adam Pavlesic into a diving save.
The Stallions thought they had found the opener from the subsequent corner delivered by Franco Maya, the passage of play seeing the ball flirt with the goal line before United 58 cleared it away, though the officials ruled it did not cross the line.
United 58 eventually opened the scoring in the 35th minute through Mason Wells, whose excellent footwork with the ball after receiving it saw him create some space at the edge of the box before striking it with his weaker right foot into the bottom right.
The Stallions came close to equalising in the 62nd minute after receiving the ball from a Jack Armson long pass, the striker dribbling past several defenders before releasing a shot that went just wide of the right post.
Tsekenis found himself at the heart of another chance in the 76th minute when he forced his way across the byline and cut the ball back to Matej Busek.
He hit it towards the bottom left, though Pavlesic intervened to preserve his team’s lead.
Marconi again edged close to drawing level in the 82nd minute through a combination of defenders Anton Mlinaric and George Daniel, the former passing to the wing back who then went for goal and dragged his grounded shot just wide of the right post.
The hosts created a final chance in the 90+4th minute with an attack that saw numerous players push forward, with right back Tyren Burnie taking on a shot from outside the area that went wide of the goal.
United 58 coach Miro Vlastelica was full of praise for his side and their efforts in all areas of the game.
“For me it was a complete performance and it keeps us in the race for the premiership,” Vlastelica told Football NSW.
“It’s always a big game. It’s a local derby. For us it is about going out and minimising mistakes and taking the moments that you get. That’s what we did today.”
Vlastelica was very complimentary of his players’ effort in getting the win which he stressed has come off the back of hard work all season, and which they need to continue doing for the games to come.
“The boys do this every week. We work hard, and now our focus is on the Australia Cup midweek. We said to the boys the next seven days are massive, we go one game at a time and just continue working hard.”
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 0
Sydney United 58 1 (Mason Wells 35’)
Sunday 19 July
Marconi Stadium
Referee: Rowan Fisher
Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki and Ethan Zvargulis
Fourth Official: Wael Arabi
Marconi Stallions: 1. Joel Wade, 2. Tyren Burnie, 3. Cameron Windust, 4. Anton Mlinaric, 5. George Daniel, 7. Franco Maya (17. Sunday Yona 74’), 8. James Bayliss (19. Ahmad Elhelou 81’), 9. Damian Tsekenis, 10. Marko Jesic (11. Matej Busek 74’), 14. Jack Armson, 23. Quinten Blair
Substitutes Not Used: 12. Julian Monge, 16. Luca Pecora, 27. Antonio Marvello, 40. Aaron Hage
Yellow Cards: Nil – Fabian Monge 85’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58: 1. Adam Pavlesic, 2. Julian Cop (4. Adrian Vlastelica 84’), 3. Bailey Rule, 6. Dylan Rose, 7. Leroy Jennings (12. Gabriel Tilo 79’), 10. Carlos De Oliveira (19. Michael Krslovic 79’), 14. Liam McGing, 17. Michael Glassock, 21. Koya Nakano, 23. Mason Wells, 44. Farah Koko (35. Tomislav Ozanic 70’)
Substitutes Not Used: 8. Tomoki Wada, 9. Kyle Cimenti, 41. Adrian-Jamie Bazina
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3: Dylan Rose (SU58)
2: Liam McGing (SU58)
1: Mason Wells (SU58)
-By Dimitri Kallos
