Rockdale send captain Pece Apolevski off a winner
Apolevski?s teammates hoisted their captain onto their shoulders after the win which also gave the dreaded wooden spoon to Parramatta FC.
Parramatta looked like picking up the three-points after Aaron Peterson opened the scoring in the 7? minute. But Rockdale did not die wondering with Sash Tirovski and Alan Kovacevic hitting back in the second-half for the win.
The match started at a slow pace with both sides testing each other in the middle of the park.
Rockdale had the first chance of the match in the 5? minute. Giorgio Speranza took the open space in front of him before unleashing a fantastic shot from 25-yards which rattled the crossbar.
Despite the early chance Parramatta would open the scoring in the 7? minute via Peterson. After Suns defender Askin Oygur headed the ball out Daniel Rezo stepped up and delivered a pin-point corner to the head of Peterson to give his side the lead.
The goal spurred Parramatta on as they kept the pressure on Rockdale with Rezo pulling the strings in the middle of the park.
Suns? goalkeeper Ryan Norval saved his side from another great Rezo free kick in the 19? minute, punching the cross away before the oncoming Akiyoshi Saito.
As the game wore on Rockdale got back into the game and almost equalised in the 25? minute. Striker Sash Tirovski?s shot bounced off the chest of goalkeeper Matthew Nash but he was lucky enough to save Jason Naidovski?s follow up shot before Huseyin Jasli struck the ball well over the crossbar.
4? minutes later, Rockdale had a second chance to equalise as Jasli?s corner was met well by the head of Oygur only for the ball to again sail over the target.
Parramatta continued to fight hard with Rezo again troubling the Rockdale goal with a free-kick in the 38? minute.
On the stroke of half-time, Peterson had the chance to double his and his team?s lead but couldn?t control his shot as it went wide of the mark.
Rockdale came out of the sheds hungry in the second-half passing the ball around at a frantic pace but unable to get a strike on goal.
Parramatta quickly took control of the match again and in the 58? minute Rezo almost made it 2-0 when a beautifully curled corner was headed off the line by Paul Kohler.
A minute later, Rezo crossed the ball in with Wandi Jajaw getting over his defender and heading the ball just wide of the right hand upright.
Despite the chances Rockdale struck back against the run of play in the 66? minute. After a great run by Jasli the winger curt the ball back to Sash Tirovski who stepped past his defender before striking the ball just over Nash and into the net.
The goal opened the game up with both sides finding space all over the park working hard to take the lead.
In the 74? minute Suns captain Pece Apolevski almost ended his career in spectacular fashion. After being put through on goal Apolevski?s shot was well saved by the oncoming Nash.
The goalkeeper would be picking the ball out of the back of the net from the resulting corner however as Alan Kovecevic?s strong header gave the visitors the 2-1 lead.
4? minutes later, Parramatta FC had the Suns defence on the back foot as Peterson had another headed corner cleared off the goal line.
With minutes remaining, the home side through numbers forward in the hope of scoring an equaliser but it wasn?t to be as Rockdale held on for the 2-1 win.
Following the match Suns coach Mark Rudan said he was pleased his team fought hard to give their captain a winning end to his career:
?In the last four weeks we?ve played teams who have been struggling in the club championship and this one was the same for Parramatta,?? he said.
?It was good to see the boys character come through. Big Alan who came on did well scoring the goal.
?The boys came out for Pece?s last game and it is a very emotional dressing room.
?It is a great way to finish off the season to come together for a win for Pece.??
In the home dressing room, Parramatta FC coach Lee Sterrey said he was disappointed for his team who controlled most of the match:
?We controlled it for 60? minutes really,?? he said.
?We looked the more intense but all credit to Rockdale once they got that goal they lifted.
?It would have been better to finish the year off with a good three pointer at home.
?I?m feeling sorry for the boys because they have fought hard.??
Match Stats
Parramatta FC 1 (Aaron Peterson 7?)
Rockdale City Suns 2 (Sash Tirovski 66?, Alan Kovacevic 74?)
Sunday, September 2nd, 2012
Melita Stadium, Granville
Parramatta FC: 1.Matthew Nash (C); 3.Andy Matloub (6.Graziano Trimboli 85?), 4.Domenic Trimboli, 5.Mark O?Reilly, 7.Patrick Dixon, 10.Akiyoshi Saito , 14.Wandi Jajaw, 19.Daniel Rezo, 15.Masaki Nomoto, 8.Bryan Soane (17.Luke Grima 81?), 9.Aaron Peterson
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Michael Sakowicz, 2.David Han, 12.Nick Petrillo
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Rockdale City Suns: 1.Ryan Norval; 2.Takuya Muruyama, 3.Giorgio Speranza, 8.Paul Kohler, 23.Askin Oygur, 7.Pece Apolevski (C), 5.Pece Cvetanovski, 16.Anthony Perri, 12.Huseyin Jasli, 17.Sash Tirovski, 9.Jason Naidovski (6.Alan Kovacevic 60?)
Substitutes Not Used: 15.Sean Thomas, 10.Alec Urosevski, 4.Idris Elhafiane, 22.Aaron Liddell
Yellow Cards: Jasli 53?, Apolevski 75?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Chris Georges
