Sydney United 58 embarrassed by Lethal young Bulls
Sydney United 58 have suffered an Easter Monday humiliation after a 5-1 boilover at the hands of Northbridge Bulls at the Sydney United Sports Centre.
If you looked twice when you saw the full-time score at Sydney United Sports Centre, nobody would blame you as the Bulls dismantled United 58 in one of the performances of the 2021 NPL NSW Men’s season so far as the visitors under the age of 21 schooled their senior opponents in every department.
It was by far one of the worst results the famous home side had suffered in a number of years.
Two goals within the first 10 mins and another three before the half had the Bulls cruising before United scored a late consolation.
United old boy Michael Ruhs had two to his name, as did Jake Hollman, while Moudi Najjar scored the other.
Chris Payne scored from the spot for United with just over 10 minutes to go but it was Northbridge’s day as they took home the three points in emphatic style
United fans weren’t even through the gates and the home team was already two goals down.
After only two minutes, Moudi Najjar robbed Jacob Poscoliero of possession before squaring the ball up for Ruhs who tapped into an empty net.
Six minutes later and the lead was doubled after some Rory Jordan magic.
The Northbridge number 10 beat a number of United players in the box and left the easy job for Najjar to finish from a few metres out.
Hollman almost made it three after Jordan and Nikola Ujdur combined, only for a desperate goal-line clearance by the home side defence.
No one was stopping Hollman’s next effort though on 31 minutes.
The Bulls midfielder picked the ball up after a Liam Rose pass and with acres of space curled the ball into Daniel Nizic’s top corner.
Payne finally had United’s first real attempt 10 minutes before half time, only for Nick Suman to pull off an excellent save.
It was Eddie Caspers next to show off some of his own magic before being brought down just outside the area.
Hollman stepped up for the set-piece and buried it in Nizic’s bottom corner to make it 4-0 as the boos rang out at Sydney United Sports Centre.
Just as the home fans thought it couldn’t get worse, it did.
Former Sydney United old boys Liam Rose and Ruhs combined with the latter heading home after a delightful cross from the right.
It was almost six on the stroke of half time, this time Nizic saving well to deny Ruhs an incredible first-half hat-trick.
United’s always reliable Patrick Antelmi had a quiet day at the office as Bulls young defender Teph Teph gave him no favours with the striker being subbed at half-time.
United came out a different side in the second period with Payne going close with a volley.
Suman then came up with an incredible double save, first from Andrea Agamemnonos and then the rebound from substitute Jackson Khoury.
Khoury was creating problems for the Bulls and then broke through down the left before playing a perfect pass for Payne who really should’ve scored.
Matt Sim was then fouled in the box in the 78th minute.
Payne stepped up and sent Suman the wrong way to score United’s consolation.
The United striker should’ve had his second after springing the offside trap but shot wide of Suman’s goal.
The final whistle couldn’t come quick enough for the home side who were outplayed on the day by an inspired Northbridge performance.
Boos echoed the famous BOKA Stand as Sydney United 58 fans voiced their disgust with what they saw as rookie NPL NSW Men’s coach Tomi Vidovic has a lot to ponder in getting his troops back on track once more as the Reds suffered their second successive loss.
Bulls coach Mile Sterjovski was pleased with his teams performance and the way they are progressing but also paid homage to the Champions’ second half performance.
“It’s one of those ones where you’re playing good football and we put our chances away,” Sterjovski said.
“We are getting better and the boys know what it takes to get to that next level.
“But credit to United they came back in the second half and put in a great performance.”
Sydney United 58’s head coach Tomi Vidovic said his team weren’t ready for the battle.
“We weren’t mentally prepared and it doesn’t matter who you play against but if you don’t come with the right attitude and correct approach you will be punished,” Vidovic said.
“We’ll go back to training and work hard, there is no other solution.”
The win moves Northbridge into the top five on eight points, while Sydney United 58 finish the round in second place behind league leaders Manly United.
Match Stats
Sydney United 58: 1 (Payne 78’)
Northbridge Bulls: 5 (Ruhs 2’, 44’, Najjar 8’, Hollman 31’, 40’)
Sunday 5th April, 2021
Sydney United Sports Centre
Referee: C. Verdicchio
Assistant Referees: H. Fenton-White and M. Allum
Fourth Official: J.Rose
Sydney United 58: 1. Nizic, 2. Gonzalez, 4. Vlastelica, 5. Tomelic (15. Maia), 6. Payne (38. Ivancic 90’), 8. Sim, 9. Antelmi (3. Roberts 46’), 10. Clut, 16. Poscoleiro (7. Khoury 46’), 18. Trifiro (14. Agamemnonos 46’), 22. Fragiogiannis
Substitutes Not Used: 61. Maher
Yellow Cards: Roberts 49’, Fragogiannis 52’, Vlastelica 62’, Clut 66’, Sim 66’
Red Cards: Nil
Northbridge Bulls: 1. Suman, 3. Teph, 4. Ujdur, 7. Hollman (9. Juach 68’), 10. Jordan, 13. Scott (Sepping 63’), 15. Caspers, 17. Nicolaou (McLoughlin 72’), 21. Rose (14. Panuccio 63’), 24. Najjar, 26. Ruhs (De Robbillard 68’)
Substitutes Not Used: 22. Wood
Yellow Cards: Hollman 13’, Caspers 85’, Ujdur 90+2’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Michael Ruhs (Northbridge)
2 – Jake Hollman (Northbridge)
1 – Rory Jordan (Northbridge)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Reporter Nikola Pozder
