Ilinden earn valuable victory in Wollongong

Two first half goals guided Rockdale Ilinden to a 2-1 victory against Wollongong Wolves on a torrential Friday night at WIN Stadium. 

The away side went into the break with two-goal lead after Alec Urosevski and Jaden Casella both found the net.

Lachlan Scott’s penalty with nine minutes to play in the match proved only a consolation for the hosts.

Rockdale got off to a fast start creating two chances in the opening five minutes.

Three minutes in, a ball over the top found Urosevski clean through on goal, and he attempted to pass a shot into the far-left corner, but it rolled straight to Wolves’ keeper Hayden Durose.

Two minutes later a corner from the right met the head of Daniel Petkovski, who was unable to direct his effort under the crossbar.

The visitors’ early pressure told with nine minutes played as Urosevski opened the scoring.

Urosevski intercepted a stray back pass in the left channel of the box with the forward sending a composed finish beyond Durose and into the net.

It was the quality star striker’s 17th goal of the NPL NSW Men’s campaign and with it, took over the lead in the Golden Boot tally.

Wollongong looked to respond over the next 15 minutes creating several opportunities.

In the 20th minute Leroy Jennings picked up the ball in the right of the box, but his narrow-angled shot was held onto by Rockdale shot stopper David Bradasevic.

Seven minutes later Jennings had another chance as a well-worked move on the left saw the ball cutback to the midfielder, but his shot from close range was deflected over the bar.

Half-an-hour in, Wolves’ player Jake Lavalle received the ball in the box after a scramble however his shot was blocked.

Rockdale stepped up their attacking intent in the final 10 minutes of the first half hoping to double their advantage heading into half time.

In the 38th minute, Urosevski slid a pass into the box for Jaden Casella whose left-footed shot bounced onto the right post after Durose got a hand to it.

The rebound fell to Urosevski in the middle of the box, but his effort was deflected over the bar.

A couple of minutes after, the side found their second goal of the game as Casella whipped a left-footed curling strike into the top left corner from the right of the box.

Wollongong’s Scott drove a shot wide of the left post in the final minute of first half regular time.

Three minutes into additional time, Urosevski was involved again taking on a shot from the left-edge of the box that Durose eventually held onto after the ball bounced in front of him.

Rockdale went into half time with a two-goal advantage after a goal at either end of the half.

It was a more reserved start to the second period with neither side creating anything of substance in the opening 10 minutes.

However, just before the hour mark the Wolves conjured up a couple of opportunities.

In the 57th minute, Jennings’ shot from the right edge of the box swerved wide of the right post and two minutes later, Scott lashed an effort from the right of the box narrowly over the bar.

64 minutes in, Rockdale’s Peter Kekeris skewed a left-footed shot off target after picking up the ball in the left channel of the box.

Three minutes later Urosevski found himself through on goal again, but Durose made a save from close range.

Wollongong went down the other end with Jennings’ first-time shot from the edge of the box sailing over the bar.

The away side started to push forward and in the 79th minute Kekeris found himself in space outside the box centrally and had a shot that fell over the crossbar.

Seconds later Tomoki Wada sent a shot from similar position just over the bar.

The hosts were handed a lifeline 81 minutes in when the side was awarded a penalty that Scott buried into the bottom left corner.

Three minutes after the goal Scott had another chance with a shot from outside the box, but it rolled straight to Bradasevic.

With four minutes to go Rockdale looked to extend their lead with Kekeris shifting the ball inside from the left and powering a shot just past the right post.

In the 88th minute Wollongong nearly pulled the scores level as Brendan Griffin’s right-sided cross found Kuot Maliet at the back post who headed wide.

Despite a late surge the Wolves were unable to find an equaliser with Rockdale Ilinden running out 2-1 winners at WIN Stadium.

Rockdale coach Steve Zoric was pleased with the performance and believed that this result could provide momentum heading into the final stages of the season.

“I thought we controlled most parts of the game. We made it hard for ourselves obviously with that individual error and then the penalty – we allowed them back in the game,” he said.

“I’m happy with how the troops are bouncing back and we’re starting to get a full deck back on board. We’re starting to turn that corner and the football’s been great so I’m really happy with the lads and their response.”

Match Stats

Wollongong Wolves 1 (Lachlan Scott penalty 81’)

Rockdale Ilinden 2 (Alec Urosevski 9’, Jaden Casella 40’)

Friday 1 July, 2022

WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Referee: Michael Weiner

Assistant Referees: Brodie Merchant and Aaron Bloch

Fourth Official: Logan Jones

Wollongong Wolves: 1. Hayden Durose, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Senna Stevenson, 10. Takumu Tsujimura (8. Brendan Griffin 71’), 11. Joshua Macdonald (25. Nav Darjani 71’), 15. Nick Littler, 16. Guy Knight, 17. Marcus Beattie, 19. Jake Lavalle, 22. Leroy Jennings (20. Kuot Maliet 71’), 24. Lachlan Scott

Substitutes Not Used: 2. Daniel Goni, 12. Harrison Taranto, 13. Tomas Butkovic

Yellow Cards: Brendan Griffin 90’, Senna Stevenson 90+3’

Red Cards: Nil

Rockdale Ilinden: 1. David Bradasevic, 2. Daniel Petkovski, 4. Mitchell Stamatellis (15. Jamie Percevski 90’), 5. William Mutch, 6. Daniel Araujo, 7. Alec Urosevski (9. Bai Antoniou 80’), 8. Nicola Kuleski, 10. Tomoki Wada, 11. Peter Kekeris, 23. Jaden Casella (25. Alex Masciovecchio 90’), 88. Christopher Mcstay

Substitutes Not Used: 16. Mohamed Ahmed, 17. Vincent Fedele, 31. Matthew Marrum

Yellow Cards: Christopher Mcstay 90+3’

Red Cards: Nil

By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Timothy Gibson

PHOTO CREDIT Pedro Garcia Photography