Derby delight as late Segreto winner secures APIA victory
In the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW’s answer to the Derby d’Italia, it was the APIA Leichhardt FC who secured a 2-1 victory over rivals Marconi Stallions at Marconi Stadium on Saturday night.
The two heavyweight clubs matched up in front of a crowded stadium at The Palace in a much-anticipated Italian derby.
After a closely matched opening three quarters saw both sides without a goal, the game fired up in the final quarter with three goals giving fans a nail-biting finish.
Nathan Millgate was the first to get on the scoresheet, giving Marconi the advantage in the 73rd minute, but the visitors didn’t wait long to equalise through Stewart in the 77th minute.
APIA Leichhardt substitute Jordan Segreto netted the third of the match, giving the visitors the 2-1 lead in the 91st minute to secure three points away from home.
Both teams settled into the game slowly, with plenty of movement around the field in the first quarter of the match as either side looked for weaknesses to exploit.
A chance came for Marconi in the 20th minute as some combination play saw Daniel Bouman with a great opportunity, however his effort soared over the bar.
APIA found themselves an opportunity moments after, but Edward Caspers was unable to get a shot off inside the area under the pressure of Marconi’s defence.
They continued to linger in their attacking half and came close in the 23rd minute as Caspers fired a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box, but Marconi ‘keeper James Hilton dove to deny.
Milislav Popovic made a sensational forward run in the 29th minute, maneuvering his way through three APIA Leichhardt defenders to let off a shot, but it skewed left of the sticks.
Hilton was called into action again in the 41st minute, keeping out a hungry Stewart who sent a shot towards the back post from range.
The visitors continued to apply pressure in attack in the final stages of the first half, but Marconi were able to hold them off to enter the half-time break 0-0.
APIA Leichhardt started the second half with plenty of hunger, however it was Marconi who were first to come close in the second stanza, with Cameron Windust sending a header skimming past the post from a set-piece opportunity.
Aoyama curled a ball towards goal from a free kick in the 63rd minute, but APIA Leichhardt’s custodian Alexander Parkes collected.
Dakota Askew’s challenge on Aoyama earned him a yellow card and gave Marconi a free kick a few metres outside the 18-yard box in the 67th minute.
Captain Mario Jesic stepped up to take the shot and fired a shot towards the goal but Parkes managed an impressive save to deny the home side.
APIA Leichhardt’s Jack Armson created a great opportunity in the 71st minute, but his effort flew above the crossbar.
The hosts earned three consecutive corner kicks in the next few minutes and it was third time lucky as they capitalised through Millgate to open the scoring in the 73rd minute.
Franco Maya sent the corner curling in towards the goal and it met a flying Millgate, who neatly headed it into the netting.
Marconi came close to another moments later as a challenge from Seiya Kambayashi saw them awarded a free kick on the edge of the box.
Maya sent a powerful ball towards goal, but Parkes collected.
The action continued as the visitors evened the score minutes later through Stewart in the 77th.
Sean Symons played the ball to Armson, who worked his way through Marconi’s defence before playing to Stewart, who sent the ball through the legs of Hilton.
Stewart looked for another in the 79th but Windurst was able to block the shot.
The final 10 minutes of the match was end-to-end as confidence flowed through the pitch and both teams hunted for the advantage.
Another free kick to the hosts saw them come close as Maya’s ball met substitute Jakov Malbasa in the area, but his touch couldn’t make the target.
Millgate managed to stifle out a chance from APIA-Leichhardt after substitute Ben Gibson intercepted the ball from Anton Milnaric and made a fast-paced forward run.
Kambayashi’s free kick in the 89th minute me the head of a towering Themba Muata-Marlow, but his effort was collected by Hilton.
The visitors made a stinging counter-attack in the 91st minute to take the lead in injury time.
Stewart started the promising play with a forward run before playing Gibson, whose shot was palmed away by Hilton.
The rebound met the feet of an oncoming Segreto, who fired a powerful shot straight into the netting to give APIA Leichhardt the 2-1 lead.
APIA Leichhardt coach Franco Parisi was pleased with the quality of football his team played to get the three points from the match.
“It’s always a tight contest with Marconi,” he said.
“The way the match ended, for football fans and everyone following the comp that’s everything you want.
“It was good that the last 30 minutes of the game just lifted a little bit.
“The boys were tired but the quality of football, people were finding spaces and the game opened up and it was really enjoyable.”
Marconi coach Peter Tsekenis credited APIA Leichhardt’s substitutes for changing the game and explained that his team was feeling the absence of Domenic Costanzo and James Temelkovski.
“Their changes changed the game,” he explained.
“We got a blow losing a few players from the midweek game and ultimately I think that’s what hurt us.
“Their boys came off the bench and changed the game for them.
“I thought it was a good game, I thought we created some good chances and thought maybe a draw would have been a fair result but you dust yourself off and move on.”
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 1 (Nathan Millgate 73’)
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2 (Jack Stewart 77’, Jordan Segreto 91’)
Saturday 9th March, 2024
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Alessandro Llana and Aaron Bloch
Fourth Official: Hayden Michlmayr
Marconi Stallions: 1. James Hilton, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Cameron Windurst, 4. Anton Milarnic, 7. Franco Maya (14. Dylan Susovic 92’), 8. Daniel Bouman (25. Jonathan Soares 62’), 10. Mario Jesic, 11. Hirokai Aoyama, 17. Milislav Popovic (21. Jakob Malbasa 83’), 18. George Daniel, 23. Brandon Vella
Substitutes Not Used: 24. Mackenzie Syron, 25. Jonathan Soares, 26. Matthew Martignago, 29. Luke Raso
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 20. Alexander Parkes, 2. Seiya Kambayashi, 7. Jack Stewart (30. Alex Denmead 92’), 11. Rory Jordan (16. Sean Symons 65’), 14. Jack Armson, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 18. Adrian Ucchino ( 9. Ben Gibson 72’), 19. Luigi Ditroia (17. Jordan Segreto 72’), 21. Michael Kouta (41. Nicholas Azzone 45’), 22. Edward Caspers, 23. Dakota Askew
Substitutes Not Used: 27. Evan Davis
Yellow Cards: Askew 66’, Kambayashi 75’, Muata-Marlow 81’, Denmead 92’, Gibson 95’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Jack Stewart (ALT)
2 – Jack Armson (ALT)
1 – Nathan Millgate (MS)
-By Madeline Riley
