Okubo hat-trick sparks Hills revival
Hills United picked up an important three points in their quest for National Premier League Men’s NSW survival with a 4-1 round 25 victory over NWS Spirit at Landen Stadium, Saturday night.
Highlighted by two stunning second half goals from hat-trick hero Yu Okubo and Glen Kelshaw, the hosts raced out to a four goal lead to dampen the spirits of their visitors.
NWS Spirit FC started this one a positive note having the games first big opportunity through Jesse Michel in the 6th minute. The striker hitting the near post with his effort after a Takeru Sugita effort was deflected into his path.
Spirit having another opportunity five minutes later. Michael Konestabo running onto a long diagonal ball beyond the defence before cutting inside and having his shot deflected out for a corner.
After a shaky start, Hills United played their way into the fixture and opened the scoring with their first shot of note midway through the first half. Okubo heading home from close range after Kelshaw floated a cross to the back post from the right by-line.
Hills nearly doubling their lead moments later in the 25th minute, Kelshaw once again played a role slipping a ball inside for Lachlan Sepping whose shot was blocked inside the six yard box.
Plenty at stake, the early stages of the second half saw both sides send balls across the face of goal with dangerous attacks. Hills coming under significant fire before finding their second goal of the evening.
That goal coming in style. Okubo hitting a lovely dipping half volley over the head of Chris Marques in the Spirit net just before the hour. Anthony Frangie a key contributor in the lead up with a header into his path.
Hills then added a third in the 65th minute. Glen Kelshaw hitting a sweet strike from the edge of the area on the right which flew into the top left corner of the Spirit goal. Okubo turned provider this time leading their break forward.
The ball was just not falling the way of the visitors inside their attacking area despite their best efforts throughout the second half. Their best opportunity of the second period coming from a set piece, Grant Cornwell’s header denied by the Hills defence from a Jared Lum free-kick.
Okubo added a fourth goal for the hosts from close range in the 77th minute. Byron Ginn finding Okubo with a cut back on the overlap, with the Japanese ace twisting his shot around his body low into the bottom right
Spirit managed to bring a consolation goal back seconds after, Konestabo finishing from close range after Zachary Cianci cut the ball back to him across goal from the right.
The win lifted Luke Casserly’s side out of the bottom two with some important games ahead while NWS Spirit FC will look to bounce back after a tough week against Sydney Olympic in round 26 action.
Match Stats
Hills United 4 (Okubo 24’ 60’ 77’, Kelshaw 65’)
NWS Spirit 1 (Konestabo 79’)
Saturday 20 July, 2024
Landen Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Jeh Coutinho
Assistant Referees: Cameron Wright & Blake Eastwood
Fourth Official: Mitchell Renton
Hills United: 1 Ryan Wood (GK), 5. Daniel Petkovski, 8. Yerasimakis Petratos (77. Dimi Petratos 86’), 9. Yu Okubo, 11. Anthony Frangie (10. Jamal Belkadi 78’), 12. Jordan Lane, 15. Noah Casserly (2. Rainer Smahel 90’), 16. Lachlan Sepping (13. Cameron Philp 78’), 19. Glen Kelshaw, 22. Byron Ginn, 27. Nicolai Muller (7. Wade Giovenali 86’).
Substitutes Not Used: 31. William Loucas
Yellow Cards: Sepping 14’, Petkovski 39’, Philp 81’
Red Cards: Nil
NWS Spirit: 1. Christopher Marques, 4. Jarred Mckinley (5. Frankie Ljuovic 65’), 8. Grant Cornwell, 10. Michael Konestabo, 13. Simon Nicholas, 15. Takeru Sugita, 16. Ante Bakmaz, 19. Jesse Michel (18. Zachary Cianci 78’), 20. Jared Lum (7. RIchard Darko 78’), 21. Jayden Tran (17. Jacob Chidiac 62’), 36. Kyah Williams
Substitutes Not Used: 31. Joel Wade, 22. Yannis Frerck.
Yellow Cards: Mckinley 62’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3- Yu Okubo (HU)
2- Glen Kelshaw (HU)
1- Daniel Petkovski (HU)
By Justin Smith
