United 58 secure hard fought point at Ilinden
Fresh from making the HAHN Australia Cup Round of 16 following their midweek victory over the Northern Tigers, Sydney United 58 kept its chances of making the top six finals series by securing a hard fought point against rivals Rockdale Ilinden at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
It was an intense opening 15 minutes, with both sides approaching the match like a true top six fixture – battling hard and competing ferociously for the ball in the middle of the park.
In the 31st minute, United 58 had the first meaningful opportunity of the game, created by some brilliant work from Carlos De Oliveira.
Pouncing on a loose ball, the central midfielder then swivelled past his opponent, before engaging in a one-two with Aidan Milicevic.
After a perfectly waited pass from Milicevic, De Oliveira received in behind, and unleashed a shot on goal, which forced a save from stand in keeper Ronan Mulgrew who has taken over the number one spot due to Nick Sorras nursing an injury.
The rebound fell into the path of Finn Ballard McBride, who had a chance to strike first time, but the winger missed the ball from a good position inside the box.
Down the other end, Rockdale’s first big chance came in the 36th minute.
An Alec Urosevski long-throw was headed away by Adrian Vlastelica, but found the free Moudi Najjar on the edge of the box.
From his first touch, Najjar lined up a beautiful effort, that just flew over the bar to prevent the home side from taking the lead.
On the cusp of halftime, De Oliveira was again the creator for United 58, finding McBride in the box with a crisp pass after good play from Bailey Rule.
Facing off against Brayden Sorge, McBride found space down the outside with a burst of pace, but incidentally made his angle too tight, with Mulgrew rushing out well to make an important save.
United 58 began the second half quickly, with a beautiful nutmeg from Milicevic opening up space for a shot inside the box, but he saw a stinging effort blocked bravely by Brayden Sorge.
Rockdale two quick opportunities of their own in the 60th minute, but couldn’t find the back of the net with either with a Brendan Cholakian shot from the edge of the box being blocked before a rifled Urosevski effort couldn’t find the target.
The game was beginning to heat up, with a brilliant long shot from Bailey Rule forcing another good save from Mulgrew, as the sides started to trade chances at either end.
Down the other end, after a scramble in the box, the ball fell to Jerry Skotadis, who unleashed a piercing low shot, which drifted just wide of the farpost.
After a dry patch of chances, a spectacular scissor kick from Moudi Najjar went close for the home side, who were pushing for a winner to go three points off top spot.
As the match entered stoppage time, Rockdale had another chance, with Skotadis striking just over the bar after an attacking transition.
But the match ended shortly after, with both sides taking away a hard-earnt point from a tense fixture.
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden FC 0
Sydney United 58 FC 0
Sunday 27 July, 2025
Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Referee: Jake Rose
Assistant Referees: Alessandro Llana and Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Johan Pinto
Rockdale Ilinden FC: 20. Ronan Mulgrew, 6. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alec Urosevski, 9. Moudi Najjar, 10. Brendan Cholakian, 11. Lochlan Constable (99. Matthew Keremelevski 85’), 14. Brayden Sorge, 18. Jerry Skotadis, 22. Blake Ricciuto, 23. Oliver Puflett (2. Hunter Elliott 69’), 88. Christopher McStay
Substitutes Not Used: 4. James Nikolovski, 15. Daniel-Ray Djurovic, 28. Steven Kriezis, 46. Paul Kalamvokis
Yellow Cards: Urosevski 25’, McStay 32’
Red Cards: None
Sydney United 58 FC: 21. Vedran Janjetovic, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic, 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 13. Finn Ballard McBride (8. Mario Shabow 45’), 14. Liam McGing, 17. Michael Glassock, 19. Aidan Milicevic (43. Michael Pratezina 69’), 23. Mason Wells (12. Richard Darko 80’), 28. Marco Arambasic (37. Luke Zuvela 63’)
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Tomislav Ozanic, 31. Josip Orlovic
Yellow Cards: Tomelic 53’
Red Cards: None
Player ratings:
3 – Carlos De Oliveira (SU58)
2 – Ronan Mulgrew (RI)
1 – Jerry Skotadis (RI)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
