After the game caretaker coach Billy McColl, who has covered that same role for the Tigers in the past, spoke with pride about a team he has been involved with for many years.
?It was an important win and a win which we deserved,? he said.
?The field is very bad but the boys battled hard and we tried to play football.
?We had the most possession, created the most chances and I think we deserved the victory.?
McColl is an enigmatic character. His association with APIA-Leichhardt stretches back for decades and many players swear that he is their preferred coach. However, he is officially retired and not able to commit to the job on a fulltime basis.
?There is no pressure on me because pressure is self-inflicted,? he said.
?The talent is here, so I just come in and direct because the boys are certainly good enough.
?We should be in the top five but sadly we?re not. However, we are not going to be relegated and the game plan is to finish the season undefeated. [So far McColl has won both his games in charge].
?I only come in because of Tony Raciti [APIA-Leichhardt President] because he?s the one that keeps dragging me back.
?I have been coaching for 25 years and if I could get a divorce, then I would coach. But I can?t, so I don?t coach.
?My wife calls Raciti ?my mistress? because he is the only one that can take me away from my family. Seriously though, I would rather the club be higher up the table so that I didn?t have to come back.?
On the playing side of things, the first opportunity arrived in the 10? minute when a nice cross from the right found its way to Michael Hawrysiuk who blasted a shot towards goal, but Brody Crane got down very well saving the day for the visitors.
Blacktown City FC replied almost immediately when an accurate cross from the right by Yuchi Yamauchi went across to James Monie on the far post, but unfortunately he misdirected his header from close range.
In the 16? minute Brendan Reilly put in a nice short ball for Adam Casey who finished the move with a shot that brought Crane once again into the action.
In the 27? minute APIA-Leichhardt had a golden chance to take the lead when a delightful free-kick from Hawrysiuk from just outside the box forced Crane into a spectacular diving header.
However, it wasn?t be for the home side and the rest of the first period ended up being played out as a hard fought midfield battle.
The second-half wasn?t too old before APIA-Leichhardt finally struck gold. Brad Bartels played a nice ball through to Casey who then set sail from the halfway line and he didn?t stop until he sent the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net. It was all it took to separate these two teams in a tight contest.
Mark Crittenden, coach of Blacktown City FC, expressed his disappointment about conceding a goal so shortly after half-time.
?It?s disappointing to lose like that,? he said.
?We made a poor mistake straight after half-time, but we spoke about it at the break and how important it was to us not to cop one straight away.?
A few minutes later Hawrysiuk had another brilliant chance when a corner reached him dangerously in the box, but his spectacular shot just missed the intended target.
In the 84? minute a nasty foul by Travis Major on Adam Casey unfortunately brought out the worst in Casey.
Major was rightly booked by the astute referee Kurt Ams, but Casey reacted with an alleged head-butt and was immediately shown a red card. There was nothing else that could have been done by the referee in the circumstances and Casey unfortunately will have to pay a price for his rush of blood.
Late in the game another great free-kick by Hawrysiuk received a slight deflection and just ended up wide of the target. In the end, it didn?t matter for the Tigers who had secured all three points.
?We said before the game that there would be a lot of desperation from APIA,? stated Mark Crittenden.
?You could see that today and how they put their bodies on the line.
?You can?t come here and play; you just have to get the ball forward and pressure them in the top half. They [APIA] outmuscled us and won all the second balls, so it?s very disappointing.
?We have a tough run home with South Coast Wolves, Sutherland Sharks and Bonnyrigg White Eagles ? South Coast play well, Sutherland is still a good team and Bonnyrigg is the benchmark.?
Match Stats
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1 (Casey 50?)
Blacktown City FC 0
Sunday 12th August, 2012
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Christian Mehl and Alex Long
Fourth Official: Jerry Bitas
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers: 21.Anthony Costa; 2.Mark Byrnes, 3.Adel El Jamal, 4.Mun Soo Gil, 5.Michael West, 7.Stephen Kayes, 8.Adam D?Apuzzo, 14.Adam Casey, 15.Bradley Bartels, 16.Michael Hawrysiuk, 18.Brendan Reilly.
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Stefan Giglio, 6.Danial Cummins, 11.Nick Taneski, 19.Paul Galimi, 20.Gyu Re Lee
Yellow Cards: D?Apuzzo 76?
Red Cards: Casey 84?
Blacktown City FC: 1.Brody Crane; 3.Ryo Watanabe, 4.Travis Major, 6.Matt Lewis, 7.Luke Roodenburg, 8.Daniel Bragg (15.Luke Jenner 82?), 9.Ryuji Miyazawa, 10.James Monie (17.Delor Edosomwan 71?), 11.Yuchi Yamauchi, 16.Dillon Vorster (12.David Cain 62?), 18.Keiren Paull
Substitutes Not Used: 14.Nathan Sansom, 20.Luke Turnbull
Yellow Cards: Roodenburg 26?, Watababe 58?, Cain 68?, Bragg 78?, Major 84?, Yamauchi 88?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Joe Russo
Sydney Olympic win at ?home? against APIA-Leichhardt
Sadly, one of Australia?s greatest football clubs is therefore forced to travel week in and week out at least temporarily as a result.
After the game Sydney Olympic?s coach Peter Tsekenis said that he was happy to win again ?at home?.
?I am very happy to win again at home,? he said with a smile on his face. However, on a more serious note, Tsekenis was also very pleased to collect all three points on a difficult ground.
?Yes, definitely happy because this was a dangerous game,? he said. ?We were up against a team that is probably fighting against relegation.
?For us this was a home game [at APIA?s ground], so everything was against us.
?We knew that it was going to be tough. We went out there and played a certain way and then made a few changes at half-time and got a result.?
The first-half wasn?t exactly a spectacle to enthral the crowd. Both sides were playing it tight within the confines of arguably one of the NSW Premier League?s smallest grounds.
The match offered little in the way of goal mouth action and, in fact, it could be argued that the main reason for such caution was the value attached to the three points for both teams.
Most chances in the first stanza of play can be best described as half chances. A free-kick by Sydney Olympic in the 34? minute could really have been a lot more dangerous but Ethan Galbraith headed back to his own goalkeeper to prevent any further danger.
A few minutes later Chris Triantis won the ball on the edge of the box and then sent the ball into the middle for his captain Phil Makrys, but in the end his weak shot proved to be no danger for Anthony Costa.
Late in the opening half APIA-Leichhardt tried their luck with a Franco Parisi free-kick from just outside the box but, after a deflection, the ball ended up in the hands of Paul Henderson without much hassle.
The second-half started off with a bang. Matthew Mayora, who had only just come on as a replacement at the interval, was brought down in the penalty box by Brendan Reilly as both were attempting to head the ball. Referee Khodr Yaghi immediately indicated that it was a penalty. Phil Makrys stepped up to the mark and slotted the ball home despite Anthony Costa diving correctly and almost getting a hand to the ball.
?Matthew Mayora has made a difference for us in the last couple of weeks when he has come on,? Peter Tsekenis said. ?He has come into the squad late in the piece and he has had to bide his time. He is now doing himself justice and is giving himself every opportunity to play week in and week out.?
In the 62? minute APIA-Leichhardt should really have equalised when a delightfully accurate free-kick from Parisi made its way over to Bradley Bartels who, despite being unmarked, just missed the ball with his head.
Football is certainly a game of inches as Sydney Olympic found out a few minutes later when Will Angel had a clear shot on goal after receiving a nice through ball, but somehow he missed the intended target with only the goalkeeper to beat.
In the 81? minute Sydney Olympic all but sealed victory when the Tigers made a meal of clearing the ball and Chris Triantis, with a shot that he will long remember, beat the goalkeeper with what can only be described as a screamer of a goal.
?When you win a championship ? and I have won a couple now ? you probably need players like Chris,? Tsekenis said. ?To be a champion team you need players to score goals like that. ?Last year we had Alex Smith but now we have Chris Triantis who is stepping up to the plate and scoring really important goals for us.?
Right at the death Brett Studman was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area and this time it was a penalty for APIA-Leichhardt. Up stepped Adam Casey to dispatch it away into the back of the net; however, it was all too late for the Tigers.
John Turner, coach of APIA Leichhardt, had mixed emotions after the game.
?It was a scrappy game but I thought our shape was good,? he said. ?When you are missing players like Adam D?Apuzzo and Adel El Jamal, and have other players on one leg who are struggling a little bit, then it?s difficult.
?Our bench was all used up too and we had one boy on the bench who is only 16 years old.
?It?s very hard when you are missing so many players but, having said that, I thought the other players battled superbly.
?Their second goal was a wonderful goal but at least they had a shot at goal. That?s what you have to do on this ground.
?It doesn?t get any better with Andy Bevin going to university in the USA on Tuesday and therefore life goes on without him too.
?We had a game plan for the second-half but when they score an early goal it puts you on the back foot a little bit. In the overall scope of the game, I thought that a draw would have been a fair result,? he said.
Match Stats
Sydney Olympic 2 (Phil Makrys 47? (pen), Chris Triantis 81?)
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1 (Adam Casey 89? (pen) )
Sunday 29th July, 2012
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: Khodr Yaghi
Assistant Referees: Grant South and Robert Nieuwnthius
Fourth Official: Michael Weiner
Sydney Olympic: 1.Paul Henderson; 3.Brett Studman, 21.Marton Vass (24.Matthew Mayora 46?), 12.Troy Danaskos, 2.Emmanuel Giannaros, 10.Chris Triantis, 11.Will Angel (19.David Gullo 68?), 4.Ibrahim Haydar, 17.Kutaiba Elrich (15.Zak Elrich 61?), 8.Peter Triantis, 7.Phil Makrys.
Substitutes Not Used: 41.Anthony Bouzanis, 14.Sam Awad
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers: 21.Anthony Costa; 2.Mark Byrnes, 4.Mun Soo Gil, 5.Michael West, 7.Stephen Kayes, 9.Ethan Galbraith (12.Andrew Bevin 72?), 10.Franco Parisi, 14.Adam Casey, 15.Bradley Bartels (20.Gyu Re Lee 83?), 16.Michael Hawrysiuk, 18.Brendan Reilly.
Substitutes Not Used: 22.David Bradasevic, 19.Blade Richards
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Joe Russo
Fixture Alteration: Sydney Olympic v APIA Leichhardt Tigers Venue Change
Kick-off times are as follows:
1st Grade ? 3pm
20s ? 1pm
Manly United FC too strong for ten man APIA-Leichhardt
Michael Daly was the hero for the home side, grabbing a brace before Adam Foti rubber stamped the result with a second-half penalty.
Coach Craig Midgley tinkered his starting XI, with Leigh Egger replacing the injured Marc Richards in the heart of defence and Foti also on the turf from the outset.
Seventeen minutes in they took the lead.
Tigers goalkeeper Anthony Costa didn?t deal with a Scott Balderson corner, and after Foti beat him to the ball, it bounced into the path of Daly who couldn?t miss from six-yards.
Seconds later, United almost doubled their lead.
Skipper Roberto Hamad whipped in a great cross from the left which Balderson volleyed, but this time Costa was up to the task, smothering the ball away for a corner.
APIA midfield general Adam D?Apuzzo was in a menacing mood, and on 29? minutes was given a straight red card.
The former A-League utility with the Newcastle Jets was involved in a running battle with Daly from the kick-off and eventually had enough.
His send-off after he lashed out at Daly was unnecessary and a little surprising given his experience and mild mannered nature.
From that moment Manly were always going to be comfortable, with APIA chasing shadows at times.
5? minutes before the break Foti was played in by Balderson, but lacked the pace to beat Costa to the loose ball.
50? minutes in, APIA?s Adel El Jamal met a Franco Parisi corner at the near post, only to see his header cleared off the line by an alert Matt Sim.
It was the jolt Manly needed, and on 56? minutes they doubled their lead.
Daly was given far too much time by the Tigers defence and he made them pay, unleashing a rocket from 20-yards.
It ended up where the spiders live and the home crowd were in a buoyant mood.
Foti, who worked hard all afternoon and showed plenty of finesse on the ball, completed the scoring from 12-yards on 76? minutes after he was clipped inside the area.
Ignoring Daly?s pleas to try his luck from the spot to nab a hat-trick, Foti composed himself and placed his penalty in the bottom left corner.
APIA almost pulled back a goal late, but Dylan Mitchell ensured a clean sheet with a smart save from an Ethan Galbraith header on 88? minutes.
Manly United coach Craig Midgley was happy with the 90? minute shift.
?APIA were a little sluggish after their midweek game, so it was a good time to get them,?? he said.
?Our boys were solid all afternoon, I keep saying to them if we have seven or eight players playing well we are a chance.
?Michael Daly was superb, and Graeme Forbes and Leigh Egger were safe at the back.
?We thoroughly deserved the three points.?
Tigers skipper Michael West conceded it wasn?t APIA ?s best showing of 2012.
?All the lads are disappointed, it was a game I felt we could have won, even with ten men we certainly had enough chances,?? he said.
?Every time you come to Manly you know it will be physical and today was no different.
?The sending off (of D?Apuzzo) hurt us, I didn?t think much was in it, the bloke (Daly) carried on a bit.
?We will move on and prepare for our next game.?
Match Stats
Manly United FC 3 (Michael Daly 17?, 56?, Adam Foti 76?)
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 0
Sunday 22nd July, 2012
Cromer Park
Referee: Kevin Peddie
Assistant Referees: Lee Corey and Wayne Crabb
Fourth Official: Nathan Roberts
Manly United FC: 1.Dylan Mitchell; 3.Roberto Hamad, 4.Graeme Forbes, 6.Michael Daly, 7.Scott Balderson, (9.Justin Hayward 75?) 8.Danny Grant, 11.Matt Sim, (14.Mitch Macedo 80?) 12.Colin Iley, (19.Tanishe Mugabe 51?) 18.James Cullingworth, 21.Leigh Egger, 23.Adam Foti
Substitutes Not Used: 2.Sean Bowden, 17.Todd Bamber
Yellow Cards: Daly 30?, Foti 53?
Red Cards: Nil
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers: 21.Anthony Costa; 3.Adel El Jamal, 5.Michael West, 7.Stephen Kayes, 8.Adam D?Apuzzo, 9.Ethan Galbraith, 10.Franco Parisi, 12.Andy Bevin, (20.Gyu Re Lee 45?) 14.Adam Casey, 16.Michael Hawrysuik, 17.Sam Salameh
Substitutes Not Used: 6.Daniel Cummins, 15.Brad Bartels, 18.Brendan Reilly
Yellow Cards: Galbraith 54?, El Jamal 60?
Red Cards: D?Apuzzo 29?
Costa’s family connection with APIA Leichhardt Tigers
Even though this is his first year with the Tigers, he wouldn?t have it any other way.
For Costa, APIA has a family connection and therefore he has an amazing sense of pride in the pulling on the famous jersey.
?It was always an interest of mine to come here because my grandfather, Mario Costa, played in the first team at APIA,? he said. ?When I came here there was a bit of pride and family history involved.
?Also, the Manly United game on Sunday will be a big game for me because I am up against my cousin, Adam Foti, who is the striker for Manly United.?
Anthony Costa has been somewhat of a journeyman in his career so far. He reluctantly trialled and made it as a St George junior before moving to other clubs and overseas.
?I was never going to go down to the trials but Paul Scott, my first coach, said just to go down to the trials and I started my career there,? he said.
Costa?s junior career spanned from St George, to Eastern Suburbs, to Sutherland Sharks, and then Sydney University. His first stint overseas was in Cyprus.
?I went to Cyprus to trial and did quite well but came back because I was knocked down with glandular fever, so I was a bit unlucky,? he said.
?I came back for one more season at Sydney University, then I moved Parramatta FC Eagles for two more seasons in the Super League ? we went well and got the minor premiership. Then I went overseas again: firstly to Wales and then to Spain.
?When I finally came back to Australia I re-joined Parramatta FC and then moved to APIA this year because they gave me an offer I couldn?t refuse.?
APIA Leichhardt Tigers in the NSW Premier League is a natural home for Costa at the moment who is very much enjoying his time at the historically famous football club.
?There?s a really good dressing room of boys,? he said. ?On our day we know that we are one of the best teams in the competition but we have been unlucky lately. We are looking at fighting for a finals spot in a very tight competition at the moment where every game counts.?
Costa is also ambitious like many other players in the NSW Premier League.
?I have been chasing my personal ambition for the last six years,? he stated. ?Perhaps a contract in the A-League and my dream has always been to go to Italy. I know that I am getting older but not for a goalkeeper. However, to crack it over there I would have to get my foot in the door very soon.
?I love playing in the NSW Premier League but I do have bigger ambitions just like any other goalkeeper in this competition.
?There are opportunities there; Vedran [Janjetovic of Sydney United 58 FC] got an opportunity this year and congratulations to him because he has been working very hard for that opportunity.?
-By Joe Russo