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Sutherland Sharks win 20s Championship in epic shootout

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Sutherland Sharks have completed a remarkable hat-trick of Championships with an incredible comeback win on penalties, adding to their 2017 and 2018 titles with perhaps the sweetest victory of all.

The Sharks were left shellshocked by as they went down 2-0 to a Suleyman Bangura double before the half hour mark, but pulled a goal back shortly after through a James Temelkovski penalty to give themselves hope heading into the break.

The Sharks completed the comeback only a few minutes into the second half with Alexander Lopez’s spectacular scissor kick, forcing extra time and an extraordinary penalty shootout which saw seven saves before Matthew Taverniti scored the winner.

The match was barely a minute old before the first push-and-shove of the afternoon, an exchange which set the tone for the half to come as neither side gave the other an inch.

Emmanuel Gonzalez might’ve opened the scoring when he found himself on the end of a long ball across the area which dropped at the back post, but mistimed his volley and sent the ball spinning over the bar.

Sutherland had their chances too, with James Temelkovski unsurprisingly in the middle of the action. The striker first saw a freekick on the edge of the box blocked away by Rhett Desilva, before a second effort was thwarted by Stuart Gosling sliding in at the last moment.

The Sharks appeared the more likely of the two sides to break the deadlock, but were sent into a spin by two unfortunate deflections as the half hour mark approached.

William Mutch played a pass toward the penalty spot but the ball flicked off Brodie Clarkson and ran for Suleyman Bangura; the Blacktown man taking his time to line up his shot before hitting the ball across the keeper and inside the far post.

Blacktown and Bangura had a second barely three minutes later. An attack down the left saw a pass cut back for the striker to stab at goal with a sea of bodies between him and the Mario Aleskik; the ball bouncing up off Jarrad Wiley to wrongfoot the keeper and give the Premiers a 2-0 lead.

Sutherland heads might have dropped after Bangura’s second, but the Sharks pushed on as they looked to mount a comeback.

They wouldn’t have to wait long; Thomas Papa putting Alexander Lopez through on goal only for the forward to be hauled down by Stuart Gosling as he broke into the area. James Temelkovski stepped up to the spot and sent Dylan Niski the wrong way to halve the deficit, leaving Sutherland chasing a leveller as the whistle blew on a tetchy opening 45 minutes.

Halftime came and went, with Sutherland wasting little time in their hunt for an equaliser.

Alexander Lopez came agonisingly close only a few minutes after the break, latching onto a pass across the top of the box from Temelkvoski to send the ball crashing off the base of the near post before Quentin Cheng’s follow-up was blocked away for a corner.

Lopez wouldn’t be denied with his next effort as the corner dropped inside the six-yard box. With a man on his back, the Sutherland midfielder threw his legs over his head to hit a scissor kick at goal; the shot too strong – and unexpected – for Dylan Niski to keep from settling in the back of the net.

Sutherland were irrepressible in attack, leaving Blacktown chasing shadows as they went looking for a third. The Premiers weren’t without their chances – a Manny Gonzalez free kick drew a sharp save from Aleksik at the near post – but the run of play had undoubtedly swung in the Sharks’ favour.

Quentin Cheng and James Carli had their chances on the right, while at the other end a hopeful drive from Rhett Desilva swerved enough in the air to force Aleksik into a dramatic fingertip save.

Still, neither side could muster up another goal in the final ten minutes; this Grand Final needing extra time to find a winner.

Dale Howarth had a weak shot gathered easily by the keeper after a strong run from his own half, and Cheng had yet another effort saved by Niski as Sutherland rolled into the box in numbers. Alen Aganovic might have scored his side’s third when he rose to meet a corner in the final minute of the first half of extra time, but Aleksik was on hand again to push the ball away as it bounced towards goal.

Deren O’Brien should have won it for Sutherland with one of the last kicks of the game; played in on goal with only the keeper to beat only for a defender to streak across and make a desperate block as he pulled the trigger.

The final whistle sounded, and Blacktown and Sutherland lined up along the halfway line for penalties.

Alexander Purves and James Temelkovski saw their first penalties saved, before the two sides traded conversions as the score levelled at 2-2. Aleksik made another extraordinary stop which was followed by another save from Niski; the shootout going into sudden death. Another two saves followed before Blacktown were denied again, leaving Matthew Taverniti to step up to win it for the Sharks.

Niski could do no more; diving the wrong way as Taverniti stroked his shot down the middle of the goal. The Sutherland bench exploded, handing Nick Dimovski his third championship in as many years and a fairytale finish in his last match before taking charge of the Sharks’ first grade team next season.

“I’ve been through some tough times,” said Nick Dimovski.

“I lost both my parents recently, but the penalty kicks definitely tested my heart, I thought I was going to have a heart attack!

“I’m ecstatic. I’m so proud of my boys. I asked these boys to be sixteen legends, and they stood up and delivered. To be 2-0 down in a cup final and to come back and win it is such a test of character. We could’ve gone home and died but they rose another level, it’s massive.”

“Penalties is such a tough way to lose,” said Andy Montgomery. “I told these boys before the game that the true test of a team is the Premiership over 22 rounds which we did, but whenever there’s cups to win we want to win them. I’ll be here next year to go again.”

Match Stats

Blacktown City FC 2 (Bangura 28’, 31’)

Sutherland Sharks FC 2 (Temelkovski 36’, Lopez 48’)

Sutherland win 4-3 on penalties

31st August, 2019

Bankwest Stadium

Referee: C. Wright

Assistant Referees: H. Fenton-White & S. Quinn

Fourth Official: S. Kelly

Blacktown City FC: 21. MUTCH William, 34. BANGURA Suleyman, 32. DE OLIVIERA Carlos, 24. BANDIERA Jackson, 18. BARTOLOTTO Josh, 20. NISKI Dylan, 26. AGANOVIC Alen, 27. PURVES Alexander, 35. DESILVA Rhett, 11. GONZALEZ Emmanuel (16. HOWARTH Dale), 31. GOSLING Stuart (33. GALLO Anthony)

Substitutes not used: 29. COLOSIMO Daniel, 1. CUNICO Zane, 38. MCLOUGHLIN Kai

Yellow cards: Bandiera 23’, Gosling 35’

Sutherland Sharks FC: 2. CHENG Quentin (23. O’BRIEN Deren), 38. TEMELKOVSKI James, 25. CLARKSON Brodie, 29. WILEY Jarrad, 15. PAPA Thomas (35. MCDONALD Jacob), 34. JONES Charlie (27. TAVERNITI Matthew), 32. LOPEZ Alexander, 28. STEWART Richard, 31. CARLI James, 24. BRISCHETTO Dominic, 26. ALEKSIK Mario

Substitutes not used: 37. BOVA Andrew, 39. PAULL Jordan

Yellow cards: Lopez 64’, Taverniti 106’

Blacktown City FC crowned Under 18 Champions

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Blacktown City are Champions of the 2019 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s U18s competition, coming through a scoreless 110 minutes to beat Mt Druitt Town Rangers in a penalty shootout.

It seemed fitting that this match was decided from the spot given how little separated these two teams throughout the season. Mt Druitt should have won in normal time, with Zane Cunico putting in a sensational shift between the sticks to keep the green and yellow tide at bay.

Neither could find a breakthrough, and Cunico proved the hero in the shootout to ensure the Championship would be heading to Lily Homes Stadium.

The Premiers settled on the ball early and looked to ease their way into Mt Druitt’s half through Thomas Bienasz, who set his opponents on the back foot every time he took possession.

The first real chance of the match came from a Mt Druitt freekick; Callum Richards swinging a cross in from the left for Jesse Hirschowitz to rise unmarked and glance a header towards goal. Zane Cunico was alive to the danger and threw up a glove to make a spectacular save, tipping the ball over the bar to deny Mt Druitt an early opener.

Blacktown appeared rattled by the chance, while Mt Druitt seemed emboldened. The Rangers pushed their opponents back into their half as they began to dominate possession, though with little to show for their time on the ball.

Rhys Osmond took an opportunistic crack at goal after running onto a loose ball at the top of the box, but Cunico got down well to gather the shot as it curled towards the bottom corner; a comfortable save for a keeper of his pedigree.

Blacktown struggled to push past the halfway line as Mt Druitt rolled forward, with Osmond looking threatening as he slid a shot just wide of the far post after good work from Yinka Sunmola on the edge of the area.

Cooper Halfpenny might have been an unlikely goalscorer if not for another crucial intervention from Cunico as the half came to a close; the fullback running into space on the right before lashing a volley goalwards for the keeper to palm the ball away.

Mt Druitt picked up in the second half where they left off in the first, though Blacktown came out with markedly more fight than they had shown in the opening 45 minutes.

The half slid by with little incident before exploding into life as extra time began to cast a shadow over the final ten minutes.

Jesse Hirschowitz should have given his side the lead their dominance deserved when he pinched the ball off a Blacktown defender on the byline and skipped past Cunico, finding himself in front of goal with only a man on the line to beat. Inexplicably, the Mt Druitt man failed to pull the trigger until the keeper recovered, allowing Cunico to make another extraordinary save to keep his side in the game.

Blacktown might have grabbed a late winner against the run of play but Blake Richards sent a header spinning wide of the near post before Connor Rose did the same, leaving the two sides level at the end of the 90.

Both teams became increasingly desperate as the spectre of penalties loomed into view, though neither could find the opening for a shot as extra time wore on.

And so this final would be decided from the spot: Mt Druitt went first, with Nathan Grimaldi skying the ball over the bar to hand Blacktown an immediate advantage. Kai McLoughlin scored to put the Premiers up 1-0, before Cunico saved Dimo Vlachos’ penalty to leave Blacktown on the brink of an incredible win. Callum Garrett stepped up to take the decisive kick, and rolled the ball into the open side of the net to send his side into raptures.

“It could’ve gone either way,” admitted John Carnevale as his team lined up for photos with the crowd. “We came into it more in the second half and extra time, and I knew when we went to penalties that we’ve done it before.”

“Zane pulled off a couple of great saves, and it’s capped off a super year for us. The boys have done extremely well, and it’s just reward for their efforts during the year.”

“It’s never easy losing on penalties,” said a dejected Joe Dermillio. “I think the boys did enough to win, but sometimes those goals are just not there. Testament to the boys, I don’t think Blacktown had a shot on goal, and the keeper pulled off a few good saves.

“I think the boys deserved a result today; I’ll try to lift them. It’s been a phenomenal season, these are the tightest bunch of lads. They’d take a bullet for each other, they’re an amazing team.”

Match Stats

Blacktown City FC 0 

Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 0

Blacktown win 4-2 on penalties. 

31st August, 2019

Bankwest Stadium

Referee: J. Crawford

Assistant Referees: B. Merchant & M. Ibrahim

Fourth Official: A. Bloch

Blacktown City FC: 1. CUNICO Zane, 6. ATTARD Ryan (16. VELDHUIZEN Cameron [ 2. SMITH Corey]), 12. BERRY Ben, 10. BIENASZ Thomas, 14. BURNIE Tyren, 3. DUFFY Ryan, 15. JACKSON-BROWN Caleb, 11. MCLOUGHLIN Kai, 4. RICHARDS Blake, 9. ROSE Connor (13. CIRINO Christian), 8. TAPP Bradley

Substitutes not used: 20. VIDAKOVIC Tristan

Yellow cards: Tapp 62’

Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC: 22. ALLEN Brendan, 14. GARRETT Callum, 3. GRIMALDI Nathan, 2. HALFPENNY Cooper, 6. HOWARTH Riley (12. CHOL Dilang [11. IDEHEN Anthony]), 4. ILITCH Blake, 9. OSMOND Rhys, 16. RICHARDS Callum (18. GONI Daniel), 7. SUNMOLA Yinka (19. CHUKWUEKE Nonso), 10. HIRSCHOWITZ Jesse, 8. VLACHOS Dimos

Substitutes not used: 21. NARAYAN Jerome

Yellow cards: Richards 82’, Halfpenny 90’

 

Sydney United 58 sizzle seven past Blacktown City to keep finals hopes alive

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Two extra-time goals has helped Sydney United pull off one of the most spectacular finals comebacks in National Premier Leagues NSW history to snatch a 7-3 win against Blacktown City at Lily Homes Stadium

Locked at 3-3 at the end of 90 minutes, after fighting back from 2-1 and 3-2 down, United delivered a masterclass in extra-time to score four unanswered and secure the most incredible of victories.

Former Blacktown City striker Patrick Antelmi came back to haunt his former club by scoring eight minutes into extra time before a Tariq Maia wonder strike and a famous Matt Sim double at the death gave United 58 the historic victory and bundled City out of the finals.

The first 20 minutess of the match was nothing anyone could have predicted with five goals an a missed penalty in what was an explosive opening to the contest.

Peter Simonoski gave the visitors the lead after eight minutes before Blacktown hit back with a penalty for Matt Lewis. Dakota Askew spurned a brilliant chance moments later when he missed Blacktown’s second penalty of the night.

The two sides then traded goals with Grant Lynch finding the back of the net before Simonoski levelled from the penalty spot but only before Leroy Jennings would then give Blacktown the lead once again.

A Tomislav Uskok goal midway through the second half set up what would be a thrilling close to the match with the scores locked at 3-3.

It was a difficult way for Blacktown’s season to come to an end, but one Sydney United 58 and their fans will definitely not forget.

It took Sydney United 58 less than three minutes to find a breakthrough when Maia took advantage of a scattered Blacktown defence to set up Simonoski

The midfielder received the ball at the edge of the box before beating two defenders and delivering a perfect cross which was hammered into the back of the net.

The goal stunned blacktown into action and within only two minutes they were awarded a penalty when Mason Versi was cut down in the box by Yianni Fragogiannis.

Matt Lewis kept his cool to fire past the keeper and level the score at 1-1.

Incredibly only three minutes later Blacktown was awarded another penalty when Fragogiannis cut down Versi a second time.

This time Blacktown couldn’t take advantage from the spot with Dakota Askew blasting his shot over the bar.

The match was travelling at breakneck speed and before the fans could catch their breath City had taken the lead 13 minutes in

Lynch beat his marker to fire in from inside the penalty area off a looping corner kick.

The goal failed to settle the match and Sydney United 58 were the recipients of a penalty on the 17 minute mark.

Simonoski wasn’t going to be denied and dispatch a perfect penalty to level the scores again at 2-2.

However, Blacktown had other ideas and kept up the helter skelter pace of the match by taking the lead only two minutes later.

Jennings got his head to the ball to nod it into the bottom right corner and make it 3-2 for the home side.

After a wild opening 20 minutes, Blacktown finally took control of the contest midway through the half.

City were happy to push the ball around with deft passing moves without truly punishing the opposition defence.

United 58 had one or two half chances but by the 40th minute mark the game had truly settled down.

There was one last moment in the first half when a spectacular acrobatic save from Pendergast denied a rasping effort from Yianni Perkatis who had unleashed a shot from 30 yards out.

It was an incredible first half of football and both sides, as well as the fans, were desperate to catch their breath at the break.

The interval failed to slow the game with both sides exploding out fo the blocks at the resumption.

It was end to end with attack the primary focus.

Patrick Antelmi was brought off the bench by United 58 coach Miro Vlastelica to injected some extra firepower for his side.

Something had to give and it was United 58 who were the benefactors in the 74th mini as Uskok fired in from close range to tie the scores once again at 3-3.

Blacktown were straight back on the attack and Jennings could’ve given the home side the lead but he was unable to turn a cross across the face into the net.

It was a nerve-wracking final minute with two United 58 efforts cleared off the line by blacktown with the referee’s full-time whistle proving a saving grace as the match headed to extra-time.

As expected it was foot to the floor football from the start.

Blacktown pumped long balls into the box looking to test United 58’s central defenders, but it failed to create the breakthrough the home team was looking for.

After eight minutes of extra time the flash-point arrived.

Antelmi lived up to his reputation as a super-sub by running onto a dangerous crosss not the box and tapping it past the keeper to give United 58 a shock lead.

Before Blacktown could process what had happened, the visitors were up 5-3 thanks to a spectacular wonder strike from Maia.

The midfielder found the top bins with a sublime dipping effort from thirty yards out which Prendergast was unable to stop.

City needed to find a goal fast and were unlucky not to cut their deficit to only one when Manos made a great stop to parry a powerful driven shot from Dakota Askew,

Uskok needed to head the ball off the line early in the second period of extra-time as Blacktown’s desperate attacking raids moved closer and closer to finding the back of the net.

Time was becoming Blacktown’s greatest enemy and they there everyone forward to get the goals they needed.

But the plan backfired with Matt Sim striking twice on the counter attack to end Blacktown City’s season and secure their spot in Saturday’s preliminary final clash against Wollongong.

United 58 coach Miro Vlastelica said no body could’ve ever predicted a game like this and praised the efforts of his club’s veteran stars.

“The opening 20 minutes was completely crazy and the fact we have been able to fight back from that and get such a big result is a testament to these boys,” he said,

“I told them at half time to use the time to regain their composure and come back out ready.

“Come extra-time the team stood up when the pressure was really mounting. They have overcome a lot of adversity in this match to get the win and they should be very proud of their efforts.”

A sombre Mark Crittenden looked back at a match which had everything but a happy ending for his Blacktown City side.

“We fell apart a bit in extra time and they took advantage. It is as simple as that,” he said.

“It was a wild end to end start to the match and I felt we were the better team for the most part.

“We lost our way and paid the price. Obviously we had to throw everything forward then and United 58 made the most of that.

“At the start of the year a lot of people wrote off this team so even though we have been knocked out tonight I still think it is important to point out how this group has proven many people wrong.

“This team is packed full of talent and they are only going to get better.”

Sydney United 58 will now face the 2019 NPL NSW Men’s Premiers Wollongong Wolves at WIN Stadium this Saturday as they hope to continue its good fortunes in the finals series by booking a spot into the 2019 Grand Final at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday 31st of August where APIA Leichhardt Tigers will be waiting for them.

Match Stats

Blacktown City: 3 (Lewis 7’, Lynch 13’, Jennings 19’)

Sydney United 58: 7 (Simonoski 3’, 17’, Uskok 73’, Antelmi 98’, Maia 100’, Sim 117’, 118’)

Wednesday, 21 August 2019

Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills

Referee: K Ams

Assistant Referees: L Greenshields & P Teleki

Fourth Official: M Weiner

Blacktown City: 1. Tristan Pendergast, 3. Daniel Collins (10. James Demetriou), 4. Yianni Spyrakis, 5. Grant Lynch, 6. Matthew Lewis, 8. Daniel Araujo (12. Lachlan Campbell 64), 9. Joey Gibbs, 15. Mason Versi (13. Rhett Desilva 87’), 17. Dakota Askew, 22. Leroy Jennings (7. Devante Clut 110)

Substitutes not used: 20. Dylan Niski

Yellow Cards: Grant Lynch 57′, Daniel  Collins

Sydney United 58: 21. Thomas Manos, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 7. Peter Simonoski (5. Anthony Tomelic, 96’), 8. Matthew Sim, 11. Yianni Perkatis (9. Patrick Antelmi 58’), 12. Liam Rose, 14. Tomislav Uskok, 15. Tariq Maia (6. Petar Markovic 109′), 17. Matthew Bilic (3. Jordan Roberts 104), 20. Cristian Gonzalez, 22. Yianni Fragogiannis

Substitutes not used: 1. Daniel Sadaka,

Yellow Cards: Tomislav Uskok 34’, Adrian Vlastelica 85′

Win or bust for Lewis and Blacktown City

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Blacktown City FC skipper Matt Lewis is expecting another tight elimination battle against Sydney United 58 at Lily Holmes Stadium on Wednesday night.

In Round 1 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Finals Series, Mark Crittenden’s men experienced heartbreak in a crushing 5-3 penalty-shootout defeat at the hands of the APIA Leichhardt Tigers.

However their late-season league form earned City third spot and a second chance, which they are eager to make count.

Despite the eventual outcome, Saturday night saw Blacktown produce a spirited performance that presented its fair share of positives for Lewis and his men.

“It was disappointing to lose on penalties,” the defender reflected.

“I felt like we deserved to win that game in normal time after dominating for most of the game.

“Credit to APIA, they defended really well.

“We didn’t finish our chances and penalties are a lottery.

“From our point of view everyone has now forgotten that game, because it is over.

“If we play the way we did on Saturday or against Wollongong towards the end of the season, I’m very confident we can do a job come Wednesday night.”

Wednesday night will not be the first time in recent memory that the two Western Sydney based clubs meet in a high-stakes affair, with City famously triumphing over United 58 back in the 2016 NPL NSW Grand Final.

While he admits it is likely to be far from straightforward, Lewis assured that his youthful Blacktown outfit have what it takes to book a spot in next weekend’s Preliminary Final.

“We’ve played against them many times and their team hasn’t changed too much from year to year.

“We’re very confident for the game and know what to expect from them.

“They probably know what to expect from us too, and we both played 120 minutes on the weekend so it will be pretty even again.”

By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Reporter Chris Curulli (Twitter handle @ChrisCurulli)

 

Fragogiannis prepares for battle against former club

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Yianni Fragogiannis is looking to lead Sydney United 58 through a do-or-die clash with his former club Blacktown City FC on Wednesday night.

Miro Vlastelica’s outfit edged their way past a stubborn Marconi Stallions side on Saturday, triumphing 2-0 thanks to Patrick Antelmi’s brace in extra time.

They are now preparing for a midweek trip to Lily Holmes Stadium, where they will lock horns with Blacktown City in the Minor Semi Final.

Despite displaying hot-and-cold form throughout the regular season, Fragogiannis is quietly confident his side have what it takes to continue progressing on the road to the Grand Final at Bankwest Stadium on August 31st.

“We’ve had a pretty inconsistent season across the board, but we knew that if we get into the top five, anything after that is a different proposition,” the defender said.

“In the one-off games of finals football, we back ourselves to beat anyone in the competition.

“The game (vs Marconi) probably wasn’t our best performance but I think from the second half and extra time we deserved to win.”

Fragogiannis donned the captain armband on Saturday night, as a member of United 58’s new leadership group established since the mid-season departure of club captain Nick Stavroulakis to APIA Leichhardt.

The defender will line up against a familiar foe on Wednesday night, having made the move from Blacktown to United 58 himself back in 2016.

“I’m a senior player as a part of the Sydney United set-up now,” Fragogiannis said.

“Since the departure of Nick Stavroulakis, the responsibility has been shared by a few of the boys, and I think that’s a good thing.“We are all trying to push on the younger boys and lead by example both on and off the field.

“I had three good years under Critto and only have good things to say about the job that he has done.

“It goes to show this season that everyone wrote them off and they still managed to finish in the top three.

“But we definitely back ourselves to beat anyone on any given day, and that will be the focus come Wednesday night.”

By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Reporter Chris Curulli (Twitter handle @ChrisCurulli)