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Manly United earn round of 16 FFA Cup spot

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Manly United will continue its run in the FFA Cup round of 16 for the first time in its club’s history after defeating fellow NPL NSW Men’s outfit Mt Druitt Town Rangers 4-2 on penalties after the match ended at two-a-piece in regular time.

Manly United striker Dejan Pandurevic drilled home an early effort in the second minute but the attackers opener was quickly cancelled out by Toufic Alameddine as he hit back in the sixth minute.

Manly then had the opportunity to grab the lead once more in the 66th minute via Brendan Cholakian from the spot-kick. His resulting penalty was expertly saved by club captain Carlos Saliadarre.

The game ended at 2-2 with the match heading to extra time and Manly United’s young gun Harry McCarthy put the visitors ahead once more in the 95th minute.

With the Northern Beaches side tasting a round of 16 spot, Rangers’ Young Socceroos star John Roberts had other ideas as he tied the game with a well taken goal in the 110th minute.

With both keepers Salidarre and Dylan Mitchell saving a handful it was Charles Mendy that sent the traveling Manly United fans crazy with his final spot kick that all but assured a spot in the round of 16 for Paul Dee’s men.

Round 20 will certainly be a tough one for both teams with the Rangers backing up on Saturday in an away clash against the Sutherland Sharks at Seymour Shaw while Manly United host Rockdale City Suns at Cromer Park on Sunday.

As many as three Football NSW clubs will be heavily involved in week two of the round of 32 FFA Cup matches on Wednesday 31st of July as St George FC host Sydney United 58 at the Ilinden Sports Centre while the Marconi Stallions travel to chilly Tasmania to take on South Hobart FC at the Blundstone Arena.

In other matches, Magpie Crusaders defeated the Coomera Colts 2-1, Edgeworth Eagles defeated Darwin Olympic 3-0, Moreland Zebras went to penalties and defeated the Bulleen Lions 3-2, Adelaide Olympic beat Floreat Athena 4-3 while Brisbane Olympic crushed Bayswater 5-2.

 

Cholakian ready for showtime

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It is crunch time for Manly United, and their mercurial midfielder Brendan Cholakian is savouring the challenges that lie ahead.

The Northern Beaches club stand face-to-face with a decisive three weeks of fixtures as they find themselves on the brink of the National Premier League NSW Men’s Finals, and within reach of the FFA Cup Round of 16.

Manly fought off a fast-finishing Hakoah Sydney City East 2-1 at Hensley Athletic Field on Sunday night to secure three points that may prove invaluable in the race for the top five.

Their midfield lynch-pin, who is enjoying his seventh season at the club, was pleased with his side’s performance.

“We played a really good brand of football against a team that can be pretty tough to play against in Hakoah,” Cholakian reflected.

“They were fighting to stay up in this league so that made it difficult for us.

“I thought our link-up play and football all across the pitch was really good.

“Over the last few weeks, we have been kicking the ball around with a lot of confidence.

“We created chances, and on another day could have scored four or five.

“We are doing the right things and that’s going to lead to more goals in the coming games I’m sure.”

It has been a hot and cold campaign for Paul Dee’s men who with three rounds to play sit in seventh position, level on 26 points with Marconi Stallions and Sydney Olympic.

Manly also trail fourth-placed Sydney United 58, who they face on the final day of the season, by a single point.

With everything still to play for, Cholakian assured that his side are capable of picking up the vital results they desire.

“We’re confident and we know what we make of this season is completely in our hands,” he said.

“It’s good that we’re going into these big matches with some good performances under our belt.

“If we play the brand of football that we have been in recent weeks and put the ball in the back of the net, then we have a good chance to make something of this season.

“It’s not just that we are an extremely strong side on paper; we have complete confidence in each other as individuals and when we play the style of football we want to play we can beat anyone in this competition.

“We’ve beaten some top teams throughout the season and played some good football doing it.”

The impact of the fortress that is Cromer Park, which plays host to Manly’s next two league encounters, may prove key.

“We’ve been really good at home and I feel that’s important when you want to have a good season,” Cholakian said.

“We’re really confident going into these next two games (against Rockdale City Suns and APIA Leichhardt Tigers) with the crowd behind us at Cromer Park that we can get maximum points and put ourselves in a really good position for not only making the finals but growing momentum moving into the finals series itself.

“This is all in our hands and it’s important for us that we keep our heads switched on and are ready to do the job.”

Cholakian continues to shine as a standout performer in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition, often capable of sparking something out of nothing with his trickery on the ball.

The 26-year-old has become a household name at the Northern Beaches club since joining back in 2013 and is Manly’s leading scorer this campaign with eight strikes to his name.

Whilst he is determined to continue delivering when Manly need him most, Cholakian enforced that at the end of the day results are of number one priority.

“I don’t really focus on going out there and scoring goals,” he revealed.

“It’s all about doing the right things on the pitch and being a number 10, that will create opportunities to score and set players up.

“That’s my role for the team and I just want to make sure that I do that.

“That should lead to goals and assists whether it’s for me or my teammates; at the end of the day as long as that leads to victories and wins, that’s what it’s all about.

“The lads have been playing well and have got me into plenty of good positions throughout the year, and I’m pretty happy with how I’ve been finishing so that’s what I plan to keep doing for the rest of the year.”

Before the 2017 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Champions can continue their finals charge, they face a momentous mid-week encounter with Mt Druitt Town Rangers in the FFA Cup Round of 32.

Having been eliminated at the same stage by NSW opposition in both 2014 and 2016, Manly are within touching distance of their deepest run in the competition to date.

It is sure to be a tense, physical encounter between two sides that have locked horns three times already this season and pose an identical head-to-head record of a win and draw apiece.

Despite the bright lights and tantalising prospect of a glamour fixture at Cromer Park on the line, it will be business as usual once Cholakian and his teammates cross the white line at Popondetta Park on Wednesday night.

“This is why we play football,” he enforced.

“It’s the big games and big challenges; that’s what it’s all about.

“We’ve got a great opportunity to be playing in the FFA Cup, and it’s going to be a tough game against a team who are difficult to beat in Mt. Druitt at their place.

“We want to stay in this competition as long as we can, but we don’t want to look at it as a pressure game.

“We have to make sure we battle with them because that’s what they’ll want to do, and if do that, I’m sure our footballing quality will take over and we’ll have an opportunity to win the match.

“And like we’ve proven not just this season that if we play with the style and intensity that we want to play, we can beat anyone.

“We can’t get carried away in the moment; we need to make sure everyone is there ready to battle and not change from our game.

“It’s just another game for us. We just have to go out there and do the job.”

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

Manly keep finals hopes alive

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Manly United FC have kept alive their hopes of playing finals’ football after downing hosts Hakoah Sydney City East at Hensley Athletic Field by 2-1.

A goal in each half by Paul Dee’s side did the trick against a gallant Hakoah as the hosts put an end to a four game losing to move only one point outside the top five.

It was another frustrating result for Hakoah who gifted Manly a 1-0 lead courtesy of a Steve Katsionis own goal before Dejan Pandurevic doubled the lead for the visitors midway through the second half.

Amaury Gauthier netted in the dying stages for the home side but it wasn’t enough to stop Manly from taking home all three points.

The first real salvo of the game didn’t arrive until the 13th minute when Dejan Pandurevic broke free in a gallop towards goal, but Ryan Norval beautifully came off his line and closed down the space to deny the visitors an opening goal with a clinical save.

A few minutes later Nathan Roberts overcame some rigid Manly defence only to reach the by-line and have his direct shot cleared by an attentive defender standing on his own goal line.

Adam Parkhouse seemed rather shocked in the 20th minute to receive the ball from a Kieren Paull cross close to the Hakoah goal and, in the end, he knocked it wide when perhaps a better touch would have broken the deadlock.

However, four minutes later he did come good and indeed broke the stalemate when his shot was deflected in by Steve Katsionis. A cross from the left by the former Wellington Phoenix player seemed to cause some hesitation in the Hakoah defence with Harry McCarthy lurking with intent and the ball ricocheted off Katsionis to finish in the back of the net.

The end-to-end continued with both teams alternating chances. In the 28th minute Jordan Koton flashed a volley over the crossbar after receiving a ball from Roberts on the left as Hakoah tried to equalise.

Kieren Paull then virtually laid the ball on a plate for Brendan Cholakian in front of goal but his delicate flick didn’t have the right strength and the chance went begging. And with that chance the first stanza of play ended.

The second half of play was much anticipated given the exceptional first 45 minutes. And it didn’t disappoint either.

An early rifle of an attempt by Roberts from some distance really tested the reflexes of Dylan Mitchell as Hakoah made their intentions very clear.

Koton then tried a minute later with a similar shot that was fortuitously deflected just wide of the goal for Paul Dee’s side by a defender as the home side went close to equalising.

In the 63rd minute Hakoah should really have scored when Oliver Green unleashed a rocket from outside the box that hit the crossbar and rebounded off the underside straight onto the goal line without actually crossing it.

Cholakian responded immediately for Manly United with a penetrating run that ended with a shot that was well saved by Norval down to his left.

In the 73rd minute Manly United did indeed make it two when substitute Charles Mendy found Pandurevic in the box and he clinically fired home from close range giving Norval no chance. It was the goal that broke the hearts of the Hakoah fans as their side, up until that point, looked like it might equalise.

Late in the game a corner by Joshua Swadling reached an unmarked Amauri Gauthier at the back post who headed in an almost a slow-motion goal, but a goal nevertheless that Hakoah deserved.

Right at the death Mendy bolted free and with only Norval to beat somehow found himself denied by the home side’s ‘keeper who got down low to his left to prevent what looked to be a certain goal.

Manly coach Paul Dee was a relived man after full time.

“There are only a couple of weeks left and we need to concentrate on winning to have any chance of playing in the finals. As long as we win our games the other results will take care of themselves,” he said.

“Hakoah is always a tough away game but I thought that we created enough chances to win that game today. We were excellent a creating chances but not as good in front of goal.

“We have been working on creating chances and we now need to get into the area where we finish these.”

For Hakoah boss Gavin Rae it was another game which got away.

“Today in some ways sums up our season,” he said.

“We have been competitive in nearly every game this season but we just seem to be losing by that odd goal.

“It is very frustrating. If we were losing every week by a long way, we would accept that we are not at the level of the league, but that’s definitely not the case at all.

“To be so close is very frustrating because we have a very honest and good group of boys who deserve better.”

Match Stats

HAKOAH SYDNEY CITY EAST: 1 (Gauthier 87’)

MANLY UNITED FC: 2 (Katsionis o.g. 24’, Pandurevic 73’)

Sunday, 21st July 2019

Hensley Athletic Field

Referee: Tim Danaskos
Assistant Referees: Joon Park, Matt Staples

Fourth Official: Kyle Fenton-White

HAKOAH SYDNEY CITY EAST: 1.Ryan Norval, 2.Connor Shaddock, 4.Brad Walker, 5.Steve Katsionis, 8.Oliver Green, 10.Nathan Roberts (23.Adrian Vranic 76’), 11.Jack Green (24.Amauri Gauthier 76’), 12.Joshua Swadling, 13.Robert Ezekiel, 14.Jordan Koton, 17.Harry Jones.

Substitutes not used: 6.Dominic Cox, 15.Pedrag Bojic, 25.Max Ephraim.

Yellow Cards: O.Green 34’, Walker 82’

Red Card: Nil

MANLY UNITED FC: 1.Dylan Mitchell, 2.Kieren Paull, 4.Travis Oughtred, 5.Sam Gallagher, 8.Dominic Ferguson (6.Joseph Fox 76’), 9.Harry McCarthy (12.Charles Mendy 64’), 10.Brendan Cholakian, 11.Adam Parkhouse (7.Sam Wilson 70’), 14.Dejan Pandurevic, 17.Lewis Miccio, 23.Bradley McDonald.

Substitutes not used: 3.James Georgaklis, 32.Mackenzie Syron.

Yellow Cards: Miccio 82’, Mendy 88’

Red Card: Nil

Player Ratings have now been hidden due to the second half of the season commencing.

By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo 

 

Ten-man Manly punished by pumped up Sharks

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The Sutherland Sharks cruised to a 5-0 demolition job of a ten-man Manly United outfit at Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts were shocked by a straight red card shown to defensive linchpin Travis Oughtred just six minutes in, which brought rise to a significantly one-sided contest.

Raul Romero converted the ensuing penalty, before a delightful Mateo Poljak chip and fierce Jeremy Cox drive put the visitors well and truly in the ascendancy by the interval.

Despite the numerical disparity, Paul Dee’s men forged some golden opportunities throughout the first period that could have added some additional spice to the contest.

However, their failure to convert resulted in a rather tame second period where Sutherland eventually compounded Manly’s misery courtesy of tidy strikes from Jerry Skotadis and Romero.

The emphatic result secured a crucial three points for Sutherland in the ever-intensifying race for the top five.

It was a day to forget for Manly from the outset, as the healthy Cromer Park crowd were silenced just six minutes in.

Sutherland striker Jeremy Cox, who had this week been promoted to the starting eleven following the suspension of Charles Lokolingoy, executed some superb trickery to get in behind the Manly back four and prepare himself to pull the trigger.

However a collision with Travis Oughtred prevented him from doing so, leading the referee to award a spot-kick and dismiss the defender.

Raul Romero made no mistake from the spot, coolly slotting home into the bottom corner as he sent Dylan Mitchell the wrong way.

Despite being confronted by a hefty uphill task, the hosts shifted to a three-at-the-back shape and responded positively to falling behind.

They so nearly squared the ledger soon after as Harry McCarthy, on his first start for the club since returning from Sydney FC, found himself one-on-one with Anthony Bouzanis.

However the youngster’s 22nd minute close-range strike was denied by a resolute stop from the goalkeeper.

Manly suffered another agonising moment half an hour in, as a promising counter-attack saw Dejan Pandurevic cut the ball back to an onrushing Scott Balderson six yards out.

However the attacker blazed his first-time effort over the bar, and Manly were soon made to seriously regret their lack of a clinical touch.

With five minutes remaining in the half, a threatening Sutherland set-piece wreaked havoc in the Manly penalty area.

Dylan Mitchell initially made an impressive stop, however the ball fell to Asian Champions League winner Poljak who showcased his quality with a precise dink over the outstretched goalkeeper and two defenders on the line to double his side’s advantage.

Cox then capped off a perfect first half for Sutherland in stoppage time, as he shrugged off his defender and hammered the ball home at the front post to make it three.

With the result just about secured, Sutherland’s midfield professionally controlled the tempo in the second period as the ten men of Manly continued to tire.

Jerry Skotadis produced his most eye-catching performances since making the shift to Sutherland mid-season and was duly rewarded with a place on the scoresheet 74 minutes in.

The former Sky Blues midfielder skipped past his marker and slotted the ball home into the bottom right corner.

Sutherland then put an exclamation point on their five-star performance with a superb team move that was finished off expertly by the mercurial Spaniard Romero.

Post-match, Sam Gallagher reflected on what was well and truly a day to forget for his side.

“Whether it was a red card or not it was a tough day at the office regardless,” the Manly captain said.

“With ten men we worked hard, but we still shouldn’t be conceding that many goals.

“We can all put our hands up and just say maybe today wasn’t our day but as a team we need to recover from that.

“We will get back into it for the Waratah Cup, FFA Cup and remaining league games to hopefully get us into the top five.”

In contrast, Sutherland skipper Mateo Poljak praised the persistence of his side as they creep ever closer to finals football.

“For us it was a very important win as we are getting closer to the top five- if we had lost it was pretty much game over for us,” the former A-League midfielder said.

“It is feeling very different from the start of the season.

“It was tough for us in the first half of the season with so many unlucky draws but that’s football, I guess.

“Copping a late goal last week when we should have finished it off earlier, today it happened for us with that early red card.

“I think we were very clinical; something that we have maybe been missing all season.

“It was a good day for the club with wins in all three grades.”

Match Stats

Manly United FC 0

Sutherland Sharks FC 5 (Romero 7’, 80’, Poljak 40’, Cox 45+1’, Skotadis 74’)

Sunday 30th June, 2019

Cromer Park, Dee Why 

Referee: M. Bailey

Assistant Referees: M. McOrist, N. Wotton

Fourth Official: I. Covic

Manly United: 1. Dylan Mitchell, 2. Kieran Paull, 4. Travis Oughtred. 5. Sam Gallagher, 6. Joseph Fox, 9. Harry McCarthy (12. Charles Mendy 45’), 10. Brendan Cholakian, 14. Dejan Pandurevic, 13. Scott Balderson (11. Adam Parkhouse 62’), 17. Lewis Miccio, 23. Bradley McDonald (7. Sam Wilson 45’)

Substitutes not used: 32. Mackenzie Syron, 21. Finn Ashton

Yellow Cards: Cholakian 66’

Red Cards: Oughtred 6’

Sutherland Sharks: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. Quentin Cheng, 3. Marc Warren (32. Alexander Lopez 29’), 4. Patrick O’Shea, 7. Bai Antoniou, 8. Mateo Poljak (25. Brodie Clarkson 83’),, 9. Jeremy Cox, 10. Raul Beneit Romero, 11. Jordan Morfitis (21. Tarik Ercan 75’), 17. Liam McGing, 22. Jerry Skotadis

Substitutes not used: 18. Mitchell Evans ,19. Harry Sutherland

Yellow cards: Morfitis 39’

Red cards: Nil

Player Ratings have now been hidden due to the second half of the season commencing.

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

Blacktown City slip into third spot after Manly victory

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Blacktown City FC has tightened their grip on third place after a tense 1-0 win against Manly United FC at Lily Homes Stadium on Sunday.

Joey Gibbs injury time goal in the first half was enough to secure Blacktown’s eighth win of the season.

Manly came to life at the end if the contest with a pair of free-kicks that flew over which might have salvaged a point but it wasn’t to be for Paul Dee’s side.

In the cagey opening stages of the contest, it was Blacktown City FC that created the first chances of the game.

Emmanuel Gonzalez with a pair of chances, the latter from an incisive move flashed wide of the post

Blacktown City FC continued to have the lion share of the chances. Striker Joey Gibbs had a point-blank header saved then the follow up from Gonzalez wasn’t stabbed home as the visitors rode their luck

After the tense start, Manly United FC worked their way into the contest. Their best work came through Charles Mendy and Brendan Cholakian. The former fizzed a shot into the hands of Blacktown City FC’s Tristan Prendergast.

Mendy kept being a nuisance on the right with a pinpoint switch opening up play for the Manly attacker to cut the ball back to Adam Parkhouse, the former A-League man was denied by a superb last ditch tackle from Blacktown’s Daniel Collins.

The home side remained on the front foot. Collins squirted an effort wide then they found joy right on the half-time break.

A wicked cross bent into the area, right into the path of Gibbs to poach home, making it 1-0.

There was almost the perfect start for Blacktown City FC in the second half, Leroy Jennings reacted quickest to a rebound, but their joy was cut short by the linesman flag, as it remained a one-goal game.

Sensing they need to find some thrust in the contest, Manly United FC piled on a handful of chances past the hour mark. Parkhouse tried to snap a low effort that was dealt with then Kieran Paull, pushing further up field, almost clipped a cross-cum-shot into the net.

Despite this, their chances remained half ones, as Scott Balderson almost profited from a rare giveaway from the Blacktown City FC defense but his shot rested comfortably in the grasp of Prendergast.

The best chance for an equaliser came from a set piece for Manly United FC. Both Cholakian and substitute Dejan Pandurevic sent efforts over the bar.

The home side had a chance through substitute Monty Versi to finish the contest. They broke quickly but the striker couldn’t lift his effort over the keeper.

Blacktown City FC held on for the remaining injury time to record an eighth victory of the season.

Speaking afterwards Blacktown City FC coach Mark Crittenden was pleased to take three points in a tough contest.

“The competition is so close, so you can’t afford to drop points so good to get a result tonight against a good side like Manly.” He said.

“We could’ve been two or three goals ahead in the first half but the second half we ground out the result.”

For Manly United FC coach Paul Dee, it was disappointing to lose but it has been a good week for the side as they push for the top five

“It’s a hard place to come. Blacktown are a good side and we started to come into the contest in the second half.” said Dee.

“We tried to balance the side after a tough cup game. I think we’re not far off where we want to be but tonight will hurt for a while.”

Match Stats

Blacktown City FC 1 (Gibbs ‘45+1)

Manly United FC 0

Sunday 23 June 2019

Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills

Referee: T. Danaskos

Assistant Referees: B. Wright & M. Riedy

Fourth Official: N. Gongolidis

Blacktown City FC: 1. PRENDERGAST Tristan, 3. COLLINS Daniel, 4. SPYRAKIS Yianni, 5. LYNCH Grant, 6. LEWIS Matthew, 9. GIBBS Joey, 11. GONZALEZ Emmanuel (16. HOWARTH ‘69), 12. CAMPBELL Lachlan (15. VERSI ‘84), 17. ASKEW Dakota, 19. BERRY Adam 22. JENNINGS Leroy

Unused substitutes: 18. BARTOLOTTO Josh, 20. NISKI Dylan, 21. MUTCH William

Yellow cards: nil

Red cards: nil

Manly United FC: 1. MITCHELL Dylan, 2. PAULL Kieran, 4. OUGHTRED Travis, 5. GALLAGHER Sam, 7. WILSON Sam (9. MCCARTHY ‘85), 8. FERGUSON Dom, 10. CHOLAKIAN Brendan, 11. PARKHOUSE Adam (14. PANDUREVIC ‘64), 12. MENDY Charles, 13. BALDERSON Scott, 23. MCDONALD Bradley (6. FOX ‘78)

Unused subs: 17. MICCIO Lewis, 40. BAKER Ryan

Yellow cards: Balderson ‘90+1

Red cards: nil

Player Ratings have now been hidden due to the second half of the season commencing.

By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Reporter Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)