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Stallions stung by Suns

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Rockdale City Suns took out its first victory of the 2019 NPL NSW Men’s campaign and condemned the Marconi Stallions to its second successive loss with a come from behind 2-1 victory at Marconi Stadium on a soggy Saturday evening in Sydney’s West.

The game oscillated in the first half and in the 7th minute, after a scramble near the box, Anthony Frangie had the ball in the back of the net for Marconi, but it was disallowed for offside.

Shortly afterwards, Suns form player Matthew Lecce tried his luck from way out but his rocket sailed narrowly over the crossbar as the visitors came close.

The mercurial Panny Nikas then blasted the ball towards goal from just outside the box but he was brilliantly denied by the Marconi custodian Nenad Vekic who turned it over the crossbar with aplomb.

Marconi opened the scoring from virtually nothing in the 22nd minute.

A free-kick made its way forward until it reached Richie Cardozo who beautifully chipped the goalkeeper off his line much to the delight of the home crowd.

In the 35th Khang-Hoon Cho on the turn tried his luck for Rockdale but his well-intended attempt was deflected rather fortuitously by Frangie for another corner.

Marko Jesic replied for Marconi and fired from distance close to the break; however, the ball sailed marginally wide of the post for what would have been a great Marconi goal going into the interval.

Early in the second half, Patrick Savor came close for Rockdale with a shot from distance that only just missed the intended target.

It was Jesic again for Marconi who in the 60th minute with a rocket from close range that brought out the best in ‘keeper David Bradasevic.

Rockdale City Suns did score the equaliser in the 68th minute when the ball drifted across to Nikas who was unmarked and the prolific scorer showed that he had lost none of his midas touch as he drilled home and opened the scoring for the visitors.

It sparked a revival for Paul Reid’s men as they found a winner late in the second half.

In the 85th minute the Suns rocked the Stallions when an Alec Urosevski cross from the right reached an unmarked Lecce who, with a powerful diagonal header, beat all and sundry to give the visitors the lead much to the frustration of the Marconi bench.

It proved to be the winner much to the delight of the traveling Suns fans as the Stallions spectators looked on in despair.

After the game, Rockdale City Suns coach Paul Reid was pleased to have chalked up his first win of the season.

“I didn’t think that we deserved to be down 1-0 at halftime,” he said.

“Marconi were probably a bit more aggressive than us in the first half and we got pushed off the ball, but we just needed to match them physically and I knew that our football would come through in the end.

“People say subs change games and tonight they definitely did because they gave us energy in the second half and were influential in both the goals.

“We have a really good squad and it was good that we got the three points that we thoroughly deserved.

“Marconi is tough place to come to and it was also a heavy pitch tonight, but we deserved the three points. It’s a long way to go but I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Over in the Marconi Stallions dressing room coach Peter Tsekenis was disappointed that his team had come away empty handed.

“Last week we conceded a really good goal but this week we got on top and we were really quite comfortable for a large period of the game but couldn’t close it out,” he said.

“They probably created two good chances and they scored from them. We didn’t take our chances and Rockdale is a quality side because they have players that can hurt you. Once they got the first one, they then got on top but losing that game hurts.”

Match Stats

MARCONI STALLIONS: 1 (Cardozo 22’)

ROCKDALE CITY SUNS: 2 (Nikas 68’, Lecce 85’) 

Saturday, 16th March 2019

Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park

Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referees: Scott Edelling, Maggie Price

Fourth Official: Sam Kelly

MARCONI STALLIONS: 1. Nenad Vekic, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Giorgio Speranza, 4. Roberto Speranza, 7. Sean O’Connell (16. Liam Youlley 80’), 9. Anthony Frangie (23. Brandon Vella 62’), 10. Marko Jesic, 11. Mitchell Mallia (12. James Andrew 80’), 19. Zach Cairncross, 20. Richard Cardozo, 21. Marjan Pavlovic.

Substitutes not used: 14. Peter Pelekanos, 17. Kristian Sekutkoski.

Yellow Cards: Frangie 26’, O’Connell 76’, Cairncross 78’, Youlley 86’

Red Cards: Nil

ROCKDALE CITY SUNS: 1. David Bradasevic, 2. Daniel Petkovski, 3. Michael Neill, 6. Khang-Hoon Cho (7. Alec Urosevski 57’), 9. Jonathan Grozdanovski, 12. Idriss El Hafiane, 15. Nic Petrillo, 20. Howard Fondyke (10. Joshua Da Silva 67’), 17. Matthew Lecce, 19. Patrick Savor, 23. Panny Nikas (16. Alexander Malfara 92’).

Substitutes not used: 5. Jake Trajkovski.

Yellow Cards: 45’ Savor, 79’ El Hafiane

Red Card: Nil

Player Ratings:

3 – Matthew Lecce (RCS)

2 – Marko Jesic (MS)

1 – Panny Nikas (RCS)

-By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Joe Russo at Marconi Stadium

Tigers grab victory spoils over arch-rivals Stallions

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APIA Leichhardt Tigers against Marconi Stallions has always held a special place in the football annals of NSW and this derby – derby in the sense of the traditional alignment of both clubs to Sydney’s Italian community – was no different.

It delivered in spades but the result was a narrow win to the Tigers thanks to a Corey Biczo bomb close to the end of the first stanza of play.

In 2019 both clubs can celebrate the combined milestone of 125 years of history which is a truly wonderful achievement but there was certainly no love lost in what, at times, was an aggressive encounter.

The early part of the match had some niggle and no less than four yellow cards were dished out in the opening eight minutes of play.

However, it was a cautious start to the game from both sides and the first real chance didn’t arrive until the 25th minute when a nice cross from Paul Galimi was headed back by Brandon Vella to his own goalkeeper to safety.

A minute later and APIA Leichhardt were at it again.

Sean Symons pushed a nice chance wide from close range much to the despair of the substantial home crowd.

Corey Biczo then in the 33rd minute forced his close range header into the path of a Marconi defender as the signs of an opening goal were finally starting to appear.

The game eventually came to life in the 43rd minute when Biczo made a run on the edge of the box and then unleashed a thunderbolt that ended up in the top corner of the net. It was truly what the lacklustre encounter needed and full marks must go to Biczo who simply tried his luck and it paid off.

The early chance of the second half belonged to Marjan Pavlovic who on the turn forced Ivan Necevski into a great save.

Sean Symons replied with a wonderful free-kick for APIA Leichhardt that forced an amazing save from Nenad Vekic.

It was Sean Symons again on the run a few minutes later who charged dangerously into the box but once again Vekic was ready and made the save coming off his line look easy.

In the 65th minute it was Sean Symons who turned provider with a precise cross from the left but Biczo, unmarked with his header, couldn’t find the target.

In the 67th minute Galimi received his second yellow card of the game, this time for a shove from behind on Mitchell Mallia, and it was therefore a red for the APIA Leichhardt defender.

Down to ten men, it was always going to be an uphill task for the Tigers for the remainder of the encounter.

In the 70th minute Marko Jesic fired from outside the box and the ball hit the crossbar and bounced over.

It was close indeed for the Stallions who were now taking advantage of their numeric supremacy.

In the 75th minute a Jesic free-kick beat all and sundry and hit the crossbar as Marconi were now well and truly flexing some muscle.

In the 89th minute Giorgio Speranza handled the ball from a Franco Parisi shot and the referee duly awarded a penalty to the Tigers.

Parisi himself stepped up to the mark but Vekic got down well to his left and turned the ball around the posts for a corner.

It could have doubled APIA’s lead but, given the frenetic final few minutes, the Tigers supporters were still happy with the outcome and the narrow win.

After the game APIA Leichhardt Tigers coach John Calleja was very pleased with his side.

“I was really proud of the boys, especially after losing a man,” he said. “I was fairly comfortable in the first half with what we were doing and Corey was rewarded with a great goal.

“We were stretched with numbers given the suspensions and so we didn’t make any changes and just kept going with what we had, but I was very happy with our effort.”

Peter Tsekenis, Marconi’s mentor, was rather direct in his summary of the game.

“We were lucky to be in the game at halftime,” he said.

“We were average in the first half and credit to them because they defended quite well and didn’t let us settle down.

“The difference was a 30-yard bomb and we were definitely better in the second half. They went to ten men but once we settled down, it was much better and we created some chances and hit the post a couple of times.”

Match Stats

APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS: 1 (Biczo 43’) 

MARCONI STALLIONS: 0

Sunday, 10th March 2019

Lambert Park, Leichhardt

Referee: Ben Abraham
Assistant Referees: Nick Backo, Joon Park

Fourth Official: Samuel Grasso 

APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS: 1. Ivan Necevski, 3. Paul Galimi, 4. Joshua Symons, 7. Tynan Diaz, 8. Corey Biczo, 10. Franco Parisi, 12. Sam McIllHatton, 14. Lachlan Hughes, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 16. Sean Symons, 21. Michael Kouta.

Substitutes not used: 17. Samuel Gulisano, 19. Dominion Nasrabadi, 22. Blake Tuxford, 34. Zander Regan, 42. Camil Abouchaaya

Yellow Cards: Galimi 6’, Joshua Symons 8’, 51’ Muata-Marlow

Red Card: Galimi 67’

MARCONI STALLIONS: 1. Nenad Vekic, 3. Giorgio Speranza, 4. Roberto Speranza, 7. Sean O’Connell (12. James Andrew 79’), 8. Connor Evans (16. Liam Youlley 64’), 9. Anthony Frangie, 10. Marko Jesic, 19. Zach Cairncross, 20. Richard Cardozo (11. Mitchell Mallia 60’), 21. Marjan Pavlovic, 23. Brandon Vella.

Substitutes not used: 13. Yianni Nicolaou, 17. Kristian Sekutkoski

Yellow Cards: Pavlovic 8’, O’Connell 8’, Cairncross 50’, Evans 61’, Frangie 84’, G. Speranza 89’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Sean Symons (ALT)

2 – Lachlan Hughes (ALT)

1 – Marko Jesic (MS)

-By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Joe Russo

Could this be the Stallions season?

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A high profile roster overhaul could help catapult Marconi Stallions to NPL NSW Men’s success only two seasons since they were languishing in NPL 2.

It has been a busy off-season for the Peter Tsekenis coached side with the club making a myriad of moves to give the former Olympian a squad which is sure to make their opposition take notice.

Tsekenis said he was looking for players with a winning edge in 2019 and his new recruits have that in spades with six of his eight key signings winning one or more major tournaments in the past five years.

Fans would be excused for thinking Blacktown City have changed their colours when they see Marconi’s squad list this season.

Zach Cairncross, Mitch Mallia, Roberto Speranza, Giorgio Speranza and Connor Evans have all made the move from Lily Homes stadium.

Joining them will be ex-Hakoah attacking dynamo Anthony Frangie and Former APIA Leichhardt defender Nathan Millgate as well as  Anthony Trimboli and James Baldacchino.

There has also been an exodus from last season’s squad with Peter Triantis, Mateo Poljak, Charles Mendy, Shaun Rooney, Judah Cluer, Hassan Jollah, Troy Danaskos , Theo Kofinas, Michael Beauchamp, Marc Warren and long standing captain Christopher Nunes all departing.

Tsekenis said the recruitment spree was all about building a squad which would be a title contender.

“At some point you need to call the shots and make some serious decisions about your squad especially after being promoted to the top league from NPL 2,” he said.

“I have been with the team from halfway through our last season in NPL 2 and as a result I had inherited a squad built to win promotion.

“Sometimes you have guys who can make the jump up to the higher standard and there are others who can’t. This season I want to be as competitive as possible so it was important we put together a squad of proven winners at this level.”

Last season in their first year back in NPL top tier, Marconi fell one game shy of securing a finals berth.

It was a frustrating end to the campaign for the Stallions but Tsekenis believes it formed a platform for future success at the club.

“Don’t get me wrong it was disappointing to end the season the way we did,” Tsekenis said.

“There were injuries to key players and a number of other factors which held us back from reaching what we had set out to achieve.

“I was proud of the efforts from that team but it also helped me identify what needed to change and the type of players I wanted in my squad for the next season.”

While the new signings may get all the headlines in the preseason, returning stars Mirjan Pavlovic and James Andrew could prove to be just vital to Marconi’s chances.

“Mirjan was injured for most of last season so to have him back fully fit is like getting a new player in,” Tsekenis said.

“He is a very dangerous player in front of goal and knows what it takes to be successful in this competition. With the calibre of player he will have alongside him this season he shouldn’t find it too hard to find the back of the net.

“There is a lot of X-factor in the squad this season and that is the sort of thing needed for success at any level of the game.”

Marconi open their season with a road trip to Lambert Park on March 10 for a blockbuster clash against fierce rivals APIA Leichhardt Tigers.

Key player movements

Arrivals: Connor Evans, Zach Cairncross, Roberto Speranza, Giorgio Speranza, Mitch Mallia, Anthony Frangie, Nathan Millgate, James Baldacchino, Anthony Trimboli

Departures: Peter Triantis, Mateo Poljak, Charles Mendy, Shaun Rooney, Judah Cleur, Hassan Jollah, Troy Danaskos , Theo Kofinas, Michael Beauchamp, Marc Warren, Christopher Nunes

-By Nick Houghton

Young Stallions star signs with Huddersfield Town Academy

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The Huddersfield Town Academy has completed the signing of 18-year-old Australian goalkeeper Jacob Chapman, pending international clearance.

Jacob joins the Club as a free agent after impressing during an extended trial period with the Academy, signing a contract that runs until June 2020.

No work permit is required for Chapman due to his British ancestry.

Born in Wahroonga, Australia, Jacob’s football career took off as a 12-year-old when he was selected for the Football Federation Australia’s ‘Talented Player Pathway’; a programme of the New South Wales Football Institute.

He received the Hill Sports High School Senior Football Award in 2017 and, more recently, he played youth and senior football for Sydney United 58 FC before moving across the NSW National Premier League to join Marconi Stallions.

Chapman travelled to England in November 2018 to try and earn a professional contract, initially joining Town on trial in December.

He impressed in goal for Dean Whitehead’s Under-19 side in the game against Harrogate Town’s senior side on Tuesday morning, making several impressive stops.

Finals Week One – NPL NSW U20 Men’s Preview

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Elimination Final

Sydney United 58 v Wollongong Wolves, Saturday 3.30pm at Lambert Park

The NPL NSW Men’s U20’s dream will be over for either Sydney United 58 or Wollongong Wolves when the pair clash at Lambert Park on Saturday afternoon.

Both the Reds and the Wolves enter the elimination final needing a win to keep their chances of lifting the Championship alive.

But it is the boys from Edensor Park who arrive into the contest in buoyant mood after scraping into the top five with a win over Sydney Olympic last weekend.

That victory capped what has been a remarkable turnaround in form for United 58. The Reds’ final chances were in tatters following a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Sydney FC in round 15, but since that defeat United 58 have been among the form teams of the competition.

They’ve won six of their last seven games and kept clean sheets in five of these – a run that included a vital 1-0 win over Sutherland Sharks.

United 58 leapfrogged Wollongong into fourth position on the final day, and while the Wolves have rarely slipped out of the finals spots throughout the campaign, their form entering the elimination final is patchy in contrast.

The Wolves have won just two of their last seven fixtures. They’ll be hoping top scorer Tory Musumeci, who has netted 12 goals in 19 starts for the team this season, returns to the peak of his powers and is the difference between the two evenly matched sides.

Wollongong got the upper hand on their rivals with a 2-1 win back in round six, but these two teams last played out a tense 0-0 draw when they last met in round 17 and there’s no doubt Saturday’s do or die encounter will be similarly nervy affair.

 

Qualifying Final

Sydney FC v Sutherland Sharks, Saturday 4.30pm at Lily Homes Stadium

The Grand Final is in touching distance for both Sydney FC and Sutherland Sharks, and the title ambition of each will firmly come to the fore when the two competition heavyweights clash at Lily’s on Saturday afternoon.

These two sides have consistently set the bar in the past two seasons and have supplied some titanic contests throughout their rivalry – including at this very stadium, in last year’s major semi-final, which saw the Sharks book their Grand Final ticket in extra time.

It is sure to be another close encounter on this occasion as the two giants tussle it out to take on Blacktown City in the major semi-final next weekend.

For Sutherland, the raised stakes must help return the Sharks back to their best. It’s been a disappointing season for the 2017 double winners. Nick Dimovski’s side were seemingly on course to repeat the feat after a flawless start, but they’ve faltered for two thirds of the season and have won just three of their last 10 matches heading into this game.

Sydney FC have been similarly enigmatic throughout the year. The Sky Blues have been far and away the competition’s most deadly strike force with 65 goals (21 more than second-best Sutherland), but have failed to marry this ability to score freely with a battle-hardened rear-guard.

This soft underbelly has been exposed several times throughout the year, including by Sutherland who defeated Sydney FC 6-1 back in round two.

Sydney’s approach will make this contest an intriguing affair – don’t miss it!