Marconi Stallions secured their fourth consecutive win in the National Premier Leagues Menâs competition, with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over APIA Leichhardt FC on Saturday night at Marconi Stadium in the ‘Italian Derby’.
With four consecutive wins and six games undefeated in the league, along with a midweek win in the Australia Cup, the Stallions are making a statement to the football community that they are real contenders in 2022.
Marko Jesic converted a penalty chance against veteran shot-stopper Ivan Necevski to take a one-goal advantage to the break before Charles Lokolingoy converted a second from the spot early in the second half to double the lead for the hosts.
Jason Romero netted one in the 68th minute to keep the visitors in the game, but young-gun Domenic Costanzo scored a third for the hosts in the 75th minute to give the Stallions a bit of relief.
A third penalty in the final moments of the game was icing on the cake of the home side.
The convincing 4-1 scoreline over a dangerous APIA Leichhardt squad should give Marconi plenty of momentum as they approach the second leg of the competition.
Marconi started off strong, creating a chance in the 11th minute of play as Constanzo played a ball to a forward-running Giorgio Speranza.
Speranza crossed to Lokolingoy at the far post but the striker wasnât able to direct the ball towards the target.
APIA Leichhardt were busy in the early stages of the match, finding an opportunity in the 20th minute through Nathanael Blair, but it glided past the goalmouth.
Chris Hatfield sent a powerful strike towards goal in the 23rd minute, but Necevski was well positioned to collect the chance.
Marconi got their first goal in the 28th minute as referee Hassan Jomaa pointed to the penalty spot for the first of three times in the match.
Hatfield sent a ball into the area that Costanzo collected and after a second touch was brought down by Nicolaou, leaving the referee pointing to the spot.
Jesic stepped up to take the penalty and, despite Necevski reading the shot well, the captain buried the ball in the back of the net.
Diego Celis sent one over the line for APIA Leichhardt in the 36th minute, but was standing well beyond Marconiâs back line when he received the ball, triggering the offside flag.
The hosts managed to hold out a hungry APIA Leichhardt side until the half-time whistle, giving them a 1-0 lead at the break.
Both sides returned to the pitch with plenty of fire as they looked to make magic in the second half.
A counter attacking play had APIA Leichhardt with a chance in the 49th minute as Blair received the ball in prime position, but his shot flew wide.
A second penalty was awarded to Marconi in the 51st minute as Paul Galimi took down Lokolingoy and inside the area.
The striker stepped up instead of regular penalty taker Jesic, but was able to convert his chance as cleanly as the captain.
Celis had a chance in the 65th minute, sending a shot on target, but Marconi âkeeper Nenad Vekic was able to parry it away.
Substitute Sean Symons sent a left-footed strike powering towards the target in the 68th minute and Vekic was able to deny, but his rejection fell to the feet of a dangerous Romero.
Romero made no hesitation, finishing well to send the ball past Vekic and into the back netting to get his team in the game.
Nathan Millgate came close against his former team in the 73rd minute, getting on the end of a corner and directing it on target, however substitute Simon Nicholas cleared it off the line for the visitors.
Marconiâs third goal came in the 75th minute through Costanzo.
The talented winger took a brilliant corner, curling the ball straight at the goal.
The ball bounced off Necevski and fell into the side netting to take the hosts to three.
APIA Leichhardt looked to Romero and Celis to try to find another goal to keep them in the game, but they werenât able to find the finish they needed.
Marconi continued to mount pressure on the attacking front and could have taken their goal tally to four several times within the final minutes of the match and finally did so in the 93rd minute of the match.
The hosts were awarded their third penalty of the night as Fernandez fired a strike towards the goal and Galimi stuck up his hand to deflect the shot.
Jesic stepped up to the spot and calmly sent it into the bottom left corner, Necevski again diving the right way but unable to stop the shot, leaving the match to come to a close with a 4-1 victory to the hosts.
Marconi coach Peter Tsekenis was elated his side was able to continue their winning habit.
âI thought it was always going to be a tough game, it’s always a physical game against APIA and I thought we did really well,â Tsekenis explained.
âWe created some good chances and we put so much pressure on him that we forced the penalties and that’s what it comes down to.
âWhen you’re getting in good positions and you’re threatening, you’re going to get penalties because all those penalties we were going to score goals and they were desperate to stop it.
âWe limited them to chances and they scored a good finish from Jason and they got back in the game but I didn’t think at any time we we’re going to lose that game.
âCredit to the boys, defense was solid and the boys took their chances when they came and for me whether they’re penalties or set pieces it’s all part of the game.
âWe had a slow start without playing bad, but we believed in ourselves, we kept grinding and now we’re getting the fruits and we’ll keep rolling from here.â
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions FC 4 (Marko Jesic 29âp, 93âp, Charles Lokolingoy 53âp, Domenic Costanzo 75â)
APIA Leichhardt FC 1 (Jason Romero 68â)
Saturday 7th May, 2022
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee: Hassan Jomaa
Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki and Hugh Fenton-White
Fourth Official: Ayad Naji
Marconi Stallions FC: 1. Nenad Vekic, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Giorgio Speranza, 4. Roberto Speranza, 6. Domenic Costanzo (35. Justin Vidic 85â), 7. Christopher Hatfield (23. Brandon Vella 58â), 8. Connor Evans, 10. Marko Jesic, 11. Charles Lokolingoy, 13. Samuel Gulisano (17. Martin Fernandez 77â), 22. Taylor McDonald
Substitutes Not Used:, 18. Adrian Valenti, 19. Zach Cairncross, 20. Dion Shaw
Yellow Cards: Giorgio Speranza 70â, McDonald 80â
Red Cards: Nil
APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Ivan Necevski, 3. Paul Galimi, 4. Joshua Symons (6. Simon Nicholas 56â), 5. Nicholas Azzone (19. Fabian Monge 86â), 8. Diego Celis, 9. Jason Romero, 14. Jack Armson (10. Franco Parisi 68â), 18. Adrian Ucchino, 20. Nathanael Blair (16. Sean Symons 55â), 23. Walter Scott, 38. Yianni Nicolaou
Substitute Not Used:, 22. Luke Turnbull, 27. Dylan Chau
Yellow Cards: Paul Galimi 92â
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Marko Jesic (MS)
2 – Charles Lokolingoy (MS)
1 – Nathan Millgate (MS)