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
APIA and Sutherland battle out a tight contest
Both sides were very conscious not to give or concede much to each other given that only 10 days earlier in the final of the Waratah Cup Sutherland Sharks had dished out a lesson to the Tigers.
APIA, clearly motivated by that loss, were determined to not let it happen again and Sutherland were certainly not going to come to a rather barren looking Lambert Park and expect a picnic.
APIA-Leichhardt had only just finished playing out a scoreless draw three days earlier at the same venue against Parramatta FC and tonight?s encounter was almost a carbon copy with perhaps even fewer chances.
After the game, APIA Leichhardt?s experienced coach John Turner was pleased that his team had now gone three games undefeated.
However, he was also realistic in his appraisal to recognise that in 180? minutes of football, even though his side hadn?t conceded a goal, they hadn?t scored one either.
?I thought that we were the better side on the night,? Turner said. ?We had far more possession and at least we tried to play some football. They played a lot more direct with long balls.
?We should have got something more out of our corners. There wasn?t a lot of goal action ? I?ll say that to you ? but across the park, I think we were better than Sutherland.
?Ten days ago they beat us 4-1 but we also knew that we still had a sniff of the semi-finals. If we can play with the commitment that we showed tonight, then I think we?ll be there somewhere around the mark.
?There were some opportunities for us to have a shot at goal tonight and against Parramatta FC, but some of our players still want to walk it in; we are working on that. However, we are creating chances and I would be more concerned if we were not creating.
?It?s very important to also recognise that we haven?t conceded goals either with two clean sheets in a row. It?s our third competition game unbeaten and not many teams in the NSW Premier League can say that. I think these positive results will take us a long way.?
After some lovely lead up play in the 19? minute APIA-Leichhardt had the first real chance of the game. Michael West whipped in a beautiful cross which Franco Parisi met with a powerful header that finished just wide of the net.
Sutherland Sharks replied a short time afterwards when an accurate pass from midfield workhorse Nick Stavroulakis, who never stopped working on the night, wonderfully set up Nikolas Tsattalios. However, when Tsattalios was faced with only the goalkeeper Anthony Costa to beat, he tried to chip the ball into the net but unfortunately for the Sharks it finished just over the crossbar.
The first-half, while not offering a lot of goalmouth chances, was a really close contest between two sides that were not prepared to give an inch.
The second-half was perhaps even tighter. The small field of Lambert Park often lends itself to a battle of attrition.
Early in the second-half, a free-kick from APIA Leichhardt was partially cleared by the Sutherland defence before it reached Mun Soo Gil who shot just wide with his attempt.
In the 59? minute a long ball from Paul Cotte made its way towards Tsattalios who fired over the crossbar. It was half a chance but, in games like these, chances need to be converted.
In the 77? minute Ethan Galbraith, from close range, fired a rocket into Hayden Morton. Luckily for the visitors the defender was well placed to deny the tall New Zealander and deviate the ball away for a corner.
Robbie Stanton, the coach of Sutherland Sharks and himself a former APIA Leichhardt player, was somewhat philosophical about the whole encounter.
?I was happy with my players because they put the right effort in,? he said. ?We had to change the way we play because we couldn?t play our normal game.
?It was a scrappy game but that?s what you have to do sometimes. We had to change because of the pitch – slipperiness and dimensions ? but we set ourselves a goal at the start of the year to always play football, but we found it difficult to play here.
?There were a few half chances. We knew it was going to be a different game to the Waratah Cup final. On a good pitch you would see that we are a very good football team and a very good passing team.
?This game was one of those things that sometimes happen in football,? he concluded.
Match Stats
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 0
Sutherland Sharks 0
Wednesday 18th July, 2012
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: James Lewis
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and James Tesoriere
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers: 21.Anthony Costa; 3.Adel El Jamal, 4.Mun Soo Gil (12.Andrew Bevin 64?), 5.Michael West, 7.Stephen Kayes, 8.Adam D?Apuzzo, 9.Ethan Galbraith, 10.Franco Parisi, 14.Adam Casey, 16.Michael Hawrysiuk, 18.Brendan Reilly.
Substitutes Not Used: 22.David Bradasevic, 15.Bradley Bartels, 17.Sam Salameh, 20.Gyu Re Lee
Yellow Cards: Galbraith 71?
Red Cards: Nil
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham; 2.George Souris, 4.Yianni Fragogianis, 5.Paul Cotte, 6.Matt Gordon, 8.Chris Price, 12.Hayden Morton, 13.Nikolas Tsattalios, 14.Nick Stavroulakis, 17.Pat Savor (11.Todd Halloran 80?), 23.Panni Nikas
Substitutes Not Used: 3.Tyson Rhodes, 9.Hussein Salameh, 25.Ben Cornish, 22.Simon Jaeger
Yellow Cards: Nikas 48?, Tsattalios 75?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Joe Russo