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Antelmi remains focused in hard times

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“It’s as this is a movie”, were the words that Sydney United 58 and one of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s most prolific attackers Patrick Antelmi explained the current situation gripping Australia and the world due to COVID-19.

Celebrating his 26th birthday last week, life as Patrick and the rest of the globe knew it changed via this virus.

“To be honest, I cannot fathom at the moment how normality to lockdown has quickly progressed with people losing lives, jobs, it’s a crazy period for everyone.

“I was at a restaurant with my girlfriend last week and was met with a reality check when 90% of the staff were told they weren’t needed after service.

“It’s a serious time as we know it, but we all have to stick together to fight this through as one.”

With football suspended till Tuesday 14th of April, Antelmi and his Sydney United 58 troops have been busily preparing for the fight to stay and remain fit until their next official game has been announced and cleared by football authorities.

“As of last Tuesday, we had our last meeting at the club and we went over a video session, we didn’t train, just took what was happening in and Spider (Zeljko Kalac) stated we must return fit, healthy and raring to go when the announcement is made to return to the game we all love.”

Antelmi is fortunate that he has a facility close by where he keeps his body ticking.

“I have a little 5 x 5 pitch close to my house where I do my drills and skills.

“I also do 5-10km runs just to keep my body moving as well as core stuff.

“I want to look after my body, remain focused before we get back to playing once more.”

A real estate agent for McGrath in Epping by trade, Antelmi is praying for the safety of everyone in this tough time.

“Please take the right precautions during this time and be safe.

“Don’t lose contact with your close ones, now is the time to connect with them even more.

“We all need to hold on tight, work together for everything to go back to normality soon so we can enjoy our lives once more – especially getting back onto the football pitch we ever so love.”

Having knocked in two goals in three matches, Antelmi will no doubt be hoping to continue his form when the season continues.

Late goal surge gives Manly United maiden 2020 victory

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Manly United left it late to clinch their first three points of the National Premier Leagues NSW men’s season with a tight 2-0 triumph over Sydney United 58 at Cromer Park on Saturday night.

The hosts struck with two goals in the last five minutes as a bullet header from substitute Marley Peterson and Yianni Perkatis own goal shocked a United 58 side who were unable to push on following their 5-0 rout of Mt Druitt last weekend.

The first opportunity of the evening presented itself after 16 minutes as Brendan Cholakian failed to gather enough of a connection on his back-post header.

Two minutes later Jack Fulton almost left an immediate impact on his first start of the season, however his low strike was smartly rebounded to safety by Thomas Manos.

Manly continued to knock on the door and in the 28th minute Sam Gallagher’s front post header soared marginally wide of the mark.

Yianni Fragogiannis created the visitors’ only clear-cut chance of the period with an effort from distance that was comfortably gathered by Dylan Mitchell.

Manly forged a pair of opportunities of their own late in the half however Jack Fulton’s diving header and Scott Balderson’s strike both sailed over the bar.

Sydney United started the second half on the offensive as former Manly winger Matthew Sim saw a deflected effort dip wide of the mark and another into the arms of Mitchell.

Just shy of the hour mark Patrick Antelmi came within inches of breaking the deadlock.

The in-form striker’s close-range header thundered off the crossbar after he appeared destined to score.

The match then settled into a tight arm-wrestle before both Paul Dee and Zeljko Kalac turned to their benches for inspiration.

It was ultimately Dee who struck gold in the 85th minute as fullback Kieren Paull found a pocket of space in the final third before releasing a precise ball that was emphatically nodded home by the substitute Peterson.

Manly continued to push on and just four minutes later a touch of fortune saw them seal their first taste of victory in 2020.

Some clever work from Jamie Glover out wide saw him whip in another threatening ball that United 58 defender Yianni Perkatis inadvertently turned into the back of his own net.

Cromer Park breathed a collective sigh of relief at the final whistle which confirmed Manly’s first competition points of the season, drawing them level with Sydney United on one win out of three to kick off the campaign.

Manly United boss Paul Dee was pleased to see that his side’s hard work had paid off.

“The boys deserved the win after a really hard game against a strong team,” he said.

“We’ve been working hard, trying to stay positive and just concentrating on the things that we know well.

“I think the boys who came in did a great job. It’s always a good thing when you have a squad where people are fighting for positions.

“The boys have tried really hard in the last couple of weeks to make it count in the final third, and after a couple of good deliveries from out wide today we scored the goals, so I’m pleased overall.”

United 58 skipper Adrian Vlastelica remained confident his side will bounce back in the near future.

“I think we played well for most of the game but just lost our concentration at the end and we got punished,” he said.

“The intensity and the effort were there but we just didn’t take our chances in the end.

“We have Rockdale next week and will be back training on Tuesday ready to build for a good result at home then.”

Match Stats

Manly United 2 (Marley Peterson 85’, Yianni Perkatis OG 89’)

Sydney United 58 0 

Saturday 14th March, 2020

Cromer Park, Dee Why

Referee: Michael Weiner

Assistant Referees: L. Greenshields, J. Bell

Fourth Official: I. Libri

Manly United: 1.Dylan Mitchell, 2.Kieren Paull, 5.Sam Gallagher, 7.Jack Fulton (9.Richard Cardozo 69’), 8.Dominic Ferguson, 10.Brendan Cholakian, 13.Scott Balderson (4.Sasa Macura 62’), 15.Patrick Weir, 16.Dean Bereveskos, 23.Bradley Mcdonald (17. Marley Peterson 79’), 24.Jamie Glover, 22.Paul Katsetis

Substitutes Not Used 20.Mackenzie Syron (GK), 6.Joseph Fox

Yellow Cards: Scott Balderson 33’, Dominic Ferguson 50’, Jamie Glover 75’

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney United 58: 21.Thomas Manos, 2.Cristian Gonzalez, 3.Jordan Roberts, 4.Adrian Vlastelica, 8.Matthew Sim, 9.Patrick Antelmi, 11.Yianni Perkatis, 12.Liam Rose, 15.Tariq Maia, (10.Devante Clut 62’), 22.Yianni Fragogiannis (18.Glen Trifiro 71’), 27.Jacob Esposito (99.Joshua McDonald 57’)

Substitutes Not Used: 1.Daniel Nizic, 20.Adrian Vranic

Yellow Cards: Jacob Esposito 44’, Adrian Vlastelica 72’, Liam Rose 78’, Josh McDonald 82’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3- Patrick Weir (MU)

2- Kieren Paull (MU)

1- Scott Balderson (MU)

– By Chris Curulli (Twitter handle @ChrisCurulli)

Rangers trounced by red-hot United 58

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Sydney United 58 have powered to their first win of the NPL NSW thrashing Mt Druitt Town Rangers 5-0 at Popondetta Park on Sunday.

It was a coming out party of sorts for United 58 as they flexed their attacking muscle against an out of sorts Mt Druitt side who slumped to their second loss in as many weeks.

Nearly everything went Sydney United’s way in the first half.

A comical own goal from Rangers defender Travis Oughtred opened the scoring before Thomas Manos made a brilliant penalty save to stop Mt Druitt claiming an equaliser. 

From then the floodgates opened with goals to Matt Sim, Devante Clut and a brace to Patrick Antelmi wrapped up a very one sided performance and Zeljko Kalac’s first win in the NPL NSW as United head coach.

Mt Druitt started the game with intent as John Roberts’ direct running proved troublesome for United 58 defender Christian Gonzalez

Mateo Poljak blasted narrowly wide from 25-yards out 10 minutes in as the home side had the best of the early chances.

However, it would be United 58 who would take the lead only moments later as Oughtred headed powerfully past his own keeper to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage. 

Parity should have been restored when United skipper Adrian Vlastelica brought down Roberts inside the area to gift the Rangers a penalty.

Manos was not to be beaten as he pulled off a spectacular save to deny Toufic Alameddine from the spot.

Saliadarre pulled off a magnificent stop to keep the score at 1-0 in the 38th minute after Matthew Sim was played in following a midfield slip.

Sim was in space and bearing down on goal but the Rangers’  shot stopper made himself big to block the shot.

The Mt Druitt custodian was called into action again minutes later to deny substitute Joshua McDonald. This time Saliadarre got down low to his left to palm the ball around the post. 

He was powerless to deny Sim a second time as the industrious midfielder slammed a left-footed strike beyond the hapless gloveman to extend United 58’s lead just before the break.

Patrick Antelmi had enough time to hit the bar in first half stoppage time as the visitors went into the interval in control of the contest.

Mt Druitt coach Aidan Desmond called in a number of changes after the restart as his side chased the match.

Blake Thompson effected a goal-line clearance, for once Saliadarre unable to reach the ball, but with increasing United pressure the opportunity to break out quickly was diminishing.

The task became too great when substitute Devante Clut’s thumping shot added United’s third with a quarter of an hour to play before Antelmi found space and added a fourth to put the victory beyond any doubt.

Antelmi doubled his tally for the day with a minute remaining to add the icing to the cake.

It was a tough scoreline for Mt Druitt who battled hard before succumbing to the slicker passing and movement of their counterparts.

“if you don’t take your opportunities you don’t win games,” a disappointed Rangers coach Aidan Desmond said afterwards.

“When it’s compounded by silly mistakes teams are going to punish you and United did that to us today.

“We’ve only got ourselves to blame and the positions we put ourselves in and obviously it’s a result we have to put behind us but a performance we cannot accept.”

Kalac praised his side’s eye for goal in the win.

“Today’s performance was no different to last week except we scored goals,” he said.

“If we play football like this we’ll win more than we lose.

“It was a fantastic performance with some great goals and all around good team performance and I cannot ask more than that.

“The style of attacking football we’re playing involves a lot of hard work on the pitch, tracking back and even the penalty save was down to moments in games. Tommy’s (Manos) job is to protect the goal and he did just that.

“It was a complete team performance and I’m pleased we’re starting to understand the ethos of how we want to play the game.”

Match Stats

Mount Druitt Town Rangers 0

Sydney United 58 5 (Oughtred 12’og, Sim 42’, Clut 76’, Antelmi 78’, 89’)

Popondetta Park, Mt Druitt

Sunday, 8th March 2020

Referee: Tim Danaskos

Asst. Refs: Scott Edeling & Bradley Wright

4th Official: Sam Quinn

Mt Druitt Town Rangers: 1.Carlos SALIADARRE, 3.Travis OUGHTRED, 4.Solimon-Johhn MONAHAN-VAUKA, 6.Blake THOMPSON, 7.Luke CIFFORD, 8.Mateo POLJAK (2.Jake MAMMONE 79’), 9.Alex BOYADJIN, 10.John ROBERTS, 11.Toufic ALAMEDDINE, 13.Lord DARKO,  21.Mirjan PAVLOVIC (17.Cooper COSKERIE 69’)

Substitutes not used: 12.Thomas GITTANY, 20.Robert FANULLA, 77.Daniel FOGARTY

Yellow Cards: Roberts 61’, Oughtred 68’, Alameddine 70’, Thompson 74’

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney United 58: 21.Thomas MANOS, 2.Christian GONZALEZ, 3.Jordan ROBERTS, 4.Adrian VLASTELICA, 8.Matthew SIM, 9.Patrick ANTELMI, 11.Yianni PERKATIS, 12.Liam ROSE, 15.Tariq MAIA (10.Devante CLUT 62’), 17.Matthew BILIC (99.Joshua McDONALD 31’), 22.Yianni FRAGOGIANNIS (18.Glen TRIFIRO 66’)

Substitutes not used: 1.Danijel NIZIC, 7.Michael RUHS

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 –  Antelmi (SU58)

2 –  Manos (SU58)

1 – Roberts (MDTR)

By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Micky Brock

Blacktown City clinch nervy opening day derby

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A first half goal from club captain Matt Lewis has helped Blacktown City clinch a hard-fought 1-0 win against Sydney United 58 at Lily Homes Stadium on Sunday. 

Lewis scored the game’s only goal midway through the first half before marshalling a rigid Blacktown defence to secure three points for his side in their opening match of the campaign.

United 58 made plenty of work for Blacktown City shot stopper but they were unable to get past the experienced Tristan Pendergast.

It was certainly a game of two-halves as United then found themselves on the back foot after as it became City’s turn to squander opportunities before Thomas Manos came into his own and earned his keep.

Patrick Antelmi had the first opportunity of the match after three minutes when he was slipped in by Jordan Roberts on the right, but he could only find the side-netting.

Roberts and Matthew Sim were causing City plenty of headaches on the right with their link-up play.

And it was Antelmi who brought the best out of keeper Prendergast moments later with Blacktown finding difficulty in clearing their lines during the early exchanges.

An Adam Berry free-kick relieved the pressure on the home side but United’s gloveman, Thomas Manos, was able to punch clear after getting through heavy traffic in a congested six-yard area.

Antelmi, again set-up by Roberts, should have opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark when  he fired wide after spinning on the edge of the box to create space.

Sim had a further opportunity in the 26th minute as the visitors continued to turn up the heat on their opponents.

But it was Blacktown who opened the scoring with Lewis finding the back of the net after a messy corner-kick which left Yianni Spyriakis bleeding from his head after an accidental clash.

Sim came close to leveling the tie when curling a left-footed effort narrowly over the angle of bar and post that had Prendergast back-peddling rapidly.

United were ruing their luck and the profligacy of their finishing and when Antelmi fluffed his lines with what looked a simple tap in it compounded their first-half woes.

City were fortunate not to concede, again from Sim, on the cusp of half-time but again the chance was squandered and so it the was Blacktown who when to the sheds one-goal to the good, much to the bemusement of their visitors.

Blacktown came out strongly after the break and forced Manos into a save and Hassan Jollah, on as a half-time sub for Charles Mendy, headed wide before forcing Manos into another save at his near post moments later.  It was United who found themselves on the back foot.

Leroy Jennings beat the offside trap in the 57th minute and centered for Rhett DeSilva whose feeble header was straight at Manos before Jalloh again headed narrowly wide with Blacktown in the ascendancy.

Matthew Bilic was left holding his head in his hands when put clean through, when creating the overlap on the left, only to blast high and wide of Prendergast’s goal in one of United’s best openings.

A well worked free-kick from Sim in the 65’ minute had Prendergast palm the ball onto the bar, Roberts reacted quickest and acrobatically got the second effort also onto the woodwork before the ball was blasted over at the third attempt in a crowded area. Blacktown were riding their luck, the luck that appeared to have deserted United.

Jalloh broke away down the right, rising a tackle and bursting into the area however his cross was over hit although he was certainly taking his opportunity with both hands and only a last ditch tackle prevented him seconds later. The downfall being he needed treatment after jarring a knee to be replaced shortly after by Suleyman Bangura.

Christian Gonzalez had an effort late on for United that flashed wide of the upright as yet another chance went begging that, perhaps, on any other day would have rippled the net but it wasn’t to be for the visitors when the final whistle blew.

Red’s coach Zeljko Kalac wasn’t disappointed with his sides performance.

“That’s football mate, I’d be worried if we didn’t create chances,” he said.

“The boys were excellent but today we simply didn’t take our opportunities and we created something like 10-12 during the game.

“I cannot complain about the effort the boys put in nor the performance and if we play like that every week we’ll certainly win more than we lose.”

Blacktown coach Mark Crittenden said his players delivered a solid derby performance even though the club was dealt a blow when they lost Joey Gibbs a few days before the season to an overseas contract in Iceland as well as the suspension to crafty midfielder Daniel Araujo.

“They are a very good side and we adjusted a couple of things at the break and performed a lot better,” he said.

“We had chances early in the second-half where we probably should have put the game to bed but it;’s a young team still and a work in progress but 3-points at home, we’ll take that.

“To have stuck it out against a quality side like United, we’ll learn from this and hopefully improve more going forward.”

Match Stats

Blacktown City 1 (Lewis 31’

Sydney United 58 0

Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills

Sunday, 1st March 2020

Referee: Kurt Ams

Assistant. Referees: Brad Wright & Joon Park

Fourth Official: Nick Ryan

Blacktown City: 1.Tristan Prendergast, 3.Daniel Collins, 4.Yianni Spyrakis, 5.Grant Lynch, 6.Matthew Lewis, 11.Rhett DeSilva, 16.Charles Mendy (7.Hassan Jalloh 46’, 18.Suleyman Bangura 75’)), 17.Dakota Askew (12.Lachlan Campbell 32’), 19.Adam Berry, 23.Leroy Jennings, 24.Jackson Bandiera

Substitutes not used: 20.Dylan Niski,

Yellow Cards: Collins 87’

Red Cards: 

Sydney United 58: 21.Thomas Manos, 20.Christian Gonzalez, 3.Jordan Roberts, 4.Adrian Vlastelica, 5.Anthony Tomelic, 19.Matthew Sim (7.Mitchell Ruhs 80’), 9.Patrick Antelmi, 23.Devante Klut, 12.Liam Rose, 15.Tariq Maia (18.Glen Trifiro 75’), 17.Matthew Bilic (48.Jackson Khoury 70’)

Substitues not used: 11.Yianni Fragogiannis, 1.Danijel Nizic

Yellow Cards:

Red Cards: 

Player Ratings

3 – Matt Sim (SU)

2 – Jordan Roberts (SU)

1 – Matt Lewis (BC)

By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Micky Brock

 

The Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal – to assist communities to prepare, respond and recover (fundraise.redcross.org.au/drr)

 

Football For Fires – Football legends match to be played at ANZ Stadium on 23 May to contribute towards the restoration and improvement of local football clubs and facilities in fire-affected areas across Australia.  This fund will be administered by Football Federation Australia. (https://footballforfires.com/)

United 58 ready for new era under Kalac

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Former Socceroo keeper Zeljko ‘Spider’ Kalac is ready to instil that ‘win at all cost’ attitude when he lines up his chargers for the 2020 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season.

A proud club man and a legend at Edensor Park, Kalac has been given the huge task of leading the former NSL giants to hopeful glory with one thing in mind, getting that trophy cabinet full once more.

It will be a case of sticking with the majority of the 2019 squad that finished Grand Finalists, losing out to the APIA Leichhardt Tigers at Bankwest Stadium, with a number of its stars staying put under the watchful eye of Kalac.

Four new faces will be hoping to make their mark in 2020 with former Western Sydney Wanderers shotstopper Daniel Nizic and ex-Australian youth internationals Jacob Esposito and Devante Clut agreeing to terms with the club. While former Reds striker Adrian Vranic has also returned to his former club.

The likes of quality players such as club captain Glen Trifiro, Tom Manos, Yianni Perkatis, Yiannis Fragogiannis, Adrian Vlastelica, Tomislav Uskok, Matthew Bilic, Patrick Antelmi, Matthew Sim, Tariq Maia, Liam Rose, Joshua Macdonald, Jordan Roberts, Luke Vlastelica, Christian Gonzalez and Anthony Tomelic will all don the famous red kit for 2020 with one thing in mind – bringing back the glory days at Edensor Park.

United 58 also re-signed promising Australian youth international Michael Ruhs.

One thing’s for certain, under Kalac, the players and club will be pushing their expectations to the maximum with United 58’s first match against Blacktown City on Sunday 1st of March at Lily Homes Stadium.

Sydney United 58 2020: Thomas Manos, Jordan Roberts, Yianni Fragogiannis, Adrian Vlastelica, Tomislav Uskok, Christian Gonzalez, Adrian Vranic, Matthew Bilic, Anthony Tomelic, Patrick Antelmi, Glen Trifiro, Yianni Perkatis, Tariq Maia, Matthew Sim, Liam Rose, Joshua Macdonald, Daniel Nizic, Jacob Esposito, Devante Clut, Michael Ruhs, Luke Vlastelica.