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Sydney United 58 prevail on penalties in Grand Final epic

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It well and truly rained goals at a torrential Marconi Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Sydney United 58 broke their 14-year Grand Final hoodoo with a 4-3 triumph on penalties against 2020 Premiers Rockdale Ilinden. 

The shootout came after they played out a pulsating 3-3 draw with premiers Rockdale Illinden over 120 minutes.

The Edensor Park boys were seeking redemption for their extra-time heartbreak in the 2019 big dance and achieved exactly that in dramatic fashion.

Marconi’s famous palace provided a worthy backdrop for a top-quality contest which saw six different scorers find the back of the net.

It only took ten minutes for Rockdale to draw first blood through a familiar source.

Mickey Neill, who opened the scoring in last weekend’s semi-final triumph, rose highest to divert Tomoki Wada’s set-piece beyond Danijel Nizic.

United 58 looked to strike back immediately as Matt Sim sent a sighter over the bar and a Devante Clut effort flicked a Glen Trifiro cross narrowly wide of the mark.

Minutes later, they restored parity in spectacular fashion.

With 16 minutes played, Trifiro stood over a free kick from the edge of the area and guided it expertly beyond David Bradasevic into the top left corner.

The match then settled into a tight arm-wrestle for the remainder of the first period as the rain began to heap down.

However in the second half it was Rockdale who sprung out of the blocks with only three minutes on the clock.

The soggy conditions played their part as young marksman Jaden Casella capitalised on a defensive slip-up to find himself in behind before unleashing an impressive finish into the top corner.

The contest remained finely poised on a knife’s edge as Sydney United pushed on in search of an equaliser.

Sydney United soon turned to their bench in search of salvation.

A double substitution with 15 minutes to play proved to be a masterstroke almost instantly.

A 77th minute Trifiro corner found Vlastelica unmarked at the back post and his header looped into the path of Adrian Vranic, who nodded home his first touch of the afternoon.

Three minutes later, United 58 turned the contest entirely on its head.

Jackson Khoury picked up the ball well outside the area and produced a stunning strike that sailed beyond Bradasevic to send the United faithful into raptures.

The youngster’s wonder-strike may have been worthy of winning any final, but Rockdale had other ideas.

It was the Illinden skipper Daniel Petkovski who stood up when his side needed him most in the 84th minute, driving a thunderous strike into the far corner.

Nikola Taneski scored the winning penalty for Manly United in the 2017 decider and almost proved to be the hero yet again as he poked an effort into the side netting with two minutes remaining.

Referee Adrian Arndt’s whistle soon sounded around Marconi Stadium, all but confirming the big dance would go the distance.

Both squads gave their all during a frantic thirty minutes but there would ultimately prove to be no further twists to the tale.

During a dramatic penalty shootout both Bradasevic and Nizic pulled out a save each before Jake Trajkovski blasted Rockdale’s fifth penalty over the bar, ensuring that for the first time since 2006, the NSW top flight championship would finally head back to Edensor Park.

Post-game, United 58 skipper Adrian Vlastelica was elated with the outcome.

“It was a crazy game in crazy weather after a crazy year,” he reflected.

“To come out with the win after 120 minutes and a penalty shootout is a great feeling.

“We went down early but we kept fighting and pushing.

“When we took the lead I thought ‘this could be it’, but at Sydney United we always do it the hard way.

“We won it last time here at Marconi so after a 14 year wait, to win it here again was perfect.”

In true big game fashion Trifiro was named Player of the Match in what was a sterling performance from the commanding midfield maestro.

In the 20s decider which took place at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday night, Blacktown City enjoyed a 2-1 triumph over Sydney FC to take home the title and continue their proud tradition of success at the youth level.

The Sky Blues opened the scoring inside eight minutes through Antonio Saracino but a Thomas Bienasz equaliser and Suleyman Bangura winner on the hour mark was enough to turn the tides decisively in favour of Andrew Montgomery’s side.

Match Stats

Rockdale Ilinden FC: 3 (Neill 10’, Casella 48’, Petkovski 84’)

Sydney United 58: 3 (Trifiro 16’ , Vranic 77’, Khoury 81’)

Sydney United 58 won 4-3 on penalties

Sunday, 25 October 2020

Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park

Referee: Adrian Arndt

Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields, Emma Kocbek

Fourth official: Craig Fisher

Rockdale Ilinden FC: 1. David Bradasevic, 16. Mohamed Ahmed (11. Nikola Taneski 70’ (9. Dimi Petratos 110’), 20. Jaden Casella, 10. Marie Gauthier (18. Samuel Gulisano 68’), 6. Banri Kanaizumi, 3. Michael Neill, 2. Daniel Petkovski, 19. Patrick Savor, 14. Brayden Sorge, 4. Mitchell Stamatellis, 8. Tomoki Wada (7. Alec Urosevski 61’), (5. Jake Trajkovski)

Substitutes not used: 39. Andrew Di Blasio,

Yellow cards: Kanaizumi 7’

Red cards: Nil

Sydney United 58: 1. Danijel Nizic, 17. Matthew Bilic, 10. Devante Clut (20. Adrian Vranic 75’), 2. Cristian Gonzalez (99. Joshua Macdonald 60’), 22. Yianni Fragogiannis (15. Tariq Maia 23’), 11. Yianni Perkatis (23. Luke Vlastelica 110’), 3. Jordan Roberts, 8. Matthew Sim (14. Jackson Khoury 75’), 5. Anthony Tomelic, 18. Glen Trifiro, 4. Adrian Vlastelica

Substitutes not used: 21. Thomas Manos

Yellow cards: A. Vlastelica 57’, Clut 66’, Stamatellis 91’

Red cards: Nil

–  By Football NSW reporter Chris Curulli (Twitter handle @ChrisCurulli)

Sydney United 58 break Wolves hearts again and advance to Grand Final

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Sydney United 58 have secured their second Grand Final berth in as many years with a 3-1 victory against Wollongong Wolves in a drama-filled clash at Albert Butler Memorial Park and have setup a date with Rockdale Illinden for the 2020 Championship at Marconi Stadium next Sunday. 

In a repeat of the same game last season, United 58 was too good on the road as they once again denied Wollongong a place in the decider

It was a chaotic clash with both teams reduced to 10-men just before half-time after two separate off the ball incidents from United 58’s Patrick Antelmi and Thomas James of the Wolves.

A brilliant strike from Glen Trifiro and a clinical finish from Matt Sim in the second stanza was the difference with United 58 now set for a winner takes all clash against fierce rivals Rockdale Ilinden in next week’s decider.

Sydney United 58 didn’t hold back as they took the contest to Wollongong right from the opening whistle.

The visitors earlier pressure paid off when they were awarded a penalty after Matt Sim’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked by the arm of Wollongong defender Nikola Djordjevic.

Striker Antelmi made sure of the opportunity blasting the ball into the back of the net from the spot to give United 58 a 1-0 lead after only 15 minutes.

Despite falling behind the home side were not to be written off and found an equaliser through Marcus Beattie ten minutes from the break to level the score at 1-1.

The pressure was rising as the match closed in on half-time with the difficult conditions and physical play getting players on edge.

Tensions boiled over in the 38th minute with the game exploding into chaos after dirty play off the ball by Antelmi and Wollongong’s Thomas James caused an all in-brawl.

The moment of madness proved costly for both sides with referee Michael Weiner brandishing a straight red card for both strikers that reduced the two teams to ten-men going into the interval.

Wollongong raced out of the block after the break with Okada driving the home side’s attack forward.

The home side was desperate for an equaliser but struggled to find the finishing touch required.

A moment of brilliance from Trifiro gave the visitors the lead in the 74th minute when the midfield fired a rocket into the top left corner from the edge of the penalty box.

The Wolves pushed ahead in search of an equaliser with their season on the line.

But again the United 58 counter-attack was too much with Sim finding the back of the net after a brilliant cutting pass in behind the backline to stretch the visitors lead to 3-1 with only minutes left in the match.

It proved to be the final blow for United 58 with the final whistle confirming their place in the grand final and the end to Wollongong’s season.

In the day’s earlier match Blacktown City confirmed their place in the U20’s grand final with a 3-1 win against Western Sydney Wanderers.

They will take on Sydney FC in next week’s U20’s grand final.

Rockdale Ilinden book ticket to 2020 NPL NSW Men’s Grand Final

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Newly crowned 2020 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Premiers Rockdale Ilinden booked its Grand Final ticket to Marconi Stadium for the ‘Big Dance’ after a devastating display defeating Sydney Olympic 3-0 at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Saturday night.

Steve Zoric’s men brought their season form into the crucial semi-final clash as they proved far too hungry for their opponents whose defensive errors ended up being their downfall.

Rockdale kicked things off with a great opening goal in the 29th minute thanks to a stunning Michael Neil strike. It was some decent build up play from the Ilinden back-line that saw Banri Kanaizumi launch a long ball forward that saw Patrick Savor expertly nod it through to a rampaging Neill who ripped the leather off the ball with a venomous strike sending the home fans into raptures.

Neill then turned the game on its head with two minutes remaining before the break after picking up a loose ball and playing a lovely one-two, was brought down in the box by Olympic’s Jason Madonis.

Referee Katie Patterson had no hesitation but awarded the penalty which was expertly dispatched by Japanese import Tomoki Wada.

It was a hammer blow for the Blues who went into the half knowing they needed a herculean effort in the second to get back into the match.

It wasn’t to be for Ante Juric’s men as it was Game, Set and Match in the 57th minute when young gun Jaden Casella pounced on yet another defensive blunder by Olympic.

Benjamin Van Meurs gave a poor ball away which was picked up by the elusive Amaury Gauthier. The ace marksman slipped Casella through who did well to finish a crafty move and it was then and there the hosts realised they’d be playing at next Sunday’s NPL NSW Men’s Grand Final.

The day’s earlier match in the Grade 20s Semi-Final saw Sydney FC prove too strong for Rockdale Illinden coming home with a 3-1 victory.

A brace from 16-year-old sensation Aiden Mostofi and Anton Milnaric cancelled out Nathan Manno’s goal that sent the Sky Blues into next Sunday’s Grade 20 Grand Final.

Points shared as Rockdale and APIA battle for draw

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Rockdale Ilinden FC have ended a horror run of six straight defeats against APIA Leichhardt after holding on for a 1-1 draw at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.

An Alec Urosevski goal late in the first half looked like it was enough to give Rockdale their first win against APIA since 2013.

However, Adrian Ucchino had other idea’s curling a brilliant free-kick into the back of the net in the 39th minute to ensure the two teams shared the spoils.

The result means both sides are still yet to lose after their opening three games for the season.

Rockdale were quickly out of the blocks when Tomoki Awada found Sam Gulisano open in the box but he fired wide.

Sean Symons replied soon after but his effort was straight at the keeper.

Franco Parisi got in on the action when he found Chris Payne inside the area but the striker, unable to get the ball under control, blasted over the woodwork.

Amaury Gauthier was denied by a brilliant reaction save by APIA shot stopper Ivan Necevski in the 14th minute after latching onto a long ball over the top.

Urosevski opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when he slipped the ball past Necevski to complete a rapid counter-attacking move.

APIA responded quickly through Adrian Ucchino.

The midfielder hit the back of the net with a sensational curling free-kick  from what appeared an impossible angle.

Rockdale custodian David Bradasevic saved his side from going into the break down on the scoreboard when he dived to deny Payne.

APIA kicked-off the second period with more determination and soon had Rockdale on the back foot in the early minutes with a last ditch block by Brayden Sorge denying a Sean Symons effort.

Gauthier and Jordan Figon both had chances denied with APIA’s defence struggling against Rockdale’s rapid counter attacks.

The game began to open up midway through the second half with the ball going end-to-end without truly threatening the goals.

Parisi hit the woodwork in the 65th minute after being played in by Payne, before the pair connected again moments later as Payne fired wide.

A goal seemed inevitable in a thrilling closing 20 minutes but neither side could find a breakthrough.

APIA coach John Calleja felt a draw was a fair result in what he called a tightly contested contest.

“Both sides played really well, Rockdale came out with a game plan and we took a little time to adjust to it,” he said.

“Once we adjusted I felt we controlled the game well, although we were a little slow in our possession and movement at times.

“Unfortunately we weren’t good enough to take them and a draw is a fair result at the end of a tough 90 minutes.”

Rockdale coach Steven Zoric said his side’s ability to execute the game plan helped nullify APIA’s strenghts.

“We set-up to play in between the lines,” stated Zoric after

“It allowed more space for our midfield players to surge into when they picked the ball up and go at APIA.

“That was evident in our goal when we picked the ball up deep and set up Alec (Urosevski) in between to two centre-backs for him to run onto.

“We knew we would get joy playing this way against them and if we can get our midfield onto the ball they can start knocking it around a bit  giving our defence a little bit of respite too.

We had our chances in the game, as did they, and our finishing wasn’t perhaps as good as we’d like but we remain unbeaten this season.”

Match Stats

Rockdale Ilinden 1 (Urosevski 32’)

APIA Leichhardt  1 (Ucchino 39’)

Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale

Sunday, 15th March 2020

Referee: Adrian Arndt

Asst. Refs: Andre Gieve & Matt Staples

4th Official: Manuel Limnios

Rockdale Ilinden FC: 1.David BRADASEVIC, 2.Daniel PETKOVSKI, 3.Mick NEILL, 6.Banri KANIZUMI, 7.Alec UROSEVSKI, 8.Tomoki WADA, 11.Amaury GAUTHIER (10.Nikola TANESKI 75’), 14.Brayden SORGE, 18.Sam GULISANO, 19.Patrick SAVOR (15.Mohamed AHMED 34’), 23.Jordan FIGON (4.Mitchell STAMATELLIS 82’)

Substitutes not used: 5.Jake TRAJKOVSKI, 39.Andrew DI BLASIO

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

APIA Leichhardt: 1.Ivan NACEVSKI, 3.Paul GALIMI, 4.Josh SYMONS, 6.Chris PAYNE, 7.Dom NASRABADI (8.Corey BICZO 46’), 10.Franco PARISI (9.Jeremy COX 77’), 13.David D’APUZZO, 15.Themba MUATA-MARLOW, 16.Sean SYMONS, 18.Adrian UCCHINO, 21.Michael KOUTA

Substitutes not used: 2.Camil ABOUCHAAYA, 14.Nick STAVROULAKIS, 22.Luke TURNBULL

Yellow Cards: Payne 58’, J.Symons 62’, Ucchino 85’, D’Apuzzo 87’

Red Cards: Nil

Man of the Match

3 –  Galimi (AL)

2 –  Wada (RI)

1 – Urosevski (RI)

By National Premier Leagues NSW Reporter Micky Brock          

Mariners picked apart by ruthless Sky Blues

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Sydney FC made amends for last week’s loss in the National Premier Leagues NSW men’s season with a dominant 4-0 win over North Shore Mariners at Lambert Park on Sunday. 

Jimmy Van Weeren’s Sky Blues made up for their 4-0 loss to Marconi by venting their frustrations against North Shore, with Sydney dominating the majority of the match.

Sydney FC were firmly on top of proceedings when the opening goal came in the 14th minute. North Shore were lethargic once they cleared Sydney’s corner, giving Thomas Fay the time to whip in a slick ball to the back post onto the head of Patrick Flottman who made no mistake.

Jordan Swibel took some time to get into his groove but he flicked the switch when North Shore lost possession in midfield and spotted Ryan Wood off his line. The young attacker scored a David Beckham-esque long range goal from inside his own half on 35 minutes.

Very few chances were being created by Mariners with live-wire Panny Nikas struggling to get touches on the ball and Emmanuel Peters seeing most of his movement in his own half linking up play.

Sydney FC heaped more pressure onto their opponents when Jake Hollman skipped past North Shore’s midfield before a nice slide rule pass found Jayden Kucharski.

The winger cut in and placed a calm finish into the bottom corner on stoppage time to make it 3-0.

Luke Ivanovic’s withdrawal on 41 minutes caused concern for Sydney FC. He was replaced by Benjamin Koop.

Edward Caspers was replaced for the second half for North Shore, who played with a new lease of life. Substitute Daniel Saric’s introduction on the right-hand side was reaping dividends for Haywood.

Mitchell Smith came close with his attack onto the near post but his effort trickled wide.

Koop and Swibel had a number of chances squandered but the result was put beyond doubt when Hollman crossed for Swibel to comfortably head into the net to make it 4-0 with ten minutes remaining.

“We could have had easy five or six today,” said Van Weeren. “We obviously want more from youth players and we think they are capable of converting more chances.”

North Shore coach Joe Haywood was disappointed in Van Weeren’s post-match comments and said his team just didn’t come into the match with the right attitude.

“I think it’s disrespectful to say it could have been five or six,” said Haywood. “I think we had the better chance in the first half missed.

“Overall it was disappointing, i didn’t think we were organised and was disappointed with our shape. The team turned up with the wrong attitude today.”

North Shore Mariner’s undefeated start to the season is over while Sydney FC shoot ahead of their opponents into third place.

Match Stats

North Shore Mariners 0

Sydney FC 4 (Patrick Flottman 14’, Jordi Swibel 35’, 80’, Jaiden Kucharski 45’)

Sunday 15th March, 2020

Lambert Park, Leichhardt 

Referee: Michael Bailey

Assistant Referees: S. Edeling, A. Mosnani

Fourth Official: N. Ryan

North Shore Mariners: 1.Ryan Wood (GK), 7.Hugo Forlico (26. Daniel Olaniran 69’) 9.Braden Cheng, 11. Emmanuel Peters, 14.Jesse Piriz, 16.Daniel Dias (23.Damir Prodanovic 67’) 18.Mitchell Smith, 20. Eddie Lee, 21. Joel Tinker, 22. Edward Caspers (19.Daniel Saric 45’), 27. Panny Nikas, 30. Zac Sfiligoi, 32. Brian Jamba,

Substitutes Not Used: 21. Joel Tinker, 20. Eddie Lee

Yellow Cards: Zac Sfiligoi 25’, Dylan Dias 30’, Brian Jamba 86’

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney FC Youth: 1. Adam Pavlesic (GK), 3. Aaron Gurd, 4. Anton Mlinaric, 5. Thomas Fay, 6. Calum Nieuwenhof, 7. Jake Hollman, 11. Jaiden Kucharski, (18. Cameron Peupion 75’), 13. Jordan Swibel, 14. Luke Ivanovic (9. Benjamin Koop 41’), 15. Scott Browning (8. Stevan Stanic-Floody 85’), 17. Callum Talbot, 19. Patrick Flottman, 20. Levi Kaye,

Substitutes Not Used: 1. Adam Pavlesic (GK), 3. Aaron Gurd,

Yellow Cards: Thomas Fay 49’, Jake Hollman 51’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Jake Hollman (SFC)

2 – Jordan Swibel (SFC)

1 – Thomas Fay (SFC)