Brave Penrith Deny Wollongong First-Round Win

His team fought a continuous onslaught from the Wollongong FC attack for the full ninety-minutes and battled hard with only 10 men for the final 25? minutes to grind out a 0-0 draw. A result that in the dying minutes could have rewarded the mountain men with all 3 points but for a shot only inches wide of the post.
Wollongong FC started the match with star signing Alfredo, striker Osagie Ederaro and former Young Socceroo Lachlan Cahill from the bench and it was a daunting sight to see the Wollongong team with such a strong side with depth.
They also had Michael Hawrysuik, IFA player of the year Matthew Bailey and former Youth Captain Karuna Michael getting game time in the earlier youth grade game.
The first-half featured a dominant midfield display from Wollongong but it was Penrith’s Stewart Van Bentum who had the first clear cut chance of the day.
It was deep in the first half when Van Bentum had been allowed by the Wollongong FC defence to get a free header inside the penalty-area, but his header went flying over the cross bar.
Wollongong FC went to the break having more shots at goal than their counterparts they failed to add to the ?on target? tally.
The second-half started much the same as the first, with Wollongong again showing enterprise but it was the defensive prowess of Ante Juric and little known Ozzy Kanyilmaz who were the shining light for United.
The turning point of the match came in the 65? minute when a challenge by WFC’s Ben Blake triggered an overzealous reaction from Penrith’s Eric Anabalon who was shown the yellow card for his reaction.
The team?s reaction to Anabalon’s card triggered a second yellow to Captain Javier Mancino who was shown his marching orders shortly after.
Penrith then grew another foot taller from the onset and fought even harder, and with goalkeeper Daniel Schwarzer in good form and the brilliance of both Juric and Kanyilmaz, Penrith was not going to let the advantage of the extra player to Wollongong count for anything.
Late chances to Wollongong FC replacement Ederaro were denied time after time from the resilient Schwarzer.
Wollongong City’s coach John Turner again failed to secure a Round 1 win with Wollongong after having a career record 40 no results from about 41 starts.
Turner said: ?If we took our chances it could have been 10. I am not unhappy about the result but we didn’t win and we didn’t lose?.
Turner said his standouts for the match were defensive midfielder Steven Hayes and attacking midfielder Balla Conde.
Penrith’s Abbas Saad commented the result: ?Wollongong were a very difficult team to play, they play the game at 100 miles and hour and they were a good physical team?, he was ?elated? with his own sides effort and even though he was disappointed being reduced to 10 men his team had ?many clear cut chances and could have snatched the 3 points in the end.?
Clearly the story of the day revolved around new recruit Ozzy Kanyilmaz who despite playing in the Turkish Second division some time ago was plucked out of obscurity to star in Penrith’s enthralling draw.
Match Stats
Wollongong FC 0
Penrith Nepean United 0
John Crehan Park, CRINGILA
Referee: P. Vrtkovski
Assistant Referees: A. Glasgow, N. Trigoutsis
Fourth Official: A Deyelan
Crowd: 500

Wollongong FC: 1. Justin Pasfield (GK), 4. Michael WEST, 5. Steven HAYES, 6. Daniel ALIFFI, 8. Mitchell LONG, 9. Illja PRENZOSKI (18. Osagie EDERARO 66′), 10. Ballamadou CONDE, 12. Chris PRICE (3. Lachlan CAHILL 78′), 13. Tynan Diaz, 14. Danial CUMMINS, 17. Ben BLAKE (C)
Substitutes Not Used: 2. ALFREDO, 20. Daniel NASH (GK)
Yellow Cards: Tynan Diaz 22′
Red Cards: Nil
Penrith Nepean United: 42. Daniel SCHWARZER(GK), 2. William STUART, 5. Luke BOYD (6. Jack LONG 45′), 7. Javier MANCINO(C), 8. Stewart Van BENTUM (4. Ryan O’SHEA 71′), 9. Carl McNAUGHTON, 11. Eric ANABALON, 16. Michael CROMAR, 17. Ozzy KANYILMAZ, 20. Ben WRIGHT (13. Nathan RALPH 55′), 28. Ante JURIC
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Chad TAYLOR, 10. Tayfun BOUKAROLOU
Yellow Cards: Javier MANCINO 22′, Ante JURIC 56′, Eric Anabalon 65′, Carl McNAUGHTON 70′,
Red Cards: Javier MANCINO 65′
Match Ratings:
3 ? Ante JURIC (PNU)
2 ? Steven HAYES (WFC)
1 ? Ozzy KANYILMAZ (PNU)
 -By Andrew Byron