TeleChoice Premier League Round 16 Review
The Sharks? unbeaten run was over with the Sydney United Sports Centre clash enterring the 4? minute of injury-time though just as it seemed Sydney United had secured the win, Sharks? top goal-scorer Brad Boardman popped-up to drill home the equaliser following a scramble in-front of Vedran Janjetovic?s goal.
Sydney United will feel extremely hard done by following an exceptional 70? minutes of football, though the Sharks displayed exactly why they lead the competition.
Luka Glavas had the Reds 2-0 up inside of the first 15? minutes, though the Sharks had to wait to the final 10? minutes before snatching a point. Michael Katz re-opened the contest before Boardman quashed the spirits of the Sydney United faithful.
At Penrith?s CUA Stadium, an emphatic display between Penrith-Nepean and Marconi Stallions produced six-goals and action aplenty for the 800 spectators present.
Vuko Tomasevic?s go-ahead goal for the Stallions was cancelled out in the 32? minute by Jason Browne before Tolgay Ozbey pushed the Stallions ahead just after half-time.
In an amazing five minute spell between the 70? and 75? minutes, Penrith-Nepean drew level via the boot of Ozgur Kanyilmaz before taking the lead moments later courtesy of Nathan Ralph.
Marconi Stallions? last ditch effort in injury-time salvaged David Barrett?s men a point – Ante Deur proving to be the hero for the Stallions.
On Sunday afternoon at Lambert Park, A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers and West Sydney Berries provided spectators with an action-packed display.
Mark Byrnes and Franco Parisi had A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt 2-0 up at the break, before Sash Tirovski and an own goal by the Tigers? John Kelso had the Berries back in the contest.
Even though The Tigers went a man down following Iain King?s second yellow-card for the afternoon, Franco Parisi managed to put his side ahead with a close-range finish ten minutes from the end.
The drama did not finish there as Tirovski had a chance to draw the Berries level from the penalty-spot moments before the final whistle ? the Tigers Matthew Nash pulled off a match-winning save as John Romeo?s men held on for maximum points.
In a poor and uninspiring encounter at Belmore Sports Ground ? matching the weather conditions across Sydney ? Sydney Olympic kept the pressure on the top-four teams above them with a 1-0 win against the ?luck-less? Blacktown City Demons.
Paul Wither?s goal just before the interval was enough for a tired Sydney Olympic who have played no less than six-matches over the past two-weeks, meanwhile the Demons? torrid run continued ? Coach Ken Schembri fielding almost a Youth side due to the long-list of injuries and suspensions that has hit the club.
Bankstown City?s ?on-again, off-again? charge towards the play-offs was ?on-again? following an impressive 4-0 thumping of a wasteful Macarthur Rams at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
A Paul Harries double, along with strikes from Robbie Mileski and James Monie, have Bankstown City eight-points outside the top-five with six-matches remaining.
Manly United?s recent form slump continued with a heart-breaking home loss to Wollongong FC.
Matthew Bailey?s winner eight minutes from the end kept the Wolves in fourth-spot ? one-point behind Manly United and Sydney United ? almost certainly ending Manly United?s brave hopes of catching Sutherland Sharks for the top-spot.
Wollongong?s revival ? following a mid-season slump in-terms of results ? has much to do with the arrival of former A-League player Dez Giraldi.
The former Adelaide United striker was in great touch for the Wolves and it was via his initiative that the Wolves? winner arrived for Bailey.
-By Joseph Carlucci
