Last gasp Berries effort seals draw against Penrith-Nepean United
With the 90? minutes up, a precise set-piece executed by captain Aheleas Kotsopoulos found the head of Sobczyk who sent his glancing header inside of the far post.
The visiting Penrith-Nepean, who had the better share of possession in the first-half, twice took the lead in the second period, only to be pegged back by the Berries on both occasions.
The encounter produced its first point of note in the 2? minute when veteran Evangelos Petratos ? playing in a striker?s role – headed home a powerful header, only to see the effort ruled out for hand-ball. Petratos senior?s effort was well spotted by the referee, who had no hesitation to issue the first caution of the match.
The Berries responded with a well-worked interchange of passes involving Kotsopoulos, John Tironis and Dimitri Zakilas; the latter driving an effort on goal from the edge of the penalty-area, though goalkeeper Daniel Schwarzer had little trouble claiming the ball.
The lively Andrew Lazarou, complemented by Tayfun Buyukkopru, moved well throughout the half, carving chances for Evangelos Petratos using their quick ball movement. Lazarou found a yard of space in the Berries? half of the field on 15? minutes as the attacking midfielder beat his marker before shooting wide from a slightly decentralised position.
Buyukkopru was unlucky not to put the visitors ahead on 33? minutes when his wicked curling free-kick beat the wall, though finished wide, with goalkeeper Hamish McLean routed to the spot.
Following the break, it was the visitors again who looked the most likely to find the first goal. Evangelos Petratos? expert lay-off into the path of Steven Baveas allowed the midfielder to move into a one-on-one position; goalkeeper McLean produced a tremendous save down low to keep the scores level.
Penrith-Nepean did take the lead in the 53? minute when new signing Mitchell Long converted a pin-point Ante Juric cross from the left goal-line.
West Sydney Berries? reply was instant as John Tsironis? cross to the near post was met by a diving Liam Austin header; the ball finished wide.
Substitute Johnny Fotiadis nearly made an immediate impact for the Berries when his floating ball over the Penrith backline almost picked out a teammate.
Penrith-Nepean coach Ian Gillan introduced youngster Dimitrios Petratos, son of Evangelos Petratos, and the younger Petratos went close to making it 2-0 on 70? minutes. A loose ball on the edge of the penalty-area, following a swift counter-attack from Penrith-Nepean, was picked up by Petratos Junior. The youngster?s low-driven effort finished agonizingly wide of the mark.
Penrith-Nepean had a golden chance to wrap up the encounter on 76? minutes when Petratos senior won his side a penalty. The 40-year-old stepped up to take the spot-kick though his fierce effort struck the upright with his second attempt from the rebound, a header, easily claimed by McLean.
The Berries drew level via a set-piece, orchestrated by Captain Kotsopoulos. His whipped in effort picked out Kosta Lagoudakis at the back post; Lagoudakis headed his effort back across goal into the path of Dimitri Zakilas who guided his diving header into the back of the net.
With the momentum seemingly in favour of the West Sydney Berries, Penrith-Nepean produced a late counter-attack. A failed clearance by the Berries defence presented substitute Gregory Kondek with a chance from outside the penalty-area. Kondek hit a low drive through a sea of legs in the area, with the ball finishing past McLean and in the back of the net.
The Berries were not done though, and Kotsopoulos played another tantalising free-kick in the 3? minute of injury-time, converted by Sobczyk, to draw his side level again.
Kotsopoulos? impressive display on the night was blemished as the Berries Captain picked up a straight red card for dissent deep into injury-time.
Following the match, West Sydney Berries coach John Calleja expressed his delight at his side?s great escape:
?I am really happy that the boys didn?t give up and that they worked hard right until the end,? said Calleja.
?Following last weekend?s great result, I asked the boys to ensure their heads remained focused as I was wary of a good Penrith side. Credit to them (Penrith) is a very good footballing side, they will be difficult for all opponents this season.
?On the whole, it wasn?t a great performance. We took a long while to get going and really needed to dig deep. I am very disappointed with the late red card, as one of our most experienced players has fallen into that trap and will now be out of the team next weekend; this is really frustrating,? Calleja concluded.
Penrith-Nepean boss Ian Gillan was visibly disappointment that his side conceded a late goal:
?I really am disappointed because the equaliser came in the 3? minute of injury-time. We did well though, up until that point. Again, it was an improvement on last week and I really see this team on the up,? commented Gillan.
?We had that great chance to put the match out of reach via the penalty-spot and then again with another chance that followed, though in the end have fallen short.
?We?ll look to next week. We do need a win though to have all the players? confidence lifted,? ended Gillan.
Match Stats
West Sydney Berries 2 (Dimitri Zakilas 82?, Jack Sobczyk 90?+2?)
Penrith-Nepean United 2 (Mitchell Long 53?, Gregory Kondek 89?)
Saturday, 7th March, 2009
Lidcombe Oval, Lidcombe
Referee: Atila Stibinger
Crowd: 300 Approx.
West Sydney Berries: 1.Hamish McLean; 3.Omar Saadi, 4.Adam Wither, 5.Michael Cunico, 6.Jack Sobczyk, 10.John Tsironis (17.Chris Gaitazis 73?), 11.Aheleas Kotsopoulos (C), 14.Liam Austin 9.Cameron Jones (8.Johnny Fotiadis 67?), 16.Kosta Lagoudakis (12.James Kovas 87?), 19.Dmitri Zakilas.
Substitutes Not Used: 22.Trinity Allen (gk), 18.Lorenzo Machuca
Yellow Cards: John Tsironis 26?, Aheleas Kotsopoulos 39?, Kosta Lagoudakis 79?
Red Cards: Aheleas Kotsopoulos 90?+4?
Penrith-Nepean United: 1.Daniel Schwarzer, 2.Mark Bariamis, 3.David Comito, 4.Evangelos Petratos (14.Gregory Kondek 88?), 5.David Gardiner, 6.Steven Baveas (C), 9.Mitchell Long, 15.Sean Mitchell, 17.Ante Juric, 20.Andrew Lazarou (11.Dimitrios Petratos 57?), 26.Tayfun Buyukkopru.
Substitutes Not Used: 21.Nikolas Jelic, 19.Alexander Mansueto, 12.Nicolas McInerney
Yellow Cards: Evangelos Petratos 4?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Evangelos Petratos (PNU)
2 ? Jack Sobczyk (WSB)
1 ? Dimitri Zakilas (WSB)
-By Joseph Carlucci
