Penrith Nepean outplay disappointing Sydney Tigers
Penrith-Nepean coach Ian Gillan has put together more than just a workman team at Penrith and they more than deserved the points; points they felt they should have picked up the previous week at West Sydney as well. In the end the disappointing thing for the home side would have been that only one goal separated the two teams, with Tayfun Buyukkopru?s goal, a cross-come-shot from the right in the 76? minute, enough to separate the two sides.
After a delayed kick-off due to the weather conditions, the first half saw Penrith push the ball around very well but the first real effort anywhere near target fell to Jamie McMaster after Marino Musumeci had played him into an open position outside the box. McMaster?s long-range effort was weak but deflected off target. McMaster?s game, and season perhaps, ended in the 53? minute with a leg injury that seemed to occur off the ball.
In the 19? minute the Tigers had claims of hand-ball in the area by the Penrith defence turned away by referee Sandro Perticarini. Seven minutes later Mitchell Long?s effort on goal was denied by Zabaks after a defensive error had left him with the opportunity on goal. A minute later and Buyukkopru, who was playing with a confidence and skill level unseen in the last 14-months, surprisingly passed the ball to Long when he had an opportunity to shoot himself as the defence did not mark up on him. Long?s effort was closed down by the Tigers? defence, but again his run demonstrated the threat that he would be to the Tigers all night, with his pace and strong presence on the ball.
Just before the half hour Long would pounce on another defensive mix up as he slid between the two central defenders and honed in on goal. His shot was at Zabaks but he could only palm the ball and Evangelos Petratos, putting in a strong display up front, pounced to have the ball in the back of the net. However, celebrations were brief as the assistant?s flag was raised for offside.
In the 35? minute Jamie McMaster picked up a ball that Penrith thought had been headed away from danger by Mark Bariamis and shot just wide of the far post, in what proved to be the Tigers? closest shot on target all night. Then shot-stopper Daniel Schwarzer punched the ball just before Younis could pounce with a header, the younger brother of Socceroo Mark Schwarzer in impressive form throughout the encounter.
Just before half-time Michael Galluzzo was replaced by Daine Merrin. Galluzzo?s injury could see him out of action for a few weeks. With the last header of the opening half Penrith-Nepean could have gone in-front as Petratos, who was poorly marked, headed the ball from a corner onto the underside of the bar; the ball though spun out rather than into the goal. This was just after youngster Andrew Lazarou had seen his long distance shot saved by Zabaks.
The Tigers could then have taken the lead in the opening seconds of the second-half as Robbie Younis was free on the left, but he shot low and straight at Daniel Schwarzer who managed to hang onto the shot.
With Robbie Younis now playing up front by himself and marked by a number of defenders, it was becoming clear the Tigers would struggle to score a goal, let alone seven, as they did in the corresponding match last year. There was now to be more danger for the Tigers defence as on the hour Dimitrios Petratos was introduced into the play. His danger down the left was for all to see and he was unlucky not to play Mitchell Long through on goal in the 66? minute but his through ball was just too long. Petratos is definitely one for the future.
The Tigers could now not even get the basics right as the highly talented roster failed to even put simple passes together. The ball was now being played through the middle of the park by both teams, with the width of park being left empty despite names like Lyons (who ended up at left back) and Kayes on the field.
In the 73? minute Robbie Younis pounced on loose possession from the Penrith-Nepean midfield but as he came between Ante Juric and Daniel Gardiner he was crunched to the ground.
On 76? minutes, Buyukkopru hit the home-side ahead. He had broken down the right-flank, about 15-metres in from the touchline. His swerving ball into the penalty-area deceived Zabaks who came out and flapped at the ball at the near post.
Three minutes later Evangelos Petratos put a shot in and Phil Zabaks could only try and punch it away. It fell to Mitchell Long, who had once again played himself into the right position, but Long was unable to turn enough to get an accurate shot in on goal.
On 84? minutes the Tigers were presented their best chance but once more it was a poor pass from a Penrith-Nepean player, this time David Comito, that set-up the chance; but Schwarzer again on hand to keep his side ahead.
It would be great to say the game finished with the Tigers putting the pressure on. However they failed to do so and when the referee blew fulltime it was almost a sigh of relief that could be heard from the away team.
After the game no official comment was forthcoming from the Tigers camp who were upset about their loss.
However the final words should be left for the triumphant Gillan, who has successfully forged together a winning side that does more than graft out a result. A team that, despite obstacles being thrown from both outside and within the club, is playing to a level many critics did not expect:
?This result has been coming for a while. We felt we should have got more out of last week and even in round one we could have got a point. There was not a bad player amongst my group tonight.
?We had to break them down, we defended well and we had good ball retention. We learnt from last week?s mistakes and played a better game for it and got the result we deserved.?
Match Stats
Penrith-Nepean United 1 (Tayfun Buyukkopru 76?)
Sydney Tigers 0
Saturday, 14th March, 2009
CUA Stadium, Penrith
Referee: Sandro Perticarini
Crowd: 500 Approx.
Penrith-Nepean United: 1.Daniel Schwarzer; 2.Mark Bariamis, 3.David Comito, 4.Evangelos Petratos, 5.Daniel Gardiner, 6.Steven Baveas, 9.Mitchell Long, 15.Sean Mitchell (8.Paul Crisp 85?), 17.Ante Juric, 20.Andrew Lazarou (11.Dimitrios Petratos 63?), 28.Tayfun Buyukkopru (14.Greg Kondek 83?)
Substitutes Not Used: 12.Nikolas Jelic, 12.Nic McInerney
Yellow Cards: Steve Baveas 25?
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney Tigers: 99.Phillip Zabaks; 2.Mark Byrnes, 3.John Kelso, 4.Daniel Clifford 5.Michael Galluzzo (23.Daine Merrin 39?), 6.Shane Lyons, 7.Steven Kayes, 8.Marino Musumeci (24.Jason Trifiro 82?) 9.Robert Younis, 15.Daniel Cummins, 19.Jamie McMaster (13.Stefan Donevski 58?)
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Giancarlo Papapaini, 11.Carlo Musumeci
Yellow Cards: John Kelso 44?, Mario Musumeci 64?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 -Mitchell Long (PNU)
2 – Steve Baveas (PNU)
1 – Tayfun Buyukkopru (PNU)
-By Stuart Jones
