Tiger Turf Round 3 action commences as shocks hit the Cup
Super League outfit PCYC Parramatta Eagles cruised to a bone crushing 9-3 victory against State League Two side Prospect United at Melita Stadium. Craig Jacob notched up a double as did Fabian Iacovelli and Kutaiba Elrich while Chris Camilleri and George Lagoudakis got onto the score-sheet while there was also an own-goal. Jason Falzon rested a number of his first team stars and had the majority of his Under 20?s squad in the side who did well in defeating their opponents.
At Bonnyrigg Sports Centre, TeleChoice Premier League outfit Bonnyrigg White Eagles defeated Sutherland Shire based Association side Gymea 4-2. White Eagles coach Brian ?Bomber? Brown opted to rest a number of his starters but had Frederick Graham to thank after his impressive three-goal haul while defender Mark D?Alessandro headed home also in what was a tough win for the home side. It was a spirited performance by Gymea who put in a tremendous effort in reaching round 3 of the Tiger Turf Cup.
In the double header at Jensen Park, TeleChoice Premier League side Bankstown City Lions proved to be too strong for Illawarra Premier League club Port Kembla with the home side running out 3-1 victors. It was a memorable display for Lions? promising young gun Shannon Burgin who notched up a brace in the Lions? solid win over the South Coast club.
At the same venue, Super League side Rockdale City Suns defeated State League Two club Springwood 2-1. Mile Todorovski?s men qualified for a Round 4 spot thanks to goals from Joshua Lawson and Goran Popovski.
Super League side Granville Rage provided the biggest shock of the evening?s results as they knocked out TeleChoice Premier League outfit West Sydney Berries 2-1 at Lidcombe Oval. Ali Al Sarkhi and Shannon Hankin were the heroes for Hugh McCrory?s men as they celebrated victory over their highly fancied opponents.
At Sydney United Sports Centre, a double header took place as in the first match up, State League Two side Camden Tigers continued its terrific run in the Cup as they knocked out Super League side Northern Tigers 1-0.
In the later match, unbeaten TeleChoice Premier League frontrunners Sydney United fielded a youthful squad with a couple of fringe first team starters as they defeated Super League side St George Saints 1-0 thanks to a goal from Roger Galayini.
Gabbie Stadium also played host to a double header with Blacktown City Demons dishing out a 2-1 win over Super League side Dulwich Hill.
Ken Schembri?s young squad were on the back foot after scores were locked 0-0 at half time, it was Dulwich Hill who struck first. Gavin Forbes pegged one back for the Demons in the later stages of the second half before the home side were sent into raptures when the winner came a minute before full-time. Under 20?s player Adam Woodbine sent a sizzling cross to Forbes who headed home the winner right on the full-time whistle. Schembri was happy with how his chargers reacted even though they were down 1-0 but shared some good words for their opponents.
?I thought the boys did well considering we went down early in the second half. A chose to field a number of young boys but they did their bit in building enough character in getting a positive result.
?Credit to Dulwich Hill though, they had a couple of decent performers on the night. They battled till the end and showed a number of good qualities which I am sure are assisting them in their promotion race for a Super League spot next season.?
While in the evening?s other clash, TeleChoice Premier League side Penrith Nepean United were given a fright from tricky State League Two side Roosters FC as they needed extra time in defeating their opponents 5-3.
The game was a thriller as both sides went at each other with the game ending 3-3. Penrith?s goals came in the forms of Angelo Petratos, Devrim Huseyin and own goal before the game headed into extra-time. The home side then pilled on the pressure and proved to be too strong as Mitchell Long and Dimitrios Petratos sealed victory for Ian Gillan?s men.
?The fans that went to see this match got value for their money as it was a very entertaining game.
?Roosters FC were a very tough outfit and went all out in getting the victory. Luckily we took it to them also and got the victory in progressing into the next stages of the Cup,? Gillan stated to Football NSW.
Super League outfit Fraser Park played host to a thrilling match as they defeated the Southern Tablelands Football Association Strikers 4-3 after extra-time.
Ramsin Shamon?s men found the Strikers a tough opposition but goals to Leon Cusack, Alex Smith and a double from Diogo Andrade assured Fraser Park a spot in round 4 of the Tiger Turf Cup.
TeleChoice Premier League side Sutherland Sharks defeated Super League outfit Sydney University 2-1 at Seymour Shaw with a full match report written by Micky Brock displayed below.
Finally TeleChoice Premier League side Marconi Stallions demolished State League One side Inter Lions 9-0 at Marconi Stadium. Ben Vidaic scored a double as did Tim McGowan while goals from Matthew Gordon, Umut Tokdogan, Daniel Ott, Sean O?Connell and Lenox Tweneboa completed the rout.
Four matches remain to conclude round 3 of the Tiger Turf Cup with Manly United taking on Pacific Hills Dural, Sydney Wanderers taking on Wollongong Community FC, Spirit FC tackling Sydney Olympic and Central Coast Lightning taking on Sydney Tigers.
The official draw for round 4 will take place at Football NSW?s headquarters on Friday 22nd May.
Tiger Turf Cup Round 3 Results:
Marconi Stallions v Inter Lions 9-0
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Gymea 4-2
Rockdale City v Springwood 2-1
Bankstown City Lions v Port Kembla 3-1
Blacktown City v Dulwich Hill 2-1
Penrith Nepean United v Roosters FC 5-3 (extra time)
Camden Tigers v Northern Tigers 1-0
Sydney United v St George FC 1-0
PCYC Parramatta Eagles v Prospect United 9-3
Sutherland Sharks v Sydney University 2-1
Fraser Park v STFA Strikers 4-3 (extra time)
West Sydney Berries v Granville Rage 1-2
Tiger Turf Cup Round 3 Fixtures:
Manly United v Pacific Hills/Dural Tuesday 19th May 7:30pm Cromer Park
Sydney Wanderers v Wollongong Community FC Tuesday 19th May 7:30pm Hajduk Stadium
Spirit FC v Sydney Olympic Wednesday 20th May 7:30pm Christie Park
Central Coast Lightning v Sydney Tigers Thursday 21st May 8:15pm Pluim Park
-By Mark Stavroulakis
Tiger Turf Round 3 Match Report
Sutherland Sharks v Sydney University
Sharks teach University a lesson
Sutherland Sharks put Sydney University to the sword in their opening match of the Tiger Turf Cup at Seymour Shaw Park ? a Round Three tie – on a chilly Wednesday evening.
The visitors were overwhelmed by a Sharks outfit jostling for TeleChoice Premier League starting places as they gave a few of their up-and-coming stars a run, as well as welcoming the return to first team action of midfield dynamo Nick Stavroulakis after nine-weeks out with a groin injury who played the full ninety minutes and rediscovered his touches.
With just 5-minutes gone it was Sydney Uni who found themselves under the pump as the pace, strength and one-touch passing of the home-side left them no time on the ball and chasing shadows. They should have been behind when Michael Katz took a quick throw-in for Jimmy Bakis who immediately played Katz in down the right and his cross was met by Matt Hall but he mistimed the effort and the chance was gone.
Towering Uni centre-back pairing of Sam Shore and Simon Turner were in the thick of the action more often than they would have liked, but gave a good account of themselves as the visitors finally began to wrest back a foothold in the match. Despite their efforts, the impression was, other than the long-ball game, their best opportunity would come from a set-piece and it almost proved the case in the 16? minute but the 25-yard free-kick sailed harmlessly wide.
Bakis took a corner in the 22? minute, met by the head of Michael Robinson, as once again Uni found their goal peppered from all angles but still the elusive opening strike wouldn?t come as Sydney put their bodies on the line to clear any danger.
Against the run of play, they took a shock lead on 42? minutes when a quick breakaway down the right saw Aman Hadid hit a low right-foot cross shot beyond the reach of Sharks goalkeeper Jordan Nikolovski to give a nil-one half-time result.
Credit to Sydney Uni for sticking to the task at hand.
Neil Jablonski stole the ball from Daine Merrin and sent in a curling effort from the edge of the box in the opening minutes of the second period that came off the underside of the crossbar, bounced down on the line and away to safety as once more the home-side was thwarted in their attempts to find the back of the net with the keeper well beaten on this occasion.
Panny Nikas replaced Brad Boardman after 54? minutes as coach Robbie Stanton looked to change things up and Aaron Kidd came on for Peter Gavaghan.
Sutherland was awarded a justly deserved penalty, resulting in a caution for Daine Merrin in the 55? that substitute Nikas slotted home to level the score and it was that man again as the home side finally hit the lead on 61? minutes
Daren Vujovic replaced Simon Turner who picked up an injury when tackling Katz in the 72? minute as Uni began to tire against the constant barrage from the Sharks. In the final analysis though, Uni were punching above their weight, out-gunned and out-muscled but never out-classed on the night.
Sydney University coach John Caruana said afterwards:
?We played a Premier League side tonight and in the end the fitness told
?However, we matched them and out discipline was terrific but with Bakis, Stavroulakis and co. On the pitch they had too much experience for us but it was a good match tonight.?
Counterpart Robbie Stanton was reflective when saying:
?I always thought this was going to be a tough game but we experimented a bit tonight and it didn?t pay off so we changed around a little at half-time.
?They took a deserved lead I thought as they are a good side and well organised but in the end our fitness and pace told so we go into the next round.
?Full credit to them though as they really made us work hard for the win.?
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 2 (Nikas 57? (pen) ,61?)
Sydney University 1 (Hadid 42?)
Wednesday 13th May, 2009
Tiger Turf Cup Round 3
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Referee: Kevin Peddie
Assistant Referees: Daniel Dewhurst and David Ward
Sutherland Sharks: 17.Jordan Nikolovski; 15.Michael Katz, 12.Neil Jablonski, 18.Yanni Fragogiannis, 10.Matt Hall, 19.Matt Villazon, 14.Nick Stavroulakis, 4.Michael Robinson (11.Adam Faour 74?), 3.Ashley Brown, 9.Brad Boardman (23.Panni Nikas 54?), 7.Jimmy Bakis (21.Aram Tayebi 78?)
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Nathan Denham, 8.Nathan Ralph
Yellow Cards: Fragogiannis 82?
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney University: 1.James Lowery; 2.Sam Shore, 3.Tim Stewart, 4.Simon Turner (14.Daren Vujovic 72?), 5.Paul Madulla, 6.James Alcorn (13.Matthew Carnuccio 79?), 7.Peter Gavaghan (16.Aaron Kidd 54?), 8.Daine Merrin, 9.Ihsan Savran, 10.Christian Soares, 11.Aman Hadid
Substitutes Not Used: 12.Brett Jones, G/K Jonathon Faerber
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Neil Jablonski (SS)
2 – Sam Shore (SU)
1 – Ashley Brown (SS)
-By Micky Brock
