State League Division 1 Round 16 Review
Match of the Round
Inter Lions
UNSW
?UNSW LEAVE IT LATE IN LACKLUSTRE WIN?
UNSW made it six wins on the trot on Sunday afternoon, when they captured all three points in a 1-0 away victory over Inter Lions at Concord Oval.
Despite the empty grandstands at the picturesque inner west stadium, the Round 16 clash was of massive importance to both clubs.
Inter were looking to make ground on the top two given their championship aspirations, and a win here would stamp their intentions.
UNSW were, remarkably, fighting at the foot of the ladder six weeks ago. But they have since turned their season around, and were looking to continue their march towards a finals position with yet another three points against the Lions.
UNSW were backing up from a 3-0 away win against Stanmore Hawks on Thursday night, and as if that wasn?t enough to test them, they lost top striker, Stuart Meney, one of the Division?s top marksmen, prior to the match with illness.
UNSW striker Rocky Luca tested Inter goalkeeper, Robert Napoleone, as early as the fourth minute, cutting in from the left and hitting a firm shot straight at the custodian from a tight angle.
Inter Lions had recently parted ways with playmaker, Ivo De Jesus, but had the return of the prodigal son, Lachlan Wright, to be happy about, given an unexpected recovery following a pre season knee injury. The Inter number 10 was fouled twice within the opening minutes, as a form of intent by the UNSW defence. Wright responded on 14 minutes with a well taken free kick that whizzed inches over the cross bar.
Inter should?ve taken the lead on 17 minutes, Adrian Vizzari knocking a great diagonal ball upfield and over the UNSW defence for Domenic Dimento to race onto.
Dimento skipped past a UNSW defender as he entered the penalty area, before squaring unselfishly when coming face to face with UNSW goalkeeper Mulroney. The ball was cleared just as Lachlan Wright came in to pull the trigger.
A couple of minutes later and Byrne headed a lofted free kick straight at Napoleone as UNSW tried to utilize their height advantage from set pieces.
Inter went close to bringing the game to life, when Leo Sansone dispossessed Asamoah near the corner of the penalty area on 27 minutes. The Inter midfielder steadied himself before he struck a vicious drive that dipped and just cleared the UNSW crossbar.
Yet another free kick was lofted in by UNSW in the 37th minute, this time Lloyd heading across the face of the goal and onto the cross bar, with the ball being eventually cleared by Inter defender, Skufris.
The half opportunities continued at each end of the park, with Inter closing the half with two chances that almost paid dividends.
In the 42nd minute, Shane Cevenini smacked a free kick that was spilled by UNSW keeper, Mulroney, along the goal line. Inter?s defender, Daniel Toscano, was first to the ball, laying it back for Dimento who cracked his shot high and just over the cross bar from a tight angle.
In first half injury time, good build up play from Shane Cevenini and James Kovas resulted in Lachlan Wright receiving the ball on the edge of the box. The Inter playmaker swiveled and smacked a half volley that just cleared the uprights.
Referee Mr Jim Nicolaou was firm in his control of proceedings, and promptly blew his half time whistle right on cue, bringing an end to a fairly lacklustre first half, desperately in need of a goal.
Unfortunately for the brave few that huddled for warmth in the stands, the second half was devoid of quality football, and chances were far and few between.
The arm wrestle was static, with neither team able to break the other?s stern defensive focus, and the game seemed heading for a scoreless draw.
Just after the hour mark, both teams traded blows via free kicks within a minute.
On 66 minutes, Inter?s Sansone curved a set piece perfectly over the wall, but it was straight at UNSW keeper, Mulroney, and he finger tipped it over the cross bar.
Within a minute and it was the turn of UNSW, and Davelaar drove his free kick just wide from fully twenty five yards.
Both coaches made two substitutions each with approximately fifteen minutes remaining, hoping to spark their respective teams into gear.
One of the Inter subs, Tachi, almost repaid his coach?s faith in the 81st minute, dispossessing UNSW captain, Janov, near the side of the penalty box, before cracking his angled shot wide at the near post.
A couple of minutes later, and it was one of the UNSW subs this time into the action, putting his team in front with an opportunist finish.
A long free kick, from wide out near the half way line, was merely punted into the Inter penalty area, hoping for the best.
The Inter defence allowed the ball to bounce, and UNSW?s Grech slipped between them and the onrushing keeper, Napoleone, to stab the ball home to the delight of the UNSW bench.
Three valuable points to the visitors have given them a major boost up the rankings, and on current form, are a real chance of continuing their push towards the semi finals.
UNSW coach, Luke Andrews, was understandably chuffed with his team?s continuing good form.
?We have a real commitment to each other, and that means working for ninety minutes,? said Andrews.
?We are now turning draws into wins, like we did today, and we are definitely aiming for the semi finals,? he added.
Best for UNSW were; Rocky Luca, who worked hard up front, holding the ball up for his team mates, and toiled relentlessly for any half opportunity that may have presented itself; Cassidy and Asamoah, similarly, covered a lot of ground for the visitors in the midfield, winning possession with some constant and fierce tackling; captain, Janov, also had a solid game in defence, strong in the tackle as he marshaled the backline.
Inter Lions? coach, Ernesto Meduri, was disappointed to lose so late in the piece.
?I don?t think we deserved to lose today, given the chances we missed, especially in the first half,? reflected Meduri.
?I sacrificed a defender, and put on an attacking midfielder, and striker, hoping for the goal and the win. But an error in defence cost us dearly. What can you do, this is football, if you don?t take your chances, you?ll pay the price,? said Meduri.
Their best on a disappointing day were; midfielder, Candalori, who played well as a link between the defence and the attack, his passes often hitting the mark as he searched for opportunities in attack; Sansone and Toscano were strong on the ball, focused when on the back foot, and quick to distribute once in possession.
Footnote ? coach Luke Andrews and the players from the UNSW club wanted to dedicate the victory to fellow first team member, 18 year old Lyndon Fry, who has spent the past few days in hospital in intensive care, following a frightening incident during Thursday night?s match against Stanmore Hawks.
The prayers and thoughts of the entire football community are with Lyndon, and on behalf of Football NSW, we wish him a very speedy recovery.
Match Stats
INTER LIONS 0
UNSW 1 (Grech 83?)
Sunday, July 5, at Concord Oval, Burwood
Referee ? Mr.Jim Nicolaou
Referee?s Assistants ? Mr.Mitchell Birtles & Mr.Anthony Cassanity
INTER LIONS ;1.R.Napoleone, 2.D.Toscano, 3.A.Vizzari (capt), 4.J.Skufris (12.P.Antar 73?), 5.L.Sansone, 6.P.Candalori, 7.L.Cole, 8.S.Cevenini, 9.J.Kovas, 10.L.Wright, 11.D.Dimento (13.Y.Tachi 73?).
Subs not used ? 12.A.Beccera, 15.V.Salvaggio,RGK.R.Maiorana.
UNSW ; 1.M.Mulroney, 12.G.Cassidy, 18.P.Di Natale (28.A.Grech 77?), 22.R.Luca (13.D.Rampono 89?), 26.L.Davelaar, 24.T.Griffin, 5.P.Asamoah, 11.C.Claridge, 14.M.Janov (capt), 2.P.Lloyd, 4.J.Byrne (6.L.Fogharty 77?).
Subs not used ?23.A.Mandas, RGK.W.Abdallah..
DIVISION ONE REVIEW ? Round Sixteen
Stanmore Hawks ? UNSW 0-3
(rescheduled Round 14 match played Thursday, July 2)
UNSW continued on their merry way in midweek, with a resounding 3-0 away victory against Stanmore Hawks on Thursday evening at Fraser Park.
The ?students? opened the scoring on 40 minutes via their top scorer, Stuart Meney, and doubled their advantage eight minutes into the second half with a goal by Lloyd.
Meney grabbed his twelfth of the season in injury time to wrap up proceedings, putting UNSW six points behind Inter Lions, setting the two teams up for a do-or-die battle on Sunday afternoon at Concord Oval.
Sydney Wanderers ? Blacktown Spartans 1-0
The topsy turvy results in Division One continued at Hajduk Stadium on Saturday evening when Sydney Wanderers acquired the scalp of Blacktown Spartans with a decisive 1-0 victory.
But the home side did leave it late indeed, with Nathan Cooper scoring the lone goal in the 88th minute.
The win pushes the Wanderers into mid table onto 18 points, whilst the Spartans have retained second position given unexpected losses to both Inter Lions and Schofields Scorpions.
Balmain SC ? Mounties FC 1-2
Mounties FC consolidated their position in the top five, and in turn moved into a lofty third position, with a 1-2 away triumph over Balmain at Lambert Park on Saturday evening.
All the goals came in a ten minute spell midway through the first half, with Stephen Tresoglavic setting the visitors on the way with a 15th minute effort.
Lorenzo Merlino continued his emphatic week by equalizing for Balmain on 22 minutes, and in doing so, managing to score for the third match in succession within a week.
But that experienced war horse, Steve Biviano, had the last laugh, he himself also scoring for the third week in a row, with the winning goal for the Mounties in the 25th minute.
Schofields Scorpions ? Dulwich Hill 0-3
Dulwich Hill went a long way to stamping their mark on the Division One championship with a resounding 3-0 victory over Schofields Scorpions on Sunday afternoon.
Rafael Bove put Dully into the lead with a goal on the half hour, before Neil Philippou grabbed a late brace with goals on 75 and 84 minutes to put them match beyond doubt.
The win has put Dully onto 33 points, four in front of Blacktown Spartans with a game in hand. The Scorpions, themselves, have a game in hand on most teams, but have slipped to fourth on the ladder, remaining on 26 points.
Hurstville ZFC ? Fairfield City Lions 2-2
At Hurstville Oval on Sunday afternoon, home side Hurstville ZFC threw away a two goal lead to end up drawing with Fairfield City Lions 2-2.
Jurleta put Hurstville ahead on just four minutes, and Stiven Kostanic scored his thirteenth goal of 2009 to give them a 2-0 lead at the break.
But Fairfield pulled one back when Cetinay converted a penalty in the 63rd minute, and grabbed a point with Mohebbee?s equalizer on 75 minutes.
Stanmore Hawks ? Hills Brumbies 1-0
Chris Theodosiou scored the lone goal of the game at Arlington Oval on Sunday, giving Stanmore Hawks a 1-0 win over Hills Brumbies.
The three points sees Stanmore move to seventh on the ladder on 20 points, a pleasing result given they were backing up from a midweek loss to UNSW.
-By Frank Speranza
