State League Division 1 Round 17 Review
Match of the Round
Fairfield City Lions v Sydney Wanderers
Draw ends semi hopes for Lions and Wanderers
Semi final aspirations were on the line at Norford Park on Sunday afternoon, as Fairfield City Lions and Sydney Wanderers did battle for a most valuable three points.
But amidst plenty of huffing and puffing from both teams, a score draw was all they could muster by the completion of the ninety minutes, all but ending any hope for a top five spot in 2009.
Just as the fans had settled down in their seats on a brisk, wintry afternoon, the visitors set the cat amongst the pigeons with a goal within the opening minute.
The Wanderers have picked up one the most technically gifted players in Division One, Ivo De Jesus, who parted ways with Inter Lions recently, and it was De Jesus who dispossessed the Lions at the kick off , immediately sparking a counter attack downfield.
The move ended with a shot by Martinez striking the hand of an unfortunate defender, and experienced referee, Mr James Barnes, pointed promptly to the spot.
Young midfielder Terry Pannowicz took on the responsibility, and sent Fairfield?s keeper, Webb, the wrong way, with a firm strike to the custodian?s left.
The Wanderers kept at it early on, trying to increase their advantage, firstly on six minutes, when Martinez chested down a cross and hit a sweet volley that was tipped around the post by Webb.
Ten minutes later and the Wanderers should?ve made it two, when striker Alcantra charged down a clearance by Wanderers keeper, Webb, the ball falling invitingly to De Jesus on the edge of the box. The playmaker volleyed straight at Webb with the home fans gasping.
For all their efforts in the build up, it took the home side half an hour to muster their first real opportunity on goal, Wanderers keeper Rizzo saving a blistering free kick by Mohebbee at the second attempt.
Five minutes later the home side should?ve done better when the lively Amiri chased down a long ball, eventually cutting it back to Cetinay who had made a run into the box.
The young midfielder, however, scuffed his shot along the ground, the ball being cleared away by a defender.
A minute later and De Jesus set up a great opportunity for the visitors, reaching a diagonal pass near the corner flag, and cutting in and out of a defender before sending over a teasing cross. Martinez failed to reach the ball with his head by a matter of centimetres, whilst Cholerton, who had supported the attack at the far post, hit an angled shot that was well blocked by Fairfield?s defender, Gaeta.
Right on half time De Jesus was at it again, turning Fairfield?s defenders, Mourad and Gaeta, inside out on the edge of the box, before chipping Fairfield?s goalkeeper, Webb, with the ball clearing the cross bar by inches.
Half time came and went, with the home fans disappointed, and desperate to see more intensity from their troops. The Wanderers had the advantage, but needed a second goal if they were to put the game to bed.
The opening 20 minutes of the second stanza were fierce to say the least, with the tackles and challenges flying in from both sets of players as they tried to take the ascendancy.
Referee, Mr James Barnes, has seen it all in his time, and issued a couple of cautions following the odd kerfuffle in his attempts to keep a lid on the aggression.
On 61 minutes De Jesus dispossessed Fairfield?s defender, Mourad, near the corner flag, before squaring to Alcantra, who stabbed over the cross bar under pressure from a couple of desperately retreating defenders.
The Lions were definitely much more high tempo in the second half, and were determined to pull themselves back into the match, throwing men forward in numbers as they threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the Wanderers.
On 64 minutes they should?ve scored, a foray into the box resulted in Ongel blasting well over after he controlled a high ?up-and-under?.
Fairfield finally hauled themselves level in the 66th minute.
A cross into the box was cleared by the Wanderers defence, and skipper Robbie Issa was quickest to react, pinching the ball out of mid air before striking a left foot volley that beat Wanderers keeper, Rizzo, all ends up.
The home side kept up their momentum, and could?ve taken the lead on 79 minutes. Issa put a superbly weighted free kick just behind the visitors? defence, but Mohebbee hesitated and was dispossessed when he should?ve pulled the trigger from inside the penalty box.
Amid some desperate calls from the benches, and shouts of support from the fans, the game spluttered to an end, the 1-1 draw probably a fair result in the end.
Sydney Wanderers coach, ex-Socceroo and Marconi stalwart, Tommy McCulloch, was disappointed not to have picked up the three points.
?I?m disappointed we didn?t win, after starting so well,? said McCulloch, adding ?the opposition picked up their intensity and it was an even second half.?
?I was fairly happy overall, but today summed up our season, where we have dropped silly points, and even though we won?t give up, it?ll be difficult to make the top five,? reflected McCulloch.
For Sydney Wanderers, best on the day were ; the defence were solid throughout, with McKenzie, Ciampa and skipper Bourke especially strong in the tackle, reading the play well, and often stopping the opposition with timely interceptions ; striker Alcantra was busy all day, chasing any ball that needed chasing, and unlucky not to get more for his efforts ; playmaker Ivo De Jesus, who beats defenders for fun with his skill, and was often the architect of many of Sydney Wanderers? attacking moves.
Fairfield City Lions skipper, Robbie Issa, dragged himself out of his sick bed to lead his team today, but was equally disappointed with the result.
?We have a lot of youth in our team, but that inexperience sometimes can cost us when it counts,? said Issa.
?We picked up the intensity in the second half, but that last pass didn?t count when it mattered, and that can be so disappointing,? added the inspirational skipper.
Best for Fairfield City Lions were ; Issa lead his team around the park, crafty on the ball, intuitive in attack, and was rewarded for his efforts with a great goal ; striker Amiri worked tirelessly all day, hassling the Wanderers defence continuously with his fierce challenges, and could?ve been better served by his team mates rather than spending most of the day chasing long balls ; young midfielder Cetinay showed good technique as he often set up his team?s attacks.
Match Stats
FAIRFIELD CITY LIONS 1 (Issa 66?)
SYDNEY WANDERERS 1 (Pannowicz penalty 1?)
Sunday, July 12, at Norford Park No.2, Sefton
Referee ? Mr.James Barnes
Referee?s Assistants ? Mr.Mitchell Barnes & Mr.George Mpliokas
FAIRFIELD CITY LIONS;1.J.Webb, 2.S.Sozer, 3.D.Mourad, 5.O.Cetinay, 6.T.Gabriel (16. H.Hidalgo 46?), 8.N.Codmani, 10.R.Issa (capt), 11.M.Amiri, 12.M.Mohebbee (7.S.Dogan 83?), 13.A.Gaeta (4.E.Ongel 59?), 14.A.Capono.
Subs not used ? RGK.G.Bogdan.
SYDNEY WANDERERS; 20.C.Rizzo, 2.S.McKenzie, 3.P.Bourke (capt), 4.N.Cholerton (7.N.Cooper 64?), 6.T.Pannowicz, 8.I.De Jesus, 9.D.Martinez (10.AFroio 81?), 11.J.Ciampa, 12.B.Gibson, 14.A.Mendes (16.EAdam 71?), 18.P.Alcantara.
Subs not used ?15.D.Borg,RGK.K.Kardum.
DIVISION ONE REVIEW ? Round Seventeen
Stanmore Hawks ? Balmain SC 1-0
Stanmore Hawks stayed in the hunt for a finals spot with a narrow 1-0 victory against Balmain on Saturday evening at Arlington Oval.
Chris Theodosiou grabbed the all important winner on 64 minutes, putting the Hawks on 23 points in seventh position, whilst the loss leaves Balmain in 10th spot on the competition ladder.
Schofield Scorpions ? Mounties FC 0-1
The Mounties have continued their positive form of late, and catapulted themselves towards the competition summit, with two wins in the matter of a few days.
Backing up following their midweek 2-1 victory over Fairfield City Lions, the Mounties FC faced the Scorpions away at CSI Sport Ground in the match of the round on Saturday night.
Lloyd scored the game?s solitary goal in the 66th minute, giving the Mounties the valuable win and putting them second on the ladder on 33 points.
As for Schofields, a mounting injury toll and their indifferent form is threatening to derail their championship hopes. However, they do still have games in hand on most clubs, but will need a change in fortune if they are to fulfil their early season promise.
Blacktown Spartans ? UNSW 0-3
Both Blacktown Spartans and UNSW continued their form of late at Francis Park on Saturday evening, with UNSW coming away with a 3-0 victory.
Since knocking over Schofield Scorpions in Round 14, the Spartans have hit a poor patch of results in recent weeks, and have now dropped to third on the ladder with their third successive loss.
UNSW have, on the other hand, been impressive in their climb up the competition, making it a remarkable seven wins on the trot as they move to 25 points and a whisker outside the semi final spots.
The ?students? scored two goals early, with Byrne (16?) and Richards (24?) giving them a comfortable half time lead, before Byrne put the result beyond doubt with his second on 50 minutes.
Inter Lions ? Hills Brumbies 2-0
Inter Lions made hard work of their victory over Hills Brumbies on Sunday afternoon at Concord Oval, eventually getting the spoils in a 2-0 triumph.
Prodigal son, Lachlan Wright, opened the scoring on 57 minutes, before Inter?s ever reliable skipper, Adrian Vizzari, put the match beyond doubt in the 80th minute with his sixth goal of the season.
The three points puts Ernesto Meduri?s charges on 28 points in fourth place as they returned to the winner?s circle following last weekend?s defeat.
Dulwich Hill ? Hurstville ZSC 3-1
Dulwich Hill moved to 36 points and retained their outright leadership of Division One with a 3-1 home victory over Hurstville ZSC at Arlington Oval.
Neil Philippou?s ninth goal of the season put Dully in front after 26 minutes, before Dusan Mihajlovic made it two just five minutes before the break.
Stiven Kostanic ? who else ? scored his fourteenth goal of the campaign in the 51st minute to pull a goal back for Hurstville.
But Mihajlovic secured his brace in the 64th minute, converting a penalty to give Dully a most valuable three points.
-By Frank Speranza
