Tough match sees points split between Sydney United and White Eagles
Both sides were forced to make do with the muddy surface, though the overall level of play was certainly affected in this encounter played behind closed doors to the general public.
Almir Dizdaric scored the White Eagles go-ahead goal in the first period, before Sydney United ?super-sub? Davor Bajsic?s perfectly crafted free-kick salvaged a point late on for the home-side.
Reds player/coach Ante Milicic opted to start Elsid Barkhousir alongside David Zdrilic in the attacking third, with Mitchell Thompson handed the left-flank to feed the front pairing.
The White Eagles too possessed some real firepower in the attacking third with Jay Lucas partnering Almir Dizdaric, with Andre Gumprecht and Milorad Simonovic handed the key to the side?s midfield.
The home-side carved out the first chance of the match in the opening exchanges as Elsid Barkhousir burst from down the right-flank from deep in his own half to win his side a free-kick near the corner flag. Mitchell Thompson?s resulting free-kick picked out an unmarked Barkhousir who headed his effort inches wide of the up-right.
Bonnyrigg responded with Andre Gumprecht cleverly picking out Jay Lucas moments later in the attacking third, though Reds goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic was quick to thwart any danger.
On 10? minutes, Roger Galayini picked out a half-cleared White Eagles effort from defence, though the Reds midfielder?s first-time effort was skewed wide to the right of Nenad Vekic?s goal.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles nearly hit the lead on 12? minutes as Steven Bosinovski?s curling free-kick from the left-flank failed to pick up a touch inside the crowded penalty-area. The midfielder?s set-piece eluded all players to finish inches wide of the far up-right.
Barkhousir squandered a golden opportunity for the home-side at the other end after latching onto a Karl Dodd through ball from deep. Barkhousir out-ran his marker to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper though drove his effort over the crossbar from close-range.
The visitors hit the lead on 18? minutes with a thunderous volley by striker Almir Dizdaric. A poorly dealt with corner by the Reds defence saw the ball fall into the path of the White Eagles front-man; Dizdaric did not need a second shout as he thumped his effort into the top right-hand corner for the lead.
Bonnyrigg continued to pose a threat down the right-flank with Lucas combining well with Japanese import Kojiro Kaimoto for some fine territorial possession. Kaimoto though struggled to keep his feet on the muddy surface down the right side.
The Japanese import was in the thick of the action moments later as he and Mitchell Thompson exchanged pleasantries following two late challenges ? one by each player; the referee was on-hand to bring calm to the storm.
In the closing stages of the first period Sydney United player/coach Ante Milicic was forced to replace defender Milan Bosnar due to injury; the Reds boss opted to bolster their attacking stakes with Luka Glavas thrown into the mix.
After the break, Sydney United came out of the gates strongest with an immediate forward foray winning the side a corner. The resulting Thompson corner carried pace and precision as Vekic bravely came off his line to punch the ball away to safety.
Roger Galayini created a yard of space for himself down the left-flank in the attacking third as he cleverly beat his marker to reach the by-line; the Reds? player though failed to pick out a teammate with his cross as the White Eagles thwarted all danger with a strong clearance.
Moments later, Thompson nearly caught White Eagles shot-stopper Vekic unawares when his cross-turn-shot shaved the top part of the crossbar, much to the relief of the Bonnyrigg players.
On 55? minutes, Galayini weaved his magic in the middle of the park to release Todd Brodie down the right-flank. The Reds number 7 sent in a perfectly floated effort to the back post onto the head of David Zdrilic; the former Sydney FC striker though couldn?t keep his effort down with the ball finishing over the crossbar.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles? first venture forward of the half arrived on the hour as Bosinovski attempted a long-range effort. The midfielder failed to strike the ball cleanly with the final effort finishing well-wide.
The visitors kept the Reds in their defensive third moments later as a miscommunication by Karl Dodd and goalkeeper Janjetovic saw the side concede a corner. Star second-half performer Galayini was on hand to divert the danger for the Reds.
Tempers flared minutes later as White Eagles wing-back Mark D?Alessandro was lucky to escape with only a yellow card following a late tackle on Barkhousir. D?Alessandro (for the foul) and Luka Glavas (for protests) were both shown yellow cards.
On 68? minutes, Sydney United substitute Davor Bajsic?s floated free-kick picked out Damon Collina in the penalty-area, though the Reds defender failed to get enough behind his header to beat Vekic in-between the posts.
The visitors replied with a quick counter-attack, though Simonovic?s long-range attempt failed to test Janjetovic.
Damon Collina?s venture forward almost paid dividends as his floated cross picked out Bajsic, lurking at the back post. The Reds? ball player failed to hit the target.
Bonnyrigg nearly doubled their lead on 82? minutes as Jay Lucas? spectacular free-kick ricocheted off the crossbar. The rebound fell into the path of an ill-prepared Dizdaric who headed over from close-range.
The missed chance proved costly as Sydney United converted a free-kick from a similar position on 88? minutes. Slightly de-centralised to the right of goal, Bajsic?s phenomenal curling free-kick over the wall finished in the bottom left-hand corner to draw the Reds level.
Sydney United nearly snatched the win as Bajsic got in behind the White Eagles defence before delivering a cross into the penalty-area into the path of a lunging Luka Glavas. The Reds striker only just failing to get a boot onto the ball.
In injury-time, the Reds players thought they were denied a clear penalty when Elsid Barkhousir was brought down inside the penalty-area. Despite the protests, the referee handed Barkhousir a yellow card for going to ground too easy, much to the disbelief of the home team.
Following the match, both coaches were disappointed not to have taken more from the match:
Sydney United?s Ante Milicic:
?My players really put the effort in today, though the conditions were awful.
?We like to play two-touch football and move the ball around, though it was impossible to do today as the surface would not allow us to play our game. It really is something that needs to be addressed here.
?I am disappointed that we conceded via a set-piece ? apart from that chance and the free-kick in the second-half (Jay Lucas effort off the crossbar) I don?t think we gave them anything from open play.
?We did improve things in the second-half with Davor?s (Bajsic) introduction ? he is one of the best ball players in the League. The only reason he didn?t start today was because of the surface ? I couldn?t expect his best on an awful pitch like the one today,? Milicic ended.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles boss, Brian Brown:
?I am disappointed not to be leaving Edensor Park without the three-point.
?Today we battled hard in difficult conditions, and I was pleased with the effort of the players throughout the 90? minutes.
?A few of our new boys lifted and I believe that we kept Sydney United from any real good scoring chances, apart from an early one in the opening half.
?In saying that, we still have some work to do in sight of the finals series. I believe our destiny is in our own hands, with some big matches coming up with the Manly United catch-up match also. Had we won today, yes I would have been a lot happier, though we are still in it with a chance, and Cliffy (Assistant coach Cliff Point) and I will be looking to prepare the boys as best as possible for the final run home.
?I believe that should we get into the finals, no team would want to play Bonnyrigg as we are certainly a threat to any side,? concluded Brown.
In the Grade 20 division, the Sydney United v Bonnyrigg White Eagles encounter was cancelled due to the recent wet weather.
Match Stats
Sydney United 1 (Davor Bajsic 89?)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Almir Dizdaric 18?)
Sunday, 12th of July, 2009
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Peter Vrtkovski
Crowd: 250.
Sydney United: 1.Vedran Janjetovic; 4.Milan Bosnar (Luka Glavas 44?), 5.Damon Collina, 6.Joe Vrkic (C), 7.Todd Brodie (12.Davor Bajsic 62?), 3.Roger Galayini, 26.Karl Dodd, 19.Mitchell Thompson, 9.David Zdrilic (10.Ante Milicic 78?), 16.Elsid Barkhousir, 45.Sam Munro
Substitutes Not Used: 30.Michael Frost, 24.Andrija Petkovic
Yellow Cards: Mitchell Thompson 41?, Joe Vrkic 58?, Luka Glavas 64?, Davor Bajsic 65?, Elsid Barkhousir 90?+2?
Red Cards: Nil
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 1.Nenad Vekic; 2.Paul Cotte, 3.Graeme Forbes, 4.Kojiro Kaimoto, 5.Mark D?Alessandro (20.Milan Zoric 90?), 15.Steven Bozinovski (14.Domenic Cutri 75?), 9.Jay Lucas, 11.Almir Dizdaric (13.Ryan Baldacchino 89?), 12.Andre Gumprecht, 17.Milorad Simonovic, 18.Tayfun Devrimol (C)
Substitutes Not Used: 23.Ali Akbal; 6.Ilkay Gurbuz
Yellow Cards: Mark D?Alessandro 64?, Paul Cotte 90?+3?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Joseph Carlucci
