Sydney United clinch Premiership

Bankstown City?s slip up at Jensen Park against Manly United FC means that Sydney United has an unassailable five-point lead at the top with one round left to play.
The pitch at Sydney United Sports Centre left a lot to be desired, with a lack of grass evident across the turf, meaning swift free-flowing football was going to be difficult to produce for Sydney United?s final home game of the season.
The opening half hour or so was lacking in creativity, and therefore opportunity, as both teams struggled to threaten the other?s goal with neither goalkeeper required to work very hard at all.
This fact was not to take away from both sets of defences, with Joe Vrkic (Sydney United) and Ante Juric (Penrith-Nepean United) marshalling their backlines to perfection, restricting any attacking forays into their back third.
Believe it or not, the first real opportunity didn?t actually arrive until the 29? minute mark.
Penrith-Nepean?s Sean Mitchell curled over a perfect back post corner, but Gregory Kondek headed over when he should?ve at least forced a save.
Sydney United?s young goalkeeper Michael Frost was playing as a deep sweeper, and on a couple of occasions, was quick off his line to clear the potential danger posed by the long-ball played by Penrith-Nepean.
Sydney United had a great chance to open the scoring on 38? minutes, when Roger Galayini sent Todd Brodie away down the right-flank.
Brodie beat a defender before crossing into the penalty-area, but an unmarked David Zdrilic scuffed his volley from all of eight yards, the ball bouncing safely wide.
The half-time whistle blew after a scoreless first period, and you could have been excused for wondering why neither team had managed to take the game by the scruff, especially the home-side, given they had one hand on the minor premiership trophy.
One young, boisterous section of the fans took it upon themselves to create some entertainment, singing constantly in an attempt to increase the energy of their beloved Sydney United players.
What was to prove the solitary goal of the game came very early in the second period, in the 53? minute in fact, and it involved a clinical piece of finishing to put Sydney United in front.
Todd Brodie made space for himself down the right wing, before sending over a teasing cross towards the penalty-spot.
The ball eluded a Penrith-Nepean defender, and David Zdrilic was loitering in behind, chesting it down, before snapping a half volley that flew past Penrith-Nepean shot-stopper Matthew Nash and into the roof of the net.
The home-side controlled proceedings from there on, knowing that by not conceding they were destined for the three points, especially given Penrith-Nepean?s lack of punch in attack.
On 62? minutes Sydney United almost made it two, when Ricky Perenich?s mis-hit shot from outside the box found the feet of Luka Glavas, and the nippy striker turned on a sixpence before cracking a shot goalwards.
Penrith-Nepean?s goalkeeper Matthew Nash was equal to the task, reacting sharply to parry the ball over the crossbar.
A free-kick awarded in the 67? minute to Sydney United, was well executed by substitute Davor Bajsic, the ball curling over the wall before Matthew Nash flung himself to his left to make a great save.
The match then deteriorated from that point, with the visitors unable to break down the Sydney United brick wall defence.
The match ended with the home-side the victors by the lone goal, although, celebrations were put on hold, given Sydney United were waiting on Bankstown City?s result, the match between the Lions and Manly having had commenced an hour later, and had yet not been completed but finished in Manly’s favour 2-0.
For the visitors, ex-United player, Ante Juric, had a solid game in central defence, commanding in the air, quick with his distribution, and keeping his backline focused. He was aided by left back, David Comito, who likewise, was fierce in the tackle, and alert to any danger.
For the newly crowned Premiers, Joe Vrkic did similarly well in defence, the skipper controlling the ship as the home side thwarted any potential danger from Penrith.
Ricky Perenich provided a strong link in the centre of the park, winning possession, and effective with his passing game. Todd Brodie was utilised well on the flank, working tirelessly up and down the park in both attack and defence, whilst Luka Glavas was his usual busy self in the frontline, chasing hopeless balls, working hard to make space, and always available as an option for the ball carrier.
In the Grade-20 match, Sydney United defeated Penrith-Nepean United by two goals to one, moving into third position on the ladder on 35 points, and in the process clinching a semi final spot.
Match Stats
Sydney United 1 (David Zdrilic 53?)
Penrith-Nepean United 0
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Kris Griffith-Jones
Assistant Referees: Christian Mehl and David Lockeridge
Fourth Official: Leigh Pigram
Crowd: Approx 360
Sydney United: 20.Michael Frost; 19.Mitchell Thompson, 5.Damon Collina, 6.Joe Vrkic (c), 2.Ricky Perenich, 7.Todd Brodie (21.Dominic Rossi 72?), 3.Roger Galayini (15.Lisandro Berbis 71?), 14.Peter Markovic, 9.David Zdrilic, 16.Elsid Barkhousir (12.Davor Bajsic 60?), 11.Luka Glavas.
Substitutes Not Used: 24.Andrija Petkovic, 30.Aaron Rigato.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Penrith-Nepean United: 1.Matthew Nash; 3.David Comito, 10.Ben Gough, 6.Steven Baveas, 4.Evangelos Petratos (40.G. Faras 60?), 14.Gregory Kondek, 2.Mark Bariamis (27.Robert Morrison 87?), 17.Ante Juric, 12.Nicholas McInerney, 15.Sean Mitchell, 23.Devrin Huseyin (c), (9.W.Al-Rikaby 81?).
Substitutes Not Used: 21.Nikolas Jelic.
Yellow Cards: 15.Sean Mitchell 16?, 10.Ben Gough 37?, 3.David Comito 72?.
Red Cards: Nil
-By Frank Speranza