Sydney United silence the Tigers
Sydney United cruised to a 2-0 victory on Sunday, outclassing a 10-man A.P.I.A-Leichhardt Tigers outfit in all facets of the game at Sydney United Sports Centre.
The win leaves the Reds in second position – one point behind Blacktown City FC – while the Tigers remain languishing at the bottom of the NSW Premier League ladder with one win from eight matches.
Sydney United were presented with the first opportunity of the afternoon when a free-kick was awarded on the edge of the penalty-area. Ivo Bosnar?s effort didn?t find the back of the net from his boot, but Elsid Barkhousir was first to react to the goalmouth scramble but was unable to convert his chance into a goal.
Sydney United were enjoying the bulk of possession in the opening 10? minutes and it wasn?t long before it showed on the scoreboard.
The opening goal went to the Reds, but it was the boot of A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt?s John Kelso ? who was trying to defend a cross – which deceived goalkeeper Matthew Nash and trickled over the line for an own goal.
The Reds should have been up 2-0 moments later but were denied by the arm of Stephen Kayes who was given a straight red card for his infringement on the line.
The Edensor Park faithful were already celebrating their second goal of the afternoon, but Barkhousir stepped up to the penalty-spot and pushed his shot wide of the left post.
Ante Tomic was creating havoc down the left-flank for most of the first-half and looked to have supplied an unmarked Barkhousir with his side?s second of the afternoon, but the striker failed to capitalise on Tomic?s effort.
Tomic then took it upon himself to find the back of the net, drilling a 20-metre free-kick into the direction of goal, but a diving Matthew Nash thwarted Tomic?s brilliant effort with a save at the top right-hand corner of goal.
But Nash?s deflection allowed Barkhousir to whip a cross into the direction of Mirijan Pavlovic, who made no mistake heading home goal number two at the far post for the home-side.
Barkhousir wasn?t enjoying the best of days in-front of the sticks, missing yet another opportunity when Todd Brodie found him charging into the penalty-area, sending his shot over the woodwork.
The second-half began the same way the first ended ? with United on the attack.
Barkhousir was unable to shrug off his first-half jitters and again failed to execute another one-on-one opportunity, sending his shot wide of the left post.
A runaway Pavlovic looked destined to make it 3-0, but a brilliant chase from John Kelso brought a halt to the striker?s goal aspirations.
Luka Glavas came on the field after a couple of weeks on the sideline through suspension, immediately adding some spark to United?s game.
Tigers? shot-stopper Matthew Nash did well to restrict United to just two goals, saving his side on numerous occasions throughout the match with some impressive work with the gloves.
A dour second-half failed to produce any goals, but the Tigers can take heart out of the performance that gradually improved as the match wore on.
United player/manager David Zdrilic said he was pleased with his side?s dominance but was disappointed with the execution:
?We dominated and got into the position we wanted but we dropped down to their level,? he said.
?We had a few chances we should have easily converted and that would have made it a lot easier night.?
?If they had got one goal we would have been in a dangerous position.?
Zdrilic also said his side didn?t react well to the red card to Kayes:
?To give them credit, they were buzzing around with 10 men,? he said.
?It happens a lot in football – the team with 10 men lift and the other team get complacent, which happened today.
?We started forcing passes instead of playing quicker and attacking space and when they got the ball they broke very quickly and made it tough for us until the end.?
Tigers Club President Tony Raciti said he was proud of the team?s effort:
?There were no standouts,? he said.
?All 11 were very good and I am pleased with the way they played.?
Match Stats
Sydney United 2: (John Kelso o.g 11?), Mirijan Pavlovic 27?
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers 0
Saturday, 17th April, 2010
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Sandro Perticarini
Assistant Referees: Steve Lucas and Paul Faithful
Fourth Official: Chris Wells
Crowd: 600 Approx.
Sydney United: 1.Vedran Janjetovic; 5.Damon Collina, 6.Joe Vrkic, 14.Peter Markovic, 23.Ivo Bosnar (21.Sean Mitchell 52?), 7.Todd Brodie, 9.David Zdrilic, 10.Steve Hayes (11.Luka Glavas 70?), 16.Elsid Barkhousir, 25.Mirijan Pavlovic, 32. Ante Tomic (45.Adam Jenner 85?).
Substitutes Not Used: 8.Shane Lyons, 20.Roy Bell.
Yellow Cards: David Zdrilic 6?, Ivo Bosnar 23?, Petar Markovic 82?, Sean Mitchell 87?.
Red Cards: Nil
A.P.I.A-Leichhardt Tigers: 1.Matthew Nash; 3.John Kelso, 5.Michael West, 17.Matt Fsadni, 19.Danial Cummins, 16.Mirofuni Moriyasu, 8.Anthony Hartshorn (6.Marton Vass 74?), 9.Robert Younis (18.Bishara Stephan 52?), 10.Franco Parisi, 11.Nicola Rizzo, 7. Stephen Kayes
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Terry Daibroi, 20.Mark Pinto, 2.Mark Byrnes
Yellow Cards: Michael West 31?, Matt Fsadni 49?.
Red Cards: Stephen Kayes 14?.
Player Ratings:
3 ? Ante Tomic (SU)
2 ? Mirijan Pavlovic (SU)
1 ? Michael West (ALT)
-By Michael Chammas
