Reds burning after late Suns showing
The Reds had the better of the opening half and took the lead via Luka Glavas? right-boot on 25? minutes though Apolevski?s equaliser arrived 8? minutes from the end in a second-half where the Suns very nearly took maximum points with a strong finish.
Under the watchful eye of Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka, a very interested spectator amongst the 1,275 spectators present, both sides took a little while to get a feel for the game.
A rather tame opening 10? minutes was brought to life by Domenic Hudap for the home team. The speedy midfielder had the measure of his marker down the right-flank as he won his side a free-kick on the byline. The resulting effort amounted to nothing as Sam Awad?s headed effort failed to find the target.
At the other end, Sydney United created a chance of their own via the feet of Ante Tomic. The Reds? young gun created space on the edge of the penalty-area to release a fierce effort, though the retreating Suns defenders got bodies behind the ball to thwart any danger.
Mirjan Pavlovic got a look-in on goal moments later, neatly set-up by Shane Lyons down the left, though the burly striker?s shot on the turn lacked precision as the effort finished well-wide of the mark.
Rockdale City?s response arrived on 24? minutes as Sam Awad?s cross the left picked our Peter Apolevski at the back post. The Suns? captain attempted to play-in Hudap with his headed centre, though the Reds defence stood tall to clear the danger.
1? minute later, the visitors had the lead. Luka Glavas received a pin-point cross from the right via the boot of Todd Brodie. The former was completely unmarked, and with only the goalkeeper to beat, coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Rockdale City responded immediately via the left boot of Saso Trajcevski. The Suns midfielder latched onto a square pass from teammate Robert Di Meglio, and from 25-metres unleashed a venomous drive that had Reds goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic scrambling as the ball finished inches wide of the shot-stopper?s left-hand post.
Stefan Donevski made the most of some loose passing amongst the Reds defenders as he created a yard of space and, from an acute angle, forced Janjetovic into a fine save to keep Sydney United ahead. The pint-sized attacking midfielder was arguably the Suns? brightest shining light in a first-half where the home-side matched Sydney United from start to finish.
Donevski nearly found the equaliser in the 41? minute when his low-driven free-kick saw Reds? goalkeeper Janjetovic fumbled the ball, before diverting it behind for a corner. The resulting corner was only partially dealt with by the Reds defence, allowing Trajcevski a look-in at the back post. The Suns midfielder attempted to create a yard of space before going to ground amidst shouts for a penalty ? the referee was on the spot to issue the Suns player a yellow card for his troubles.
Following the break, it was Sydney United that started on the front foot. Counter-attacking raids initiated by Ivo Bosnar released Mirjan Pavlovic first, then Luka Glavas, inside of the opening 5? minutes of the half. On both occasions, desperate defending by the Suns denied the visitors a second goal.
The Suns first forward foray for the half arrived on 51? minutes via the head of Sam Awad. The tall striker rose highest to meet a cross into the penalty-area, though the final effort hit the top of the crossbar and finished behind for a goalkick.
Marino Musumeci combined well with Donevski to square the ball into the middle of the area on 58? minutes following some fine build-up play, though unfortunately for the Suns, the run of Sam Awad was not timed to perfection, and the chance went begging.
On the hour, the Suns were awarded an indirect free-kick inside the Reds penalty-area following a high-foot challenge on midfielder Robert Di Meglio. The resulting effort was driven on goal by Musumeci, though cleared off the line by the eleven Reds players lining the goal-line. Despite the protests of the Suns players for the use of a hand, play was waved on, and the chance amounted to nothing for the home-side.
David Zdrilic, a second-half substitute for Todd Brodie, was denied a certain goal on 67? minutes when his volley from point-blank range was exceptionally well-parried by Ben McNamara in the Suns goal.
Rockdale City supporters were on their feet in the 75? minute when Musumeci stole the ball from Petar Markovic in a promising area for the home-side. Musumeci cleverly created the space required to fire on goal, though the ball fired past the wrong side of Janjetovic?s right-hand post.
The home-side continued to push for an equaliser in the dying stages, though the final pass would prove to be their undoing. Musumeci was the culprit for a poor delivery from the left-flank on 80? minutes as his floater for Jeffrey Issa at the back post carried over the goal-line.
The Suns pressure would reap reward on 81? minutes as a massive scramble in the penalty-area resulted in a penalty following a poorly timed challenge by a Reds defender. Captain Peter Apolevski stepped up for the spot-kick and calmly sent Janjetovic the wrong way to draw Rockdale City level.
In the closing stages, both sides pushed forward for a late winner, though both defences stood their ground to ensure a share of the spoils.
Rockdale City Suns coach Mile Todorovski was pleased with the point following the final whistle:
?I am happy with my players,? commented Todorovski.
?Against a strong team like Sydney United this is a fantastic result ? they are challenging for the title, and we managed to take a point from them, so I am very happy with my players.
?We conceded a goal because of some confusion which is disappointing, and we didn?t play as well in the first-half, though the way my players challenged in the second-half was very pleasing for me, so I am happy.?
Sydney United player/coach David Zdrilic was far less impressed with the draw:
?Very disappointed with this result.
?We have dropped points on too many occasions this season where we have been ahead and dominating matches, and we have done the same thing tonight.
?I was happy enough with the first-half considering we took the lead, though really we had chances to kill off the match in the second-half and failed to do so.
?I had a chance myself, and if that went in ? at 2-0 ? I think the match was all over.
?So really, we are disappointed, considering also that Marconi and Bonnyrigg both won and have opened up a gap on us,? ended Zdrilic.
In the Grade 20 division, Sydney United secured maximum points with a hard fought 1-0 defeat of Rockdale City Suns.
Match Stats
Rockdale City Suns 1 (Peter Apolevski (pen) 82?)
Sydney United 1 (Luka Glavas 25?)
Sunday, 16th May, 2010
Bicentennial Park South, Rockdale
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referees: Scott Edeling and Adam Coombes
Fourth Official: Tom Klein
Crowd: 1,275
Rockdale City Suns: 1.Ben McNamara; 2.Paul Dee, 7.Peter Apolevski (C), 8.Dominic Hudap (6.Joshua Lawson 80?), 10.Saso Trajcevski, 11.Adem Kir, 12.Stefan Donevski (5.Jeffrey Issa 74?), 18.Robert Di Meglio (16. Steven Bozinovski 60?), 19.Marino Musumeci, 21.Sam Awad, 23.Askin Oygur
Substitutes Not Used: 17.George Lagoudakis, 22.James Cain
Yellow Cards: Saso Trajcevski 43?, Steven Bozinovski 87?, Adem Kir 90?+2?
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United: 30.Vedran Janjetovic; 5.Damon Collina, 6.Joe Vrkic (C), 7.Todd Brodie (9.David Zdrilic 46?), 8.Shane Lyons, 21.Sean Mitchell, 14.Petar Markovic, 23.Ivo Bosnar, 25.Mirijan Pavlovic, 11.Luka Glavas, 32. Ante Tomic (42.Steven Veleski 85?)
Substitutes Not Used: 24.Peter Zorbas, 4.Micahel Cindric, 20.Cem Akili
Yellow Cards: Mirjan Pavlovic 44?, Ivo Bosnar 66?, David Zdrilic 70?, Shane Lyons 81?, Joe Vrkic 89?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Joseph Carlucci
