Points shared at Marconi Stadium

The intense and fast-paced approach by both sides showcased their abilities in both attack and defence, while the cold, wet and slippery conditions of the pitch was another determining factor in making sure both sides maintained their composure when  controlling the ball.
Within the first 10? minutes, Bankstown City were the side most dominant, controlling the game with quick passing, and attacking Marconi?s right side of defence meanwhile the Stallions seemed more content in allowing their opponents to control the passage of play and to defend.
Bankstown continued to attack with long crosses from George Nohra who found space and teammates such as Tallan Martin, Robert Mileski and Steve Liavas – allowing them to take aim at the Marconi goal.
In the 15? minute Mitchell Mallia came on for Laurence Braude who was injured in a tackle, and soon after this Marconi?s midfield regained their composure and were confident in moving the ball forward and creating space.
Marconi goalkeeper James Chronopoulos continued to read the game well in closing down the number of attacking plays from a very determined Bankstown side.
Stallions? players such as Nahuel Arrarte, Giorgio Speranza, and Jared Lum combined well in pushing forward and nearly produced a goal in the 22? minute when Lum crossed the ball into the box finding Arrarte who headed the ball just over the crossbar.
Moments later Arrarte had another shot on target, forcing a fine save from the Bankstown goalkeeper, Zlatko Joseski. 
However, in the 27? Bankstown came even closer in producing the first goal of the evening with Steve Liavas breaking through Marconi?s left side of defence and drawing the keeper with him. Liavas then quickly cut the ball back leaving the Marconi goal fully exposed, but unfortunately for the visitors, the Bankstown strikers were unable to keep pace and failed to provide the final tap-in. 
Overall Bankstown City seemed more likely to be the first side to score, but fortunately for the Stallions they maintained their composure and worked hard in keeping possession in the midfield. In the 40? minute the first goal of the game arrived when a lapse of concentration from the Bankstown goalkeeper, who attempted to stop Erick Anabalon from taking aim in the penalty box, brought him down. Nahuel Arrarte made no mistake in converting the spot-kick and Marconi were ahead.
The quick turn of events stunned the Bankstown side as the first-half drew to a close. Unfortunately, throughout the game, clumsy challenges from both sides produced a number of yellow cards which would continue into the second-half.
Within the opening 10? minutes of the second period both sides looked determined to score as the intensity levels picked up in pace. This was demonstrated by both sides penetrating each other?s back line  and spreading the ball wide.
In the 60? minute Robert Mileski scored the equaliser for Bankstown City when George Nohra passed the ball to him. From outside the penalty-area, Mileski managed to chip over the goalkeeper to land the ball into the back of the net.
A turning point in the game arrived in the 71? minute when Bankstown City?s George Nohra was brought down in the Marconi penalty-area. A penalty was awarded and Tallan Martin took aim, beating the goalkeeper but hitting the crossbar.
Despite the disappointment, Bankstown did find their second goal shortly after. Hussein Akil in 75? minute pounced on a Marconi backline error, and with only Chronopoulos in the Stallions goal to beat, he slotted the ball into the net.
It all seemed lost for Marconi at this stage, however their opportunity arrived in the 78? minute from a magnificent Mitchell Mallia shot at goal from outside the penalty-area. The young midfielder?s effort beat the keeper and drew the home-side level.
Mallia?s goal galvanized his team into action allowing them to control the game and attack, however neither side could find the winner.
Bankstown City coach Peter Tsekenis was proud of his team’s efforts.
?I am proud of the boys as they did exactly what I asked of them sticking to the game plan. We are still in with a chance and within the league leaders; our fate is in our own hands as nobody gave us a chance five weeks ago to be in this position, to be in the hunt.
?It?s a credit to the players and how they played tonight.?
While Marconi coach Lee Sterrey commented:
?I thought the one nil lead that we had at half time should have been enough to control the game. Their first goal was a turnover from us in the midfield as our player had the ball for a couple of touches and then he turned it over, he caught our defensive line flat- scoring the equaliser which changed the whole dynamics of the game itself.
?Our young squad needs to learn that when you give a good team like Bankstown who are well coached by Tsekenis too much space and time with the ball, that they can dominate the entire game.?
Asked about the pace of the game itself, Sterrey added:
?After Bankstown scored their first goal to equalise the game, it did pick up in pace with end to end park action.
?Bankstown can count themselves unlucky as they could have went two goals up when they were awarded the penalty and missed it, and in my opinion that moment clearly changed the pace of the game as the intensity levels picked up.
?Also young Mitchell Mallia did extremely well to score the equaliser for us and we can take some positives out of the game itself, because in the last 5? minutes we had a number of chances and continued to attack and nearly secured a win, but overall a 2-2 draw is probably a fair result for both sides.?
In the Grade 20’s match the Marconi Stallions defeated Bankstown City FC 2-1.
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 2 (Nahuel Arrarte 40?, Mitchell Mallia 78?)
Bankstown City Lions FC 2 (Robert Mileski 60?, Hassan Akil 75?)
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee:  Ryan Shepheard
Assistant Referee:  Adam Coombes and Nick Backo
Fourth Official: Matt Colquohoun
Crowd: 200 Approx.
Marconi Stallions: 22.James Chronopoulos; 2.Brenton Rhodes, 5.Adel Eljamal, 7.Timothy McGowan, 8.Aleksandar Canak, 9.Erick Anabalon, 17.Laurence Braude (31.Mitchell Mallia 15?),18.Jared Lum, 23.Christopher Nunes, 26.Nahuel Arrarte, 42.Giorgio Speranza
Substitutes Not Used: 4.Umut Tokdogan, 21.Jose Bello, 38.Nathan Jagelman, 39.Sean O?Connell
Yellow Cards: Nahuel Arrarte 53?, Brenton Rhodes 59?, Adel Eljamal 61?, Mitchell Mallia 67?
Red Cards: Nil
Bankstown City FC: 1.Zlatko Joseski; 2.Scott Thomas, 3.Shannon Burgin, 5.Richard Luksic, 7.Steve Liavas (20.Hussein Salameh 71?), 8.George Nohra, 10.Robert Mileski, 12.Bill Tsanidis, 18.William Angel, 23.Tallan Martin, 80.Ali Haydar (9.Hassan Akil 46?)
Substitutes Not Used: 16.Damien Brosque, 87.Adem Huseyin, 91.Andrew Mercuri
Yellow Cards: Ali Haydar 41?, Shannon Burgin 66?
Red Cards: George Nohra 90?
-By Peter Chiodo