Honours even in top of the table clash at Edensor Park
The top of the table clash produced a dire first-half before both teams turned it on in the second period.
Sydney United showed they were eager to nab top spot and created their first chance in the opening minute. A great through ball by Steve Hayes saw Luka Glavas beat the offside trap but the latter lobbed the ball over the crossbar.
Sutherland replied in the 5? minute when Sam Awad chested the ball back to Panni Nikas only for the latter to blast his volley well over the bar.
The Sharks got into their groove and in the 11? minute a poor goal kick by Vedran Janjetovic led to Jim Bakis striking a powerful volley goalwards, only for the goalkeeper to make up for his mistake and parry the ball away for a corner.
The passionate Sydney United crowd began to get frustrated as a tight tussle followed with both sides fighting hard to create a chance and open the scoring.
In the 28? minute Damon Collina?s deep cross met the head of Hayes only to bob away for a goal kick.
One minute later, Sutherland had a great play on goal but could not capitalise with Michael Katz blasting the ball well over the crossbar.
Hayes was at it again in the 31? minute as a snap-shot from just outside the box went just wide of the right hand upright.
Sutherland were to have the next chance as Katz put Awad through wide on the right as he beat Thompson and Cindric, moving goal bound only to be stopped by Janjetovic.
Sydney United players were furious in the 40? minute as a Ben Vidaic cross looked to be handled by Nick Stavroulakis in the penalty-area. Despite the protests the referee, James Lewis, waved play on.
United almost took the lead in the 44? minute as Ante Tomic?s cross was just missed by a sliding Vidaic, and Denham saved the day for the visitors to end the half 0-0.
The home side came out blazing in the second period and in the 49? minute almost took the lead. A mistake in the back by Chris Price allowed Petar Markovic to step past Hayden Morton and blast a shot only to be well saved by Denham.
2? minutes later, the Reds moved up field with great passes between Markovic, Glavas and Vidaic, which opened up some space for Tomic to shoot on goal, only to again be denied by Denham.
Sutherland was not going to die wondering and in the 55? minute Nikas sprayed a shot wide.
Sydney United were hungry to get on top of the ladder but missed two chances in the 57? minute as the fans continued to grow restless.
A minute later, Ben Vidaic volleyed the ball over the mark as the Reds came closer to open the scores.
In the 60? minute, Sydney United went inches from taking the lead as a mix up in defence saw Souris try to kick the ball clear only to touch Glavas and just miss the post.
The Sharks counterattacked in the 67? minute as Matt Bailey took on the United defence only to see his half-volley not dip enough.
Straight from that, Glavas attacked on the opposite end with the striker?s shot again saved by Denham who was having a spectacular match between the sticks.
Jean Paul De Marigny turned to his bench in the hope of breaking the dead-lock, bringing on the experience of Ufuk Talay and Tomislav Mijic.
The plan almost worked as a Talay free-kick in the 74? minute was just headed away by Morton.
From the resulting corner, Damon Collina thought he had headed the ball home only to be denied by Stavroulakis who heroically cleared off the line.
Glavas was again through on goal in the 85? minute only to be thwarted by Morton who slid the ball away in what was to be the last real chance of the match.
Following the match Sydney United coach Jean Paul De Marigny said he was happy with his side?s performance:
?I thought we definitely had the better chances in the game but unfortunately we couldn?t finish them off,?? he said.
?It is disappointing we didn?t capitalise on our chances but that is football. I am just happy that we had every chance to win the game and really that is what it is all about.
?I think we should be happier about this draw than they should be as we did earn our point.
De Marigny also made mention to his side?s resilience after completing their third game within a week:
?I was really happy with the way my team played their football and with the intensity in which we did it.
?I think we can only get better which is really encouraging for us.??
In the opposing dressing room Sutherland Sharks coach Robbie Stanton said he was happy to walk away from Sydney United Sports Centre with the point:
?The pitch was very slippery tonight which makes it very difficult to play football,?? he said.
?It was a real arm wrestle where we had a few half-chances and they probably had a few better ones.
?I think our resistance, commitment, strength and good shape was enough to hold them off which I am happy about.??
In the Grade-20 fixture, Sutherland Sharks defeated Sydney United 2-1 in a tough encounter.
Match Stats
Sydney United 0
Sutherland Sharks 0
Sunday 8th May, 2011
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: James Lewis
Assistant Referees: Sarah Ho and Lance Greenshields
Fourth Official: Matt Cropper
Crowd: 400 Approx.
Sydney United: 1.Vedran Janjetovic; 5.Damon Collina, 21.Mark Rudan, 4.Michael Cindric, 14.Petar Markovic (15.Ufuk Talay 71?), 19.Mitchell Thompson (38.Tomislav Mijic 71?), 23.Ivo Bosnar, 10.Steve Hayes (18.Daniel Rezo 89?), 29.Ante Tomic, 13.Ben Vidaic, 11.Luka Glavas
Substitutions Not Used: 3.Mitchell Spear, 20.Marko Bozic (gk)
Yellow Cards: Steve Hayes 89?, Tomislav Mijic 90?+1?
Red Cards: Nil
Sutherlands Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham; 2.George Souris, 6.Sam Awad, 7.Jim Bakis (20.Paul Kohler 90?+3?), 8.Chris Price, 10.Matt Bailey, 12.Hayden Morton, 14.Nick Stavroulakis, 15.Michael Katz (4.Yianni Fragogiannis 68?), 23.Panni Nikas, 33.Niko Tsattalios
Substitutions Not Used: 5.Lachlan Cahill, 19.Huseyin Jasli, 22.Jack Duncan (gk)
Yellow Cards: Nick Stavroulakis 81?, Niko Tsattalios 90?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Nathan Denham (SS)
2 – Ante Tomic (SU)
1 – Hayden Morton (SS)
-By Chris Georges
