Cindric the hero as United grind out Parramatta FC result
Both sides created chances throughout the encounter though in the end, Michael Cindric?s 51? minute header proved the difference.
The Reds victory means the side closes in on the Top-Two after this weekend?s results, meanwhile Parramatta FC once again proved their ability to challenge in this competition, despite the current League standings.
Sydney United were presented an early opening as Parramatta FC goalkeeper Anthony Costa miscued a routine clearance. Ben Vidaic picked up the scraps though an additional touch forced the Reds striker wide before sending a cross into the penalty-area. A lunging Luka Glavas at the back post failed to direct his attempt on target.
Parramatta FC?s response arrived quickly with three set-pieces in the space of 2? minutes. With burly striker Almir Dizdaric the target man, the Reds defenders did exceptionally well to thwart any danger.
Sydney United immediately turned defence into attack as Ante Tomic was sent through on goal via a swift counterattack. With the goalkeeper to beat, Tomic skewed his diagonal effort from the edge of the penalty-area across the face of goal.
Despite Sydney United?s constant threat in the attacking third, the visitors continued to conjure up their own chances up front. On 8? minutes, Fabien Iacovelli picked up a loose ball outside the penalty-area and tested Vedran Janjetovic with a fierce drive though the Reds goalkeeper calmly saved for the home side.
On 11? minutes, Peter Crevani picked out Dizdaric with a pin-point through ball though the striker, after bringing the ball down off his chest, committed a foul as the Mark Rudan-Michael Cindric defensive duo ?doubled-teamed? the striker with some expert defending.
Dizdaric was causing havoc again for the Reds moments later as he found a yard of space in front of goal. As the striker prepared to pull the trigger, a fabulous tackle by Tomislav Mijic diverted the ball for a corner.
At the other end, Sydney United continued to struggle with the final ball in front of goal. Ben Vidaic was the culprit in the 16? minute as he failed to control a routine through ball from Steve Hayes and the chance went begging.
On 22? minutes Sydney United carved out a clear goalscoring chance via the feet of Hayes. The attacking midfielder played a neat one-two with Mitchell Speers before centering to Vidaic from the right byline. The striker?s first-time effort had goal written all over it, though Anthony Costa managed to get a glove to the ball to produce a fine save.
The visitors created yet another opening in the 28? minute via a Iacovelli corner. A very deep delivery had Janjetovic beaten as Nicholas McInerney headed inches wide of goal at the back post.
Luka Glavas, who did have a quiet first-half following his early chance, was played through on goal by Barkhousir just after the half-hour mark. Struggling to bring the bouncing ball down, Glavas attempted a half-volley on goal though poor contact with the ball resulted in the chance amounting to nothing.
The visitors closed the half with a fine chance to snatch the lead. A floated corner from the right was headed by Dizdaric back across goal and into the path of Bryan Soane who, from close-range, failed to hit the target with his header.
Following the break, Sydney United created the opening chance of the half via Glavas. The Reds number 11 cleverly brought the ball down though failed to beat Costa from an acute angle ? the Parramatta FC shot-stopper kept a firm fist to deny the Reds the opening goal.
Sydney United did find the opening goal shortly after via a set-piece. Steve Hayes? pin-point cross from deep picked out Michael Cindric who sent his looping header into the back of the net, much to the relief of the home supporters.
Ben Vidaic nearly doubled the lead in the 56? minute as he tried his luck from distance. The striker picked his spot and drove the ball with shear force, though the final effort finished on the wrong side of Anthony Costa?s left-hand post.
On the hour, the Reds should have added their second as Cindric sent Vidaic through down the left-flank. With Glavas at the back post, Vidaic failed to deliver a cross as Anthony Costa again thwarted the chance with a firm glove.
Parramatta FC did venture forward from the re-start and Dizdaric was presented with a golden chance. A loose ball inside the penalty-area fell to the striker who blasted his effort against the body of a Reds defender, as the Reds scrambled the ball away to safety.
1? minute later and the visitors again went close to an equaliser. A corner from the right picked out the head of McInerney, though once again the Parramatta FC defender failed to direct his header on target.
Reds substitute Matthew Bilic nearly made a name for himself only moments after replacing Ben Vidaic as he latched onto a tantalising Ivo Bosnar through ball. Bilic cleverly drew his marker as he entered the penalty-area though his delivery from the left was dealt with by the Parramatta FC defenders.
With 10? minutes remaining, the visitors spurned a golden chance to equalise. Matthew Osman?s initial effort from a slightly decentralised position was well parried by Janjetovic. The ball fell into the path of Kutaiba Elrich who, under pressure from his marker, blasted his effort over the crossbar from close-range.
The visitors went close again in the 85? minute as the Eagles hit on the counterattack. Fine build-up play on the left provided Osman with a chance to line up an effort on goal though the experienced campaigner failed to test Janjetovic.
Daniel Rezo should have wrapped up the contest in the 88? minute as he beat the offside trap to go through on goal. From the right-flank, Rezo appeared to beat the oncoming Costa though a phenomenal diving attempt by the Parramatta FC shot-stopper denied the young Sydney United midfielder what would have been a great goal.
Costa denied Rezo again in injury-time as the Reds? player attempted to chip the goalkeeper who was off his line. Costa calmly retreated to make the save to deny Rezo once more.
In the last chance of the match, Parramatta FC nearly snatched a draw. Evangelos Petratos? accurate delivery from the right picked out Dizdaric who sent his glancing header inches wide of Janjetovic?s upright.
Sydney United coach Jean-Paul DeMarigny was extremely happy with the result:
?Very happy with the three-points tonight, it was important for us to get maximum points in what has been a busy week for us.
?I thought we created chances, and we managed to hold a good shape throughout the match, even though we would have preferred to have added a second and not feel the pressure right until the end.
?I?m happy with the boys, Ante (Tomic) had a good first-half though he was carrying an injury into the match and I needed to replace him at the break. Steve Hayes too wasn?t feeling the best, though he played a good match despite not feeling his best.
?Looking at the other results this weekend, it has been very positive for us to close the gap on the two teams above us,? ended DeMarigny.
Parramatta FC coach Brian Dene was disappointed his side left Sydney United Sports Centre with nothing to show after a strong showing against the Reds:
?I?m very disappointed to return home without anything as I thought we really gave it a go tonight, we created chances and did dominated in spells.
?The players kept a good structure though the disappointing thing was the final delivery in attack. We really need to improve that in order to get moving up the League ladder.
?Following the midweek win against Manly United, we really wanted to confirm the improvement from that match tonight and start our run from now. Considering the chances we created tonight, it is a bit of a setback tonight, even though once again I believe we have proven out ability in this competition to mix it with even the stronger clubs,? Dene concluded.
In the Grade-20 division, Sydney United and Parramatta FC played out a very entertaining 2-2 draw.
Match Stats
Sydney United 1 (Michael Cindric 51?)
Parramatta FC 0
Saturday 22nd May, 2011
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Bachar Allam and Craig Fisher
Fourth Official: Tom Klein
Crowd: 400 Approx.
Sydney United: 1.Vedran Janjetovic; 38.Tomislav Mijic, 4.Michael Cindric, 21.Mark Rudan, 3.Mitchell Speers, 23.Ivo Bosnar (C), 10.Steve Hayes, 29.Ante Tomic (15.Ufuk Talay 46?), 9.Elsid Barkhousir (18.Daniel Rezo 81?), 13.Ben Vidaic (12.Matthew Bilic 79?), 11.Luka Glavas
Substitutes Not Used: 6.Milan Bosnar, 20.Keresimir Kaedum
Yellow Cards: Daniel Rezo 83?, Tomislav Mijic 89?
Red Cards: Nil
Parramatta FC: 21.Anthony Costa; 2.Nicholas McInerney, 3.Daniel Borg (C) (16.J. Castano Acedo 74?), 8.Bryan Soane (20.Evangelos Petratos 87?), 5.George Strogylos, 6.Thomas Wilson, 9.Kutaiba Elrich, 11.Peter Crevani, 14.Fabien Iacovelli (4.D. Fogarty 67?), 17.Matthew Osman, 18.Almir Dizdaric
Substitutes Not Used: 7.Shayne Ardle, 23.Tomislav Romic,
Yellow Cards: Daniel Borg 29?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Steve Hayes (SU)
2 ? Michael Cindric (SU)
1 ? Peter Crevani (PFC)
-By Joseph Carlucci
