Marconi punish a hapless Parramatta outfit
A first half double to Matthew Mayora and goals to Matthew Gordon and Giosue Sama were enough for the Stallions, meanwhile Evangelos Petratos scored a consolation goal to end the competitive fixture.
The match started at a frantic pace with both sides testing their opponent?s defensive line.
Parramatta looked the more dangerous of both sides as they twice found space down the right through Jonathan Castano-Acero and Bryan Soane in the first minutes of the match.
The first chance of the game fell to the home side in the 13? minute as a curling cross was poorly fisted out by James Chronopoulos falling straight to Matthew Osman. Luckily for Marconi, the former A-League player missed his volley attempt and it was cleared by the defence.
A minute later Giosue Sama beat the offside trap and was one-on-one with Parramatta FC goalkeeper Anthony Costa, only for the latter to slide the ball away.
In the 19? minute a great through ball by Soane gave Kutaiba Elrich room down the right who beautifully sent a low cross into the box only to be saved by a diving Chronopoulos.
4? minutes later however, Marconi took the lead via Matthew Mayora. A poor clearance by Parramatta FC saw Sean O?Connell feed Sama on goal, the striker?s shot hit the post and rolled to a waiting Mayora who slammed the ball into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
The goal seemed to turn the Stallions performance around as they passed the ball around the pitch trying to extend their lead.
Parramatta FC finally had their first shot on goal in the 29? minute after Mick McInerney?s free-kick was headed back to Elrich whose snap shot went just wide of the mark.
The match turned into a scrappy affair late in the first-half with Umut Tokdogan being assisted off the field, injured and replaced by Brenton Rhodes.
The sour feeling of the injury was sweetened in the 40? minute as Marconi extended their lead. Sean O?Connell found space down the right hand side and sent a deep cross into the box which was cut back by Nahuel Arrarte for Mayora to slot home.
On the stroke of half-time both sides had the chance to score with Almir Dizdaric?s header forcing Chronopoulos into a save before O?Connell?s half-volley beat Costa in goals for Parramatta FC but hit the crossbar.
Parramatta coach Brian Dene showed his intent on getting a result from the match, bringing on Chris Camilleri to replace Bryan Soane after the break.
It would be Marconi though who had the first chance of the half in the 50? minute as Sama held the ball up before cleverly back heeling through to Mayora who found himself one-on-one with Costa. The Parramatta FC goalkeeper got a vital touch on the ball to see it out for a corner.
Parramatta picked up their game and started troubling the Stallions defence out wide but could not get a clear chance on goal.
In the 56? minute Elrich found himself in space down the left hand touchline. The striker cut the ball back across goal to Osman who quickly released Iacovelli who moved in field and sent his shot over the bar for a goal kick.
4? minutes later, Parramatta squandered their best chance of the match. A long ball from their defensive line saw Chronopoulos come off his line and miss a clearance leaving the goal open for Iacovelli. Unfortunately for the former Newcastle Jets youth player, he blasted the ball over the bar much to the disgust of the home fans.
The home side forced Marconi into a counterattack game as they controlled possession for several minutes sending several players into attack. The plan almost backfired in the 66? minute as Sama led the counter feeding Arrarte who got around Costa before hitting the side netting.
Marconi capitalised on their next counter attack in the 72? minute as Ali Haydar beat George Strogylos to create a 3-on-1 situation. Haydar passed the ball to Matthew Gordon who with his first touch of the ball slotted into the bottom right hand corner for the 3-0 lead.
Parramatta were not going to give up as moments later Dizdaric again went close with a header going just wide of the upright.
Marconi took the ball onto the other side of the field in seconds as Christopher Nunes forced Costa into a double save as the home supporters started leaving the stands.
The positive mood of the Stallions side was ruined in the 78? minute as goalscorer Matthew Mayora was stretchered from the field after falling awkwardly while challenging for the ball. The injury seemed to shock Marconi down as substitute Evangelos Petratos slotted the ball home for Parramatta to make the score 3-1 in the 84? minute.
Giosue Sama though put the final nail Parramatta coffin late in injury time to end the match 4-1.
Following the match Stallions coach Luke Casserly said he was happy with his side?s performance but his thoughts remained with his two injured players Matthew Mayora and Umut Tokdogan:
?Anytime you go away from home and win it is always a good thing,?? he said.
?I am very happy with how the boys went about our business.
?I am just hoping the two injuries we picked up tonight aren?t too serious.??
In the home change room Parramatta FC assistant coach Pat Marando was extremely disappointed:
?Being disappointed is definitely an understatement,?? he said.
?We had a lack of shape but the true word to use is a lack of intensity. Also when you don?t take your chances it is difficult. We could have been in it at 2-1 if Fabien Iacovelli didn?t miss that chance.??
In the Grade-20 fixture, a 9-man Stallions outfit were outdone 2-0 by Parramatta FC.
Match Stats
Parramatta FC 1 (Evangelos Petratos 84?)
Marconi Stallions 4 (Matthew Mayora 23?, 40?, Matthew Gordon 72, Giosue Sama 93?)
Sunday 29th May, 2011
Melita Stadium, Granville
Referee: Khodr Yaghi
Assistant Referees: Wayne Crabb and Mike Robertson
Fourth Official: Leigh Pigram
Crowd: 200 Approx.
Parramatta FC: 21.Anthony Costa; 2.Nick McInerney, 5.George Strogylos, 6.Tom Wilson (C), 8.Bryan Soane (10.Chris Camilleri 46?), 9.Kutaiba Elrich, 11.Peter Crevani (4.Daniel Fogarty 77?), 14.Fabien Iacovelli, 16.Jonathan Castano-Acero, 17.Matthew Osman, 18.Almir Dizdaric (20.Evangelos Petratos 77?)
Substitutes Not Used: 23.Tomislav Romic (gk), 7.Shayne Ardle
Yellow Cards: Kutaiba Elrich 32?
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 22.James Chronopoulos; 2.Andrew Mailer, 3.Ali Haydar, 4.Umut Tokdogan (6.Brenton Rhodes 38?), 8.Sean O?Connell, 14.Graziano Trimboli (11.Matthew Gordon 69?), 15.Matthew Mayora (12.Daniel Ott 80?), 20.Giosue Sama, 23.Christopher Nunes, 24.Daniel Petkovski, 26.Nahuel Arrarte (C)
Substitutes Not Used: 18.Nathan Jagelman, 21.Nikodin Matic (gk)
Yellow Cards: Andrew Mailer 67?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3- Nahuel Arrarte (MS)
2- Matthew Mayora (MS)
1- Josh Sama (MS)
-By Chris Georges
