Manly United stun League leaders Olympic
On a high after reaching the Waratah Cup final last week, Manly United continued their impressive form with first-half goals to Robbie Cattanach and Matthew Sim cancelling out an own goal to Sydney Olympic.
United showed their intentions early as they troubled the Sydney Olympic defence twice in the opening 5? minutes.
In the 14? minute it was Manly who again had a sight on goal as Matthew Sim sent a curling free-kick into the box only to see it just miss Robbie Cattanach?s head as the ball rolled out for a goal kick.
Sydney Olympic?s frustration of not being able to hold onto possession showed in the 18? minute as Brett Studman received a yellow card for a rash challenge on Cattanach.
The league leaders were made to pay in the 24? minute as the ball bounced over the head of Jerry Kalouris as Cattanach lurked behind to volley home past Paul Henderson for the 1-0 lead.
The shock continued as Matthew Sim doubled Manly?s lead in the 34? minute. After taking control of a lost ball, Sim stepped past one defender before unleashing a thunderous left foot drive from 20-yards out, finishing in the top left-hand corner for the 2-0 lead.
Sydney Olympic pressured the Manly defence for the final 5? minutes of the half with Robbie Mileski having the best chance to peg one back only to see his shot easily saved by goalkeeper Dylan Mitchell as the visitors went to the break 2-0 up.
The home side came out much stronger in the second-half as a solo David Gullo effort ended in his 25-yard shot hit the side netting in the 50? minute.
Manly quickly got back into their groove as Cattanach looked to double his tally in the 56? minute, pouncing on a loose ball and on his way to goal before Studman slid the ball away at the last second to keep his side in the game.
Minutes later, Phil Makrys had the chance to open the scoring for Sydney Olympic from a free-kick but could not hit the back of the net as his soft effort went straight into the hands of the waiting Mitchell.
Peter Tsekenis turned to his bench in the 56? minute bringing on Takayami Omi, as well as Bill Tsanidis and Daniel Severino in the following minutes, to try and peg a goal back.
The plan worked as Sydney Olympic finally saw the ball hit the back of the net in the 67? minute in comedic circumstances. Mileski took on the Manly defence but was quickly shut down by three defenders before his shot deflected over their goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
The goal seemed to awaken the Blues as they searched for an equaliser as Manly continued to stay strong in defence with captain Marc Richards marshalling his troops around the park.
The pressure forced Manly into a counterattacking game in the final 10? minutes of the match with substitute Justin Hayward?s shot blocked by Studman in the 83? minute.
The match got away from Sydney Olympic in the 84? minute when Phil Makrys was shown a red card for a rash challenge, and later trying to lift the injured player with the match ending 2-1.
Following the match Manly United head coach Craig Midgley said he was extremely pleased with his side?s effort:
?I think we caught them on an off day and they will probably go on and win the league really,?? Midgley said.
?The work rate and the effort that the boys put in were magnificent and I every single one of them has been superb.
?Marc Richards and Graeme Forbes were absolutely superb and have been for 3 to 4 weeks now.??
In the home dressing room Peter Tsekenis said he was hoping his team could get back to their winning ways as soon as possible:
?The opportunity was there for us to kick ahead (in the competition) and I think because of that luxury they guys in the first-half especially just did enough to stay in the game and for me we copped a soft goal from a huge mistake and the second one the guy walked through us and scored a bomb, top corner,?? he said.
?It?s a mental battle now as everyone is expected to come out and knock us off and we got to try and stay focused and continue to do what we do best to keep us up there.??
In the Grade-20 fixture Sydney Olympic held on late to defeat Manly United FC 1-0.
Match Stats
Sydney Olympic 1 (Mileski 67?)
Manly United FC 2 (Cattanach 24?, Sim 34?)
Sunday July 3rd, 2011
Belmore Sports Ground, Belmore
Referee: Kevin Peddie
Assistant Referees: Nick Backo and Sam Grasso
Fourth Official: John Bowdler
Sydney Olympic: 1.Paul Henderson; 3.Brett Studman, 4.Ibrahim Haydar, 5.Richard Luksic (C) (12.Bill Tsanidis 68?), 7.Phil Makrys, 11.Robert Mileski, 14.Will Angel, 15.Todd Bamber (22.Daniel Severino 64?), 16.Peter Triantis, 18.Jerry Kalouris, 19.David Gullo (23.Takayami Omi 56?)
Substitutions Not Used: 10.Anthony Doumanis, 21.Nenad Vekic (gk),
Yellow Cards: Brett Studman 18?
Red Cards: Phil Makrys 84?
Manly United FC: 1.Dylan Mitchell; 2.Jimmy Oates, 4.Graeme Forbes, 5.Marc Richards (C), 6.Michael Daly, 9.Robbie Cattanach (26.Daniel Grant 85?), 10.Adam Foti, 17.Matthew Simm, 18.Colin Iley, 21.Joseph Gibbs (11.Justin Hayward 60?), 25.Jordon Edwards
Substitutions Not Used: 22.Kan Ho Lee, 12.Mitch Macedo, 13.John Hall
Yellow Cards: Michael Daly 53?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Chris Georges
