Sensational Sharks add further woe to Tigers
An entertaining encounter from start to finish, where the Tigers certainly did show some good football that does not at all reflect their current League standing, Sutherland were quicker, sharper and more efficient in front of goal in an exceptional first 45? minute showing.
Goals to Matt Bailey and Panni Nikas in the space of 2? first-half minutes were enough for the Seymour Shaw side, the win putting an end to the two match losing streak prior to the NSW Premier League break last weekend.
The Tigers? situation is far less rosy, with another loss not at all assisting the side?s ambitions to draw away from the bottom spots on the ladder. Despite the additional setback, the Tigers did show some very positive signs in the second-half, a starting point for the side?s next NSW Premier League outing.
Sutherland Sharks forced the first opening of the match on 3? minutes as Panni Nikas? swerving free-kick into the penalty-area from the left-flank was cleared by the Tigers? defensive line.
From an almost identical position 1? minute later, Nikas won his side a corner as Tigers? goalkeeper Jose Bello-Amigo showed all his experience with a firm fist away to safety,
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers got some good possession via the feet of Franco Parisi and Nick Rizzo. On 6? minutes, the latter played a delightful ball over the Sharks defenders into the path of Robbie Younis, though the striker was pulled up for an offside call.
The Tigers had appeals for a free-kick waved away in the 7? minute as a pinpoint pass by Parisi released Younis through on goal. Under the close attention of Hayden Morton, Younis failed to retain possession as the Sharks defender appeared to play the ball back into the hands of goalkeeper Nathan Denham. Despite the protests of the Tigers players the referee order play to continue.
The Sharks opened the lead on 15? minutes as Matt Bailey capped off a very swift counterattacking play. Started off by George Souris in defence – the Sharks captain played a pinpoint pass into the path of Nikas ? the Sutherland playmaker squared a neat ball from the right byline into the path of Bailey who calmly slotted home for the opener.
Nikas doubled the lead 2? minutes later with a fabulous set-piece delivery. From a central position, a metre outside the penalty-area, Nikas curled a David Beckham-like delivery into the top right-hand corner, out of the reach of Bello-Amigo.
Sam Awad then nearly capped off a brilliant 7? minute stint for the home-side on 22? minutes as his cross-turn-shot only just cleared Bello-Amigo?s left-hand post.
The Tigers replied via Chris James down the right-flank, though the right-winger?s brilliant delivery into the penalty-area was anticipated by a strong Denham punch.
A.P.I.A.?s best openings arrived via the feet of Rizzo and Parisi out in the middle of the park, though the holding midfield role of Stavroulakis was executed perfectly by the Sharks? number 14, leaving the Tigers with very little to show for their possession.
At the other end, Todd Halloran squandered a glorious chance to send the Sharks three-up. A poorly dealt with Nikas delivery from the left fell into the path of Halloran at the back post ? the Sharks midfielder blasted his attempt over the crossbar from a very promising position.
The Tigers continued to press out of midfield in search of a goal to re-open the contest, and Rizzo nearly delivered in the 37? minute. A fine exchange of passes with Younis, Rizzo unleashed an effort with his trusty left-peg from distance, sending his effort wide of the target.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt finally tested Denham 2? minutes later as Younis forced the shot-stopper into a fine save down to his right from a set-piece.
Younis was involved again moments later, showing strength and determination to hold onto Mark Byrnes? long searching ball, though the linesman?s flag denied the striker a shot on goal.
Sutherland closed the half on the front foot, peppering the Tigers? goalmouth with a wave of attacks. Halloran?s delivery from the right nearly caught Bello-Amigo unaware in the 43? minute ? the Tigers? shot-stopper retreating swiftly to turn the ball over his crossbar.
The resulting corner provided Morton a free header, though the Sharks defender failed to hit the target from a promising position.
In the last play of the first period, Rizzo?s free-kick delivery caused some concern for the Sharks defenders, though no A.P.I.A. player managed to get onto the end of the cross ensuring the home side went into the break with the two-goal buffer.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt started proceedings positively in the second period as David D?Apuzzo got more involved down the left-flank. The left-sided defender got forward early before delivering a tantalising cross into the mix ? the Tigers? strikers though couldn?t get a head onto the ball.
Sutherland replied with a good scoring chance in the 50? minute. With Bello-Amigo slightly off his goal line following a weak clearance, Bailey tried his luck with a powerful attempt on goal. Bello-Amigo made amends for his earlier mishap, producing a world class one-handed save to deny Bailey and the Sharks.
On the hour, Byrnes got forward for the visitors, delivering a pinpoint cross onto the head of Parisi. The Tigers? captain, from the edge of the area, headed his attempt on target, though a lack of power made it easy pickings for Denham.
The Tigers continued to search for a way back into the match with some crisp passing in midfield, though the well marshaled defensive line of the Sharks proved a mammoth task for the visitors.
David D?Apuzzo was presented an opening in the 63? minute with a loose ball falling to the Tigers? wingback. David D?Apuzzo lined up his shot, though failed to control the execution as the ball finished well over the crossbar.
The Sharks found the back of the net again in the 65? minute, courtesy of Bailey, though the goal was correctly disallowed as Sam Awad picked out Bailey in an offside position.
At the other end, Rizzo nearly found the back of the net. The former Olyroo showed strength and finesse as he staved off the challenge of Souris before cutting inside and delivery a powerful drive inches wide of Denham?s left-hand upright.
Rizzo again led the Tigers cause, volleying a cross from the right into the path of Younis who only just failed to get a touch to find the back of the net.
The Tigers pressed further with Stephen Kayes combining well with Rizzo on 70? minutes, though a stray pass by the playmaker brought an end to another promising A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers forward foray.
In the 72? minute, Robbie Younis managed to put the ball past Denham and into the back of the net. The Tigers? players did not even get a chance to celebrate as the referee correctly spotted the use of an arm as the striker brought the ball down off his chest before driving on the turn past Denham.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt squandered their best chance of the evening in the 77? minute. A defensive lapse by the Sharks allowed David D?Apuzzo a look-in on goal. The Tigers? number 13, with only the goalkeeper ahead of him, unleashed a relatively powerful diagonal attempt on goal though was denied by a brilliant reflex save by Denham.
Sutherland hit the Tigers on the counterattack at the other end as Michael Katz latched onto a fine delivery from the left, only just failing to release substitute Lachlan Cahill in a central position.
Moments later, Nikas passed up the chance to kill off the match completely, blasting his effort over the crossbar with only the goalkeeper ahead of him.
The Tigers, well aware of Nikas? uncharacteristic mistake, hit the Sharks on a counterattack of their own, though Kayes? final effort following a swift forward foray, finished inches over the crossbar.
Sutherland wanted to finish strongly for their boisterous supporters, and Halloran had the fans up in the stands on their feet 1? minute from the end. Halloran, from a decentralised position on the right, unleashed a venomous drive into the top right-hand corner, denied only by an equally impressive Bello-Amigo save.
Following the match, Sutherland Sharks coach Robbie Stanton was pleased with his side?s showing:
?I?m very happy with the boys tonight, they really showed a lot of pride in the shirt,? Stanton commented.
?Earlier in the week, we spoke about our current situation and I asked the boys to show the pride in the shirt as I thought some of that had gone missing. Tonight, the boys really did impress me.
?I think the first-half was one of our best performances this season, and we really showed what we are capable of especially after dropping points in our last two matches.
?A.P.I.A. are a great side, though they are obviously going through a difficult moment in terms of results. They still have a very impressive squad, and they did play some good football tonight, though I am really happy with the efforts of my players.
?Looking ahead, we have a match this Wednesday against Newcastle Jets. I am happy that we bounced back this week in the League, so I will be happy enough to play this match in mid-season. We?ll give a lot of the boys a good run and look to be ready to continue our League run next weekend,? ended Stanton.
Out of the A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers dressing-room, team captain Franco Parisi expressed optimism following the second-half performance by his team:
?After falling 2-0 behind, we felt as though we needed a surf rescue,? commented Parisi.
?We did lift in the second-half and I feel that we can work on the good we showed in the second 45? minutes to get our season back on track starting from next week.
?Conceding two goals in 2? minutes really hurt us, the boys heads went down after the first and we nearly conceded a third straight after their second goal.
?It is a difficult moment for us, we are struggling with our results, though we are still playing some good forward.
?We will look to build on the performance today and hope to bounce back immediately,? Parisi ended.
In the Grade-20 division, Sutherland Sharks continued their strong form with a comfortable 2-0 defeat of A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers.
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 2 (Matt Bailey 15?, Panni Nikas 17?)
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers 0
Saturday 16th July, 2011
Seymour Shaw, Miranda
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Scott Edeling and Sam Grasso
Fourth Official: Brendan Johansen
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham; 2.George Souris (C), 4.Yianni Fragogiannis, 6.Sam Awad (5.Lachlan Cahill 79?), 8.Chris Price, 10.Matt Bailey, 11.Todd Halloran, 12.Hayden Morton, 14.Nick Stavroulakis, 15.Michael Katz, 23.Panni Nikas
Substitutes Not Used: 19.Huseyin Jasli, 20.Paul Kohler, 32.Max Joarder, 22.Alex Augusto
Yellow Cards: Todd Halloran 58?
Red Cards: Nil
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers: 99.Jose Bello-Amigo; 2.Mark Byrnes, 3.John Kelso, 4.Cole Tinkler, 7.Stephen Kayes, 9.Robbie Younis, 10.Franco Parisi, 11.Nicola Rizzo, 13.David D?Apuzzo, 15.Adam D?Apuzzo, 23.Chris James,
Substitutes Not Used: 6.Marton Vass, 16.Damir Prodanovic, 20.Neal Keane, 40.Stefan Giglio
Yellow Cards: Adam D?Apuzzo 80?, Robbie Younis 85?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Joseph Carlucci
