State League Two Round 13 Review
Match of the Round
FC GAZY V NEPEAN FC
FG Gazy would have thought that the 3 points was safely in the bag after creating numerous chances and sitting on a 2 goal buffer with a little less than 15? minutes on the clock, but Nepean FC are a side you can never write off and showed great character to come back in the dying stages of the game, forcing both sides to share the spoils.
The first real chance of the game fell to Nepean after just 2? minutes, with Karl Ciappa snapping a shot from the edge of the box that flew well over the crossbar.
FC Gazy new signing Huso Merdanovic used his frame to bump Luke Ryan just a few moments later, delivering a dangerous cross met by the head of Andreeh Khamo that went straight into the arms of Ryan Trussell.
Down the other end, Daniel Miralles threaded a through ball for Andrew Walker after 6? minutes but the ball bobbled awkwardly to evade the makeshift striker allowing Brandalise time to collect.
Nepean defender Ajak Deng slogged a long ball up field finding Sam Pintabona in space and after noticing Brandalise was off his line, the midfielder tried a cheeky ambitious attempt from 30 yards out that failed to hit the target.
The end to end action continued and Andreeh Khamo probably should have put FC Gazy in the lead after 11? minutes, as he found space inside the area to only lash his shot wide of the post.
FC Gazy lively striker Andreeh Khamo was at it again after 22? minutes, stabbing a shot inside the 18 yard box which forced Trussell into a brilliant save, before Huso Merdanovic pounced on the loose ball to slam his shot that was cleared off the line.
After a few unsuccessful attacking raids, FC Gazy?s opener finally came in the 27? minute. Huso Merdanovic showed class by swiftly bypassing his marker with tight control before rounding Trussell and unselfishly giving the ball to Khamo who had no more to do than pass the ball into the empty net.
FC Gazy were pressuring Nepean in the early stages of the match and Daniel Miralles made a terrific sliding tackle to dispossess Andreeh Khamo before he could pull the trigger after 31? minutes.
Nepean got a look in on goal as Anthony Belardo hit a low drive that caught Brandalise a little off guard, as he let the ball hit his chest before picking it up.
Nepean had an excellent chance to go level after 36? minutes. Andrew Walker cleverly slotted a pass that beat the backline for the on-running Sam Pintabona to go one-on-one with Brandalise, but the FC Gazy keeper made a fantastic save as he blocked the low shot with his feet.
Nepean had one last crack before the break as Sam Pintabona delivered a flat cross for the towering Andrew Walker, but his headed effort lacked real conviction.
Following the break, Huso Merdanovic tricked his marker with a step-over and used great acceleration to set up a shot, blasting his effort on goal only for Trussell to make a great save.
A minute later and it was almost an identical move, as Merdanovic swept past Ryan Colborne with ease inside the area before curling a shot at an acute angle that bounced off the back post.
FC Gazy were pressing hard in the second stanza and got their due reward in the 55? minute. Huso Merdanovic finally got on the scoresheet for his new club after latching onto a Chris Danieli cross that made it 2-0.
Nepean were finding it difficult to pester Gazy?s goal but in the 63? minute, some nifty footwork by Abraham Majok saw him create space and deliver a tantalising ball into the box ? but no one was on the other end.
Just a few moments later and Majok headed a ball onto the crossbar from a cross out wide.
Nepean substitute Matthew Townley-Jones first involvement almost resulted in an assist, after he received a short pass from Walker and sent in a high far post cross for Majok, but he was unable to control his header.
FC Gazy were somewhat happy to sit on the laurels in the dying stages of the match and Nepean?s persistence paid off in the 78? minute. Sam Pintabona controlled the ball on the edge of the area from a deep free kick and calmly let fly a shot that swivelled past Brandalise to make it 2-1.
The man of the moment, Huso Merdanovic was at his best in the 81? minute, creating space to lay off the ball for Fujioka Ryota 20 yards from goal, but the substitute hit a stinging drive that lacked any real accuracy.
FC Gazy had another chance to seal the 3 points in the 87? minute, as Ryota this time turned provider and hit a cross to find an open Andreeh Khamo, but his header hit the ground first which drained the power from the ball ? proving an easy collection for Trussell.
Nepean FC with almost the last kick of the ball levelled the score much to the disbelief of the home supporters. Matthew Townley-Jones found an open Abraham Majok out wide, who made his way on goal unchallenged to slot the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-2.
Nepean?s never say die attitude saw them snatch a point from FC Gazy as Adam Malouf?s young charges did not allow the two goal deficit phase them.
Andrew Montgomery in his first game in charge can take many positives out from the draw ? but will be licking his wounds as he watched his side slip against Nepean FC for the second time this season.
Match Stats
FC Gazy 2 (A Khamo 27m H Merdanovic 55m)
Nepean FC 2 (S Pintabona 78m A Majok 90m)
Sunday June 17th, 2012
Hartleys Oval, Canley Vale
Referee: L.Morton
Assistant Referees: A.Denzel & C.Bovski
FC Gazy: 1.M.Brandalise; 10.A.Shorees, 2.J.Kundit, 7.S.Jappie (17.S.Wang 67?), 15.B.Davies, 6.A.Aravena, 23.M. Al-Rekabi (20.F.Ryota 74?), 8.H.Merdanovic, 9.A.Khamo, 24.C.Danieli, 18.J.Brancati (5.E.Uzel 80?)
Substitutes Not Used: 19.J.Rubio
Yellow Cards: 2.J.Kundit, 9.A.Khamo
Red Cards: Nil
Nepean FC: 1.R.Trussell; 2.A.Deng, 3.K.Ciappa, 4.A.Walker, 6.D.Miralles, 7.G.Opacic, 16.A.Majok, 9.L.Ryan, 5.R.Colborne (15.M.Townley-Jones 71?), 12.S.Pintabona, 11.A.Belardo (8.N.Harnett 86?)
Substitutes Not Used: RGK.R.O?Conner, 10.G.Davis, 14.J.Dodson,
Yellow Cards: 2.A.Deng 84?, 12.S.Pintaborci 89?
Red Cards: Nil
Division Two Review ? Round 13
Western Condors FC 3 (A Lajin 6m C Enwiya 30m R Sanchez 58m) Prospect United 1 (P Curjak 48m)
Sunday, 17 June 2012 @ 3-00pm at Knight Park Field No. 4
Western Condors continue their surge up the ladder as they accounted for Prospect United 3-1 in their round 13 clash.
Alen Lajin put the hosts in the lead inside 6? minutes before Carlos Enwiya doubled the advantage in the 30? minute.
Paul Curjak gave Prospect some hope with a goal following the break but Roberto Sanchez ensured his side took home the 3 points with a 58? minute winner.
Luddenham United 1 (J P Vella 65m) Hakoah FC 2 (Own goal 43m J Mundell 47m)
Sunday, 17 June 2012 @ 3-00pm at Luddenham Oval
Hakoah stretched their unbeaten run to an unbelievable 12 games as they dismantled a defiant Luddenham United 2-1.
Hakoah edged into the break 1-0 up courtesy of an own goal while Jordan Mundell made it 2-0 on the other side of half-time.
Luddenham never gave up and scored via J P Vella in the 65? minute to set up a grand stand finish, but Hakoah were good enough to close out the game and snatch all 3 points.
Hawkesbury City vs West City FC (WASHED OUT)
Saturday, 16 June 2012 @ 5-00pm at Bensons Lane Field
Bathurst 75 vs Belmore United (WASHED OUT)
Saturday, 16 June 2012 @ 7-00pm at Alec Lamberton Field
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Mountains United (WASHED OUT)
Sunday, 17 June 2012 @ 7-00pm at Punchbowl Oval
Division Two Reserve Grade – Round 13 Overview
FC Gazy scored their second win of the season, downing Nepean 3-1 at home while Western Condors defeated Prospect United 3-2 to keep chase of a finals spot.
Luddenham United claimed 3 valuable points as they bridged the gap by defeating Hakoah 1-0.
FC Gazy vs Nepean FC ? 3-1
Western Condors FC vs Prospect United ? 3-2
Luddenham United vs Hakoah ? 1-0
Hawkesbury City vs West City FC (WASHED OUT)
Bathurst 75 vs Belmore United (WASHED OUT)
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Mountains United (WASHED OUT)
-By Dean Southern
