NSW Premier League Grade 20 Round 18 Review

Blacktown City failed to take advantage of Sutherland’s draw on Saturday night, as they went down on Sunday afternoon to Sydney Olympic, whilst APIA Leichhardt’s late win in the Match of the Round thrust them back into finals contention.
MATCH OF THE ROUND
ROCKDALE CITY SUNS 0-1 APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS, AT ILINDEN SPORTS CENTRE
APIA Leichhardt Tigers scored an important 1-0 away win against Rockdale City Suns on Sunday afternoon thanks to a goal from Wiltar Jajaw three seconds into second half stoppage time. The late drama wasn’t in keeping with what was a dour second half, but the win keeps Rod Williams’ side in with a hope of making the top five. 
It was a cautious start from both sides on a beautiful day at Ilinden Sports Centre as both sides felt their way into the match. 
Gradually though, Rockdale began to assert the superiority that their league position demanded, as a testing through ball forced APIA goalkeeper Sam Giglio to rush off his line in the 13th minute. APIA did have the ball in the back of the net soon after though, the deadly Nick Taneski showing his ability in front of goal only to be denied by the raised offside flag. 
In Yong Jang showed his ability from range, the APIA midfielder rattling Aaron Lidell’s crossbar from 30 yards out, his wonderful dipping shot leaving the Rockdale City goalkeeper helpless and undoubtedly relieved when the shot came back off the bar.
Rockdale City’s Alan Kovacevic had a decent opportunity in the 22nd minute when Giglio failed to claim a ball from the left that came through his penalty area. After a scramble, the ball broke to Kovacevic, but he hesitated and instead of shooting he cut the ball back into the crowded area and the chance was wasted. 
The match came to life after a slow start and it was the home side who were making most of the running.
APIA midfielder Fabian Sosa went into the referees book in the 23rd minute for dissent as the players jostled for position in the area, as APIA attempted to defend a Rockdale City corner kick. 
From another Rockdale City set piece, Idris Elhafiane appeared unmarked at the back post but wastefully headed the chance wide, as APIA looked to hold on under considerable pressure. 
Rockdale went even closer in the 28th minute, a deep corner from the right finding the head of Sean Thomas, whose header hit the back post and went out of play. Rockdale were very much in the ascendancy with APIA unable to keep any meaningful possession in midfield, inviting Rockdale to attack with vigour.
APIA striker Taneski thought he should have had a penalty in the 33rd minute when he was bundled over in the area, but the referee waved play on, much to the chagrin of the APIA supporters. 
Rockdale City’s Alan Kovacevic had been a constant threat in the first half and so it proved again in the 43rd minute when he broke clear down the right and his well struck shot was excellently stopped by Giglio between the sticks for APIA. 
Kovacevic again had a chance in the final minute when he beat APIA’s rather lax offside trap, but he was denied by a sensational sliding challenge by the desperate Paul Galimi.
Despite Rockdale City having more opportunities over the first 45 minutes, the match was locked at 0-0 at the half time interval. 
The start of the second half lacked the gusto of the first, summed up when APIA Leichhardt’s Pan Gotsis kicked a corner straight out of play in the 65th minute, as the arm wrestle continued. 
Rockdale City skipper Lachlan O’Connor was nearly punished for sloppily giving away possession in the 68th minute. Gotsis intercepted O’Connor’s pass but his pass towards Taneski was slightly overhit and Rockdale’s keeper Aaron Lidell was quick enough to read and cut out the danger. 
Nick Taneski nearly gave APIA what would have been a goal against the run of play in the 73rd minute, when a lucky ricochet saw him break into the penalty area, but from a tight angle he was unable to beat Lidell, who touched the ball onto the post and out for a corner which resulted in nothing for the visiting side.
Jordan Yarza was introduced in the 74th minute and had a half chance moments later, but his header lacked the power to really test Giglio.
Both sides were still strangely flat as the match entered the final phase. Kovacevic, so influential in the first half, had hardly had a kick in the second and when he did manage to find space he was flagged offside.
Rockdale had the ball was in the back of the net in the 84th minute when Lachlan O’Connor’s cross was tapped in by James Villazon at the back post, only for the flag to once again be raised and the finish ruled out for offside.
Keifer Dotti raced clear a minute later and looked set to break the deadlock after he sprung the offside trap, but his final touch lacked composure and as he lost control of the ball, Stefan Giglio was able to claim it. 
APIA looked like they might have a chance on the break moments after but a foul by Sam Cornish prevented that happening, at the cost of a yellow card for the Rockdale City defender. 
The clock stood at 90:03 as Wiltar Jajaw showed excellent anticipation in bursting beyond the front line to latch onto a loose ball. The APIA attacker showed great composure, too, poking the ball past the advancing Lidell, prompting an exuberant celebration from the youngster and his team mates in front of the Ilinden Sports Centre main stand.
It was a thrilling denouement to what was, at times, a scrappy, tense encounter. In the context of APIA Leichhardt’s season, it could be a pivotal moment, delivered by a promising young player. 
With just seconds remaining of the three minutes of added time, Sam Cornish lined up a free kick from 25 yards but his connection wasn’t clean, allowing Stefano Giglio to gather comfortably. Understandably, he was in no hurry to release the ball.
Moments later the full time whistle sounded, APIA’s late victory lifting them to within three points of Rockdale City and giving them renewed hope that they can hunt down the teams ahead of them and make the top five.
Rockdale City coach Justin Bucciarelli was disappointed with how the match finished. “I thought a draw was a fair result. It was a battle out there but in the end they showed that little bit of hunger to win the game. They’re fighting for their lives and it showed until the very end,” he commented.
By contrast, APIA coach Rod Williams’ was elated with the result. “I thought we deserved it. We tried our best to play our usual passing football on what was a poor pitch and we showed our commitment right to the very end,” he said.
“It’s in our hands, if we win all four matches to finish the season, then we’ll be there (in the top five).”
MATCH STATS
Rockdale City Suns 0
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1(Jajaw 90′)
Sunday August 5, 2012 
Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
Referee: Jamie Gavin.
Assistant Referees: Sebastian Brennan and Alex Long.
Rockdale City Suns: 24. Aaron Lidell, 25. Sean Thomas, 26. Sam Cornish, 27. James Villazon (28. Jason Pupkovski 85′), 29. Alan Kovacevic, 30. Michael Cimino, 37. Keifer Dotti, 38. Idris Elhafiane, 44. Lachlan O’Connor (C), 34. Roberto Speranza, 19. Marino Musumeci (31. Jordan Yarza 74′).
Substitutes Not Used:  40. Steven Tanusaski, 45. Angelo Zuedakoski, 39. Jordan Hughes.
Yellow Cards: Dotti (49′), Cornish (88′).
Red Cards: Nil.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 1. Stefano Giglio, 25. Ali Nasreddine, 28. Brian Griffin-Colls, 29. Gyu Re-Lee, 30. Fabian Sosa (34. Robert Bacic 70′), 31. In Yong Jang, 33. Pan Gotsis (27. Cameron Clifford 78′), 41. Wiltar Jajaw, 38. Paul Galimi (C), 42. Bradley Bartels, 39. Nick Taneski.
Substitutes Not Used: 40. David Bradesevic, 26. Anthony Dah Dah.   
Yellow Cards: Sosa (23′), Bartels (77′), Galimi (90′).
Red Cards: Nil.
ROUND REVIEW
SATURDAY
MARCONI STALLIONS 1-1 SUTHERLAND SHARKS, AT MARCONI STADIUM
League leaders Sutherland Sharks poor form continued, as they drew 1-1 with Marconi Stallions at Marconi Stadium.
On a brisk Saturday night, Marconi were able to take a point against Sutherland, who have struggled of late but remain atop the table as Blacktown City have continually failed to take advantage of any slip ups.
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 1-0 BONNYRIGG WHITE EAGLES, AT BLACKTOWN FOOTBALL PARK
Blacktown Spartans defeated Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the other Saturday night match.
Kieran Dalton scored an 87th minute winner for the home side, who have been impressive in recent weeks. The defeat means that it will be difficult for Bonnyrigg to make the top five in the league and thus the finals series.
SUNDAY
MANLY UNITED 1-1 SYDNEY UNITED 58, AT CROMER PARK
Manly United drew 1-1 with Sydney United 58 on Sunday afternoon.
Dominic Ferguson scored for the home side, whilst the prolific Mark Cindric scored another goal to add to his tally.
SYDNEY OLYMPIC 1-0 BLACKTOWN CITY, AT LILY HOMES STADIUM
Sydney Olympic defeated second place Blacktown City, in the match moved from Belmore Sports Ground to Lily Homes Stadium.
Jerry Bilokapic’s Olympic dealt Mark Strachan’s Blacktown City a crushing blow, as a victory could have taken them to within a point of league leaders Sutherland Sharks. Alas, they now remain four points adrift after James Demetriou scored the only goal of the match for Sydney Olympic.
PARRAMATTA FC 1-1 SOUTH COAST WOLVES, AT MELITA STADIUM
Parramatta FC drew at home to South Coast Wolves on the last of the Sunday afternoon matches.
The points and goals were shared at one each, after Parramatta took the lead in the first five minutes thanks to Luke Grima.
South Coast levelled through Lee Gilroy and from then on were under significant pressure from the home side, though they had their own opportunities. Parramatta finished strongly but weren’t able to convert a chance that would have given them all three points.
-By Matthew Connellan