NSW Premier League Grade 20s Round 22 Review

Meanwhile, the rest of the top five, Sutherland Sharks, Manly United, Blacktown City and Blacktown Spartans, all won to ensure a tantalising finals series, starting next weekend.
MATCH OF THE ROUND
PARRAMATTA EAGLES 2-2 ROCKDALE CITY SUNS 
Parramatta Eagles and Rockdale City Suns played out a heart stopping 2-2 draw to ensure that Rockdale cling on to fifth place and a spot in the finals. 
Parramatta knew that only a win would do and they thought they’d done the job when second half substitute Wandi Jajaw put them 2-1 up in the 87′ minute.
Jajaw was set free by Bruno Privato to score past Aaron Liddell and give Parramatta a lead that would knock Rockdale City out of fifth place. It was the climax of a thrilling closing period of the match, but Parramatta were too caught up in the moment.
From the kick off, Rockdale City attacked down the right and after a cross caused a scramble in the area, the half time substitute James Villazon was on hand to score the most valuable of equalising goals, his second of the match and a goal that sees his side into a semi final next weekend.
There was understandable tension as the match kicked off at Melita Stadium, the sun beating down on the players and benches as the final round of the season commenced. For one team it would be their last, for the other there would be a semi final match next weekend.
Both sides fielded strong looking starting line ups, with Luke Grima included for Parramatta Eagles and Alec Urosevski  starting up front for Rockdale City. 
As early as the 4′ minute, Urosevski  was involved, playing in Tommy Cirjak down the inside right channel. His powerful shot was well blocked by Parramatta Eagles goalkeeper Jay Fernandez, playing up from the 18s. The youngster acquitted himself well at his first test. 
Shortly after, Parramatta thought they should have had a penalty when Luke Grima went down in the area but referee Ben Abraham waved play on.
There was 27′ minutes on the clock when a goal mouth scramble led to the ball breaking for Urosevski , but the young goalkeeper Fernandez did excellently to narrow the angle and block with his legs.
Parramatta should have taken the lead in the 34′ minute with what was in reality, the first clear cut opportunity of a match characterised by two sides not wanting to lose. 
Grima was set free down the left and his square pass found Farres Aoun in the area, but the Parramatta midfielder could only shank his shot wide under pressure. It was a golden opportunity to open the match up before half time but unfortunately for the hosts, it went begging. 
Rockdale City were playing a patient game, knowing that a draw would be enough for them and they had a clear cut chance of their own in the 39′ minute. 
Alan Kovacevic was played in, but he was denied by Fernandez. When the ball came loose, Kovacevic managed to slide another shot goalwards only for Nic Petrillo to athletically stretch and clear the second effort off the line.
Parramatta suffered a blow in the 41′ minute when Joshua Sotirio had to be helped off after suffering an injury. Before his replacement Timothy Porter could make his way on though, they took the lead through a beautiful goal from Luke Grima.
Graziano Trimboli split the defence with a well measured pass to Grima, who sprung the offside trap with expert timing. After taking a few touches to control, the Parramatta number 9 lifted the ball high over Rockdale City’s goalkeeper Aaron Liddell, the shot hitting the underside of the bar before nestling in the back of the net.
The silence was defeaning as the ball struck the bar as it seemed inevitable that it would bounce down and back into the field of play, but Melita Stadium and in particular the Parramatta bench erupted when the net rippled. Porter then went on and the home side cruised in to half time with a valuable one goal advantage. 
Cirjak was the first to threaten in the second half but it wasn’t until the hour mark that he did, as both sides were wary of over committing, still. They seemed to be saving themselves for a late assault on all three points when Cirjak thrashed a shot over the bar from long range. 
Rockdale City coach Justin Bucciarelli, aware of the need to grab a point, sacrificed his captain Lachlan O’Connor just after the hour mark, sending on Idriss Elhafiane as his replacement with Robert Speranza taking the captain’s armband.
Moments later, in the 66′ minute, Speranza had an excellent change to equalise when the ball broke to him just inside the area on the right. His shot fizzed wastefully wide, as tension began to build.
Parramatta had their young goalkeeper Fernandez to thank for keeping them in the lead just a minute later. An error from Aous Altaee allowed Cirjak to shoot for goal but his powerful strike was palmed wide by the flying Fernandez. The young shot stopper had been in fine form all afternoon.
Grima had a super chance to double Parramatta’s lead in the 69′ minute when a long ball saw him find a gap between two Rockdale City defenders, unfortunately for him and Parramatta his attempted lob over Liddell dropped wide with the goalkeeper beaten.
Parramatta coach Paul De Lucca sent on the in-form Wandi Jajaw in the 70′ minute for Farres Aoun in a bid to secure the result, but there was plenty of football still to be played.
They had another decent chance in the 72′ minute when Bruno Privato released Porter down the right, but his shot was straight at Liddell. It was fair to say that he had other team mates in better positions, but he elected to go himself.
These wasted chances came back to haunt Parramatta, when Rockdale City equalised in the 73′ minute through substitute James Villazon. Another substitute, Michael Cimino broke free down the right hand side and his drilled cross was tapped in at the back post by Villazon, who arrived perfectly on cue.
The tension was palpable as both sides came to the realisation that it was all at stake. 
That tension came to pass in the match’s thrilling denouement. 
Match Stats
Parramatta Eagles 2 (Luke Grima 43′, Wandi Jajaw 87′)
Rockdale City Suns 2 (James Villazon 73′, 88′)
Sunday 2nd September, 2012
Melita Stadium, South Granville 
Referee: Ben Abraham
Assistant Referees: Alex Long and Michelle Allen
Parramatta Eagles: 1.Jay Fernandez, 2.Aous Altaee, 3.Nic Petrillo, 4.Ari Isman (C), 5. Tom Mallett, 6.Graziano Trimboli (12.Marko Micevski 84′), 7.Farres Aoun (14.Wandi Jajaw 70′), 8.David Han, 9.Luke Grima, 10. Joshua Sotirio (16.Timothy Porter 43′), 11.Bruno Privato
Substitutes Not Used: 15. Alexander Kelly, 17.Stipe Jakovljevic
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Rockdale City Suns: 24.Aaron Liddell, 25.Sean Thomas, 26.Sam Cornish, 29.Alan Kovacevic (31.Jordan Yarza 67′), 37.Keifer Dotti (28.James Villazon 46′), 44.Lachlan O’Connor (C) (38.Idriss Elhafiane 62′), 20.Roberto Speranza (30.Michael Cimino 86′), 11.Dave Talevski, 19.Tomislav Cirjak (36.Daniel Kamel 78′), 18.Joshua Lawson, 45.Alec Urosevski
Substitutes Not Used: Nil 
Yellow Cards: Joshua Lawson 55′
Red Cards: Nil
ROUND REVIEW
SYDNEY OLYMPIC 1-3 MANLY UNITED, AT BELMORE SPORTS GROUNDS
Manly United cemented second place with a 3-1 win away from home against Sydney Olympic.
Alex Mitrogiannis scored for the home side, but Michael McGinley scored twice and Max Bigonovitch scored for the visitors to give them the three points.
SOUTH COAST WOLVES 1-3 SUTHERLAND SHARKS, AT JOHN CREHAN PARK
Premiers Sutherland Sharks ended the 22 round season with a convincing 3-1 over South Coast Wolves.
Jayden Koulizakis scored a double after an own goal gave Sutherland the lead, to send them into the semi finals with the momentum of two good wins in a row.
APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS 0-2 BLACKTOWN SPARTANS, AT LAMBERT PARK
Blacktown Spartans rounded out their season with a 2-0 win over APIA Leichhardt.
APIA, whose final hopes were ended last week, would be disappointed to go out meekly as Louis Bozanic and Reid Taylor scored second half goals for the visitors. 
BLACKTOWN CITY 4-2 BONNYRIGG WHITE EAGLES, AT LILY HOMES STADIUM
Blacktown City found their shooting boots at last, thrashing Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4-2 at home.
Promising youngster Clayton Musumeci scored a double, before Yianni Perkatis and Harry Brown rounded out the scoring. Blacktown City were certainly back to their best and in the nick of time, too.
MARCONI STALLIONS 1-3 SYDNEY UNITED, AT EDENSOR PARK
Sydney United 58 ended a disappointing season with a good victory over Marconi Stallions.
Brayden Sorge, Mark Cindric and Mark Vukovic were on the scoresheet. 
-By Matthew Connellan