Ruthless Reds destroy Tigers in Leichhardt
Sydney United 58 FC proved they are a force to be reckoned with in the IGA National Premier Leagues NSW Mens 1 competition, drubbing APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 5-1 at Lambert Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Edensor Park side could have score ten – outplaying, outclassing and dominating an APIA team that showed little promise for their fans.
United’s captain Luka Glavas netted two, including a penalty, while Japanese import Yuichi Yamauchi showed real class with a volley inside the APIA box. Mitchell Speer and Ante Tomic also got on the scoresheet for United, while Frenchman Gerard Ouffoue headed home the solitary goal for the Tigers.
APIA was on the front foot in the opening minutes of the game. The Tigers troubled United early on, heading the ball around in the box before a shot from George Khoury was saved by Jordan Jennings in the 3’ minute.
A slalom run from United winger Mirjan Pavlovic looked promising a few minutes later, with the former Wellington Phoenix man linking up well with Glen Trifiro and Mitchell Speer, though the attack petered out and APIA’s defenders managed to hold on.
United’s Anthony Tomelic received a yellow card when his forehead rammed into the back of Stephen Kayes’ head, as both players attempted to head the ball. Tomelic and Kayes received treatment, with the United man returning to the field with his head wrapped in bandages and wearing a new shirt.
United’s Robert Mileski looked to have a clear shot on goal in the 25’ minute but instead he passed to Pavlovic before APIA’s defence dealt with the attack.
Sydney United’s vocal supporters began to raise the decibels as they sensed a goal was near. Chances fell to Glen Trifiro and Pavlovic but neither was able to convert.
But United didn’t have to wait much longer to get on the score sheet. Former Blacktown midfielder Yuichi Yamauchi was well placed within the APIA box when a long ball came floating into the area. He let the ball run across his body before smashing it into the back of the net with a first-time volley in the 41’.
It was a spectacular finish that delighted the United fans and drew admiration from all who witnessed it.
United smelled blood and continued to attack, with APIA giving away fouls and looking increasingly shaky in defence. APIA’s Brendan Reilly gave away a penalty after he handled the ball in the box, earning a yellow card for his troubles.
Luka Glavas calmly stepped up to the spot and buried the ball in the back of the net, sending the ball to the right and APIA keeper Ryan Norval to the left in the 44’ minute.
APIA coach Gary Ward knew that something needed to be done if APIA were to salvage anything from the match. He brought on Frenchman Gerard Ouffoue at half-time for George Khoury.
United picked up right where they left off, applying early pressure to the Tigers who looked increasingly incapable of dealing with the attacking threat.
The Tigers concede a corner in the 47’ minute and up stepped Glen Trifiro, whose perfectly placed ball found the head of Mitchell Speer, with the unmarked United man sending the ball past Ryan Norval into the back of the net.
There was a glimmer of hope for APIA 6’ minutes later when their towering striker Gerard Ouffoue headed the ball home following a cross from Nicola Rizzo in the 53’ minute.
But that hope was short lived when only 7’ minutes later, Luka Glavas broke free of the APIA defence and calmly slotted the ball home in the 60’ minute to make it 4-1.
APIA coach Gary Ward looked increasingly frustrated on the sideline as his side was lucky not to concede more. APIA’s keeper Norval was forced to run out 25-yards to deny Yamauchi, who managed to get through the APIA defence rather easily.
When Clayton Musumeci replaced Rizzo in the 71’, Ward instructed his side to go forward and play three at the back, but they were still forced to play most of the match in their own half with United continuing their relentless attack.
United’s Robert Mileski and substitute Chris Triantis both missed chances, while Yamauchi had a goal disallowed after he was caught offside.
United substitute Ante Tomic put the final nail in APIA’s coffin with a 30-yard rocket in the ’93. While the goal was spectacular, few were surprised to see United put another one on the scoreboard.
While United were virtually faultless, apart from a few wasted opportunities in front of goal, APIA struggled and it looks like it will be a long season for the Leichhardt side.
APIA head coach Gary Ward issued a strongly-worded ultimatum to the club’s board following the match, insisting he needs more players before his side will register a win.
“My squad is simply not strong enough. On the bench I’ve got boys from the youth team. I bring on 18-year-olds and players with no experience because I’ve got no depth,” Ward said.
“I just don’t have the depth nor experience and I can’t keep relying on players like Mark Byrnes to turn it on and give us any hope of anything.”
Ward said he wouldn’t be directing any of his frustrations towards his players:
“I’m going to leave the players alone and I’m going to tell the committee that unless they pull their finger out and get me one or two quality players right now, unless they are prepared to give me some ammunition that I can work with.”
It was much happier days for United coach Mark Rudan, although he still wasn’t entirely pleased with what he saw.
“We’ve been working on something since pre-season and it came good today. I never look at the score that often – I look at the process. Today, by and large, we were good,” Rudan said.
“We could’ve scored more, that’s the disappointing thing about it. We had chance after chance.”
And Rudan said he wasn’t too surprised to see Yamauchi sink that wonderful volley:
“It was a class goal but the thing that pleased me the most was that it was a training park goal. We work on that in training and we’ve seen it before.”
Match Stats
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1 (Gerard Ouffoue 53’)
Sydney United 58 FC 5 (Yuichi Yamauchi 41’, Luka Glavas 44’ (pen), 60’, Mitchell Speer 47’, Ante Tomic 90’+3’)
Sunday April 14th, 2013
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: Andrew Best
Assistant Referees: Andrej Giev and Scott Edeling
Fourth Official: Sebastien Brennan
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers: 1.Ryan Norval; 2.Mark Byrnes; 3.Adel El Jamal, 4.Brendan Reilly (19.Adamo Raciti 81’), 7.Stephen Kayes, 8.David D’Appuzzo, 11.Nicola Rizzo (17.Clayton Musumeci 71’), 12.Keith Shevlin, 14.George Khoury (9.Gerard Ouffoue 45’), 15.Brad Bartels, 18.Nikola Taneski
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Lucas North; 20.Joshua Symond
Yellow Cards: Brad Bartels 10’, Brendan Reilly 44’, Nicky Rizzo 65’, Clayton Musumeci 78’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 41.Jordan Jennings; 2.Mitchell Speer, 3.Ben Jurman, 5.Callum O’Connell, 6.Mitchell Stamatellis, 7.Mirjan Pavlovic (10.Chris Triantis 66’), 8.Yuichi Yamauchi (22.Daniel Barac 81’), 9.Robert Mileski, 11.Luka Glavas (23.Ante Tomic 83’), 15.Anthony Tomelic, 18.Glen Trifiro
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Marko Bozic, 4.Nathan Sherlock
Yellow Cards: Anthony Tomelic 18’
Red Cards:
Player Ratings:
3 – Yuichi Yamauchi (SU)
2 – Luka Glavas (SU)
1 – Mirjan Pavlovic (SU)
-By Alex Cauchi
