Sensational Sutherland pull off comeback of the season
It was difficult to ascertain what was more outrageous, Nicholas Olsen’s winning goal or Sutherland Shark’s almighty comeback victory.
Olsen’s spectacular left foot strike from 30-yards capped Sutherland Sharks’ amazing win against Blacktown City, as they came back from 3-0 down to win 4-3 in the rescheduled match at Lily Homes Stadium.
The visiting side was 3-0 down inside 23′ minutes as Sean Rooney, Matthew Mayora and Harris Gaitatzis all found the back of the net. Sutherland weren’t at the races and it really should have cost them dearly.
Instead, it was Blacktown City who switched off and the comeback that the Sharks staged was scarcely believable.
Panni Nikas scored twice before half-time, his goals split by one from Christopher Naumoff.
Olsen’s stunning, goal of the season contender topped off an extraordinary evening.
Ryuiji Miyazawa set the tone of the opening half an hour though, with a 2′ minute shot that forced a sharp save from Nathan Denham, the Sutherland keeper showing that he, at least, was alert.
Travis Major fired wide shortly after, as Blacktown City poured forward and their 7′ minute opening goal was no surprise.
Rooney was the man on the spot, racing on to a pass from Major and showing the composure required to slot home, despite a touch from Denham.
7′ minutes later and their lead was doubled, Mayora tapping in after more good work from Major on the right hand side.
Nikolas Tsattalios, freshly back from injury, was struggling to keep up with the relentless pace that Blacktown City had set early on.
Sutherland briefly fought the tide; Nikas fired a shot that Brody Crane did fantastically to tip over the bar. It was a fabulous save from the Blacktown City custodian, but Nikas’ greater contribution was to come later on in the half.
Gaitatzis added a third in the 23′ minute to give Blacktown City what most assumed was a match winning lead.
It should have been game over, but Robbie Stanton’s side is made of sterner stuff than that.
Nikas’ shot wide just after the half an hour mark was a signal of Sutherland’s intent, despite the huge task that appeared to be ahead of them.
They were given a helping hand for their first goal, a foul by Jacob Poscoliero as Nikas was poised to strike, leading referee Kris Griffiths-Jones to award a penalty.
Nikas himself stepped up and despite a touch from Crane, converted the 38′ minute spot-kick.
It was merely the foundation for the comeback as young star Christopher Naumoff added a second in the 44′ minute. Naumoff was keeping striker Bradley Boardman out of the starting lineup and he again repaid Stanton’s faith, heading in after Crane’s save from Nikas popped up to him.
Sutherland was finishing the half with a head of steam and just as Blacktown City’s opener was telegraphed, so was Sutherland’s equaliser.
It came in added time when Tsattalios atoned for his poor start, bursting forward and playing in Nikas, who tucked the ball away for his second of the game.
Naumoff missed a good opportunity to put his side ahead just after the hour mark, but it was left to his fellow attacker Olsen to score the decisive goal in the 68′ minute.
A ball from the left found Olsen 30-yards from goal and the forward showed all the audacity of youth, thrashing a thunderbolt of a left foot volley in off the crossbar.
It was a goal worth of winning any match, let alone one as thrilling as this.
Sutherland Sharks coach Robbie Stanton’s joy at the victory was tempered by Sutherland’s poor start to the game:
"We have the ability to do that," Stanton said.
"They can hurt you; they’re a very attacking team. We knew it would be a hard game.
"I’m disappointed that we didn’t turn up in the first 15’ minutes. We did get our act together once we were 3-0 down, though.
"I had a sneaky suspicion that the game would open up and that we’d score a few goals tonight.
"Once it got to 3-3 I knew we’d win the game, because psychologically when you’re up by three and then concede three, your mind is not right.
"(At 3-0 down) I was beginning to think about Saturday’s game. We adjusted at half-time and I knew if the game opened up we had the players to score the goals. Once we got to 3-3 I knew we’d win the game.
"That’s football. One minute you’re top of the world, next you’re rock bottom. I think you saw that tonight."
Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden was understandably upset by what he had seen:
"Extremely disappointing," Crittenden said.
"For 30’ minutes we were superb, but the last 10’minutes we capitulated.
"We lost our way and lost our shape, gave away a soft penalty and the next thing you know, the game’s changed.
"We lost our composure and at 3-0 we took our foot off the pedal. We went away from what we were doing. We destroyed them for 30’ minutes and then for 10’ minutes we were awful.
"The second half was 50-50 and then the young boy scored a bomb to win it. It’s very disappointing."
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC 3 (Sean Rooney 7′, Matthew Mayora 14′, Harris Gaitatzis 23′)
Sutherland Sharks FC 4 (Panny Nikas 38′ (pen), 45+1′, Christopher Naumoff 44′, Nicholas Olsen 68′)
Wednesday 24th April, 2013
Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referees: Sarah Ho and Robson Battistella
Blacktown City FC: 1.Brody Crane, 4.Yianni Fragogiannis, 5.Patrick Gatt (c), 6.Matthew Lewis, 7.Travis Major, 9.Ryuji Miyazawa, 10.Harris Gaitatzis, 11.Sean Rooney, 12.Kearyn Baccus (14.Shane D’Cunha 78′), 15.Matthew Mayora (8.Raymond Miller 69′), 20.Jacob Poscoliero (18.Dolor Edosomwan 90′)
Substitutes Not Used: 13.Blake Tuxford (GK), 21.Daniel Vellonio
Yellow Cards: Jacob Poscoliero 27′
Red Cards: Nil
Sutherland Sharks FC: 1.Nathan Denham, 2.Nicholas Littler, 14.Nick Stavroulakis (c), 23.Panny Nikas, 7.Nathan Elasi, 15.Perry Moustakas, 33.Nikolas Tsattalios (17.Klim Gjoreski),13.Reo Morinaga 6.Matthew Gordon, 19.Christopher Naumoff, 8.Nicholas Olsen
Substitutes Not Used: 9.Bradley Boardman, 10, Andre Gomez, 16.Ben Cornish, 22.Andrew Depta (GK)
Yellow Cards: Panni Nikas 67′, Perry Moustakas 71′, Matthew Gordon 89′
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Panni Nikas (SS)
2 – Nicholas Olsen (SS)
1 – Christopher Naumoff (SS)
-By Matthew Connellan
