SUPA IGA NSW NPL Mens 2 Round 7 Review
There were plenty of goals and plenty of good football in round seven, with the most eye catching result being Parramatta’s dismantling of Bankstown City.
Their 5-0 win more than doubled their ‘goals for’ tally in one game, and it was a shellshocked Lions who departed Melita Stadiium.
Mounties Wanderers remain at the top, their gap now four points after Northern Tigers slumped to their second defeat in a row. It is close though just behind, one point separating four clubs.
Parramatta FC v Bankstown City
Two weeks ago Lee Sterrey was convinced that, while his Parramatta FC side were struggling to find the back of the net, the chances were being created, and “sooner or later, we are going to hurt someone”.
Well that day was Sunday, as Parramatta FC tore apart Bankstown City 5-0 with a dominant second half display, the Lions having no answer to the fast Eagles outfit.
It was hard to pick who was a standout for Parramatta, each playing their part, the capable and safe backline keeping Saso Petrovski and Gosue Sama quiet while Danny Choi wide on the left, Hyung An on the right and Devante Clut in the middle created a lot of the chances for Wand Jajaw up front.
The first goal, and the only one of the first half went to Choi but there was a sense of good fortune about it, the cross from the left deceiving Zlatko Joseski with the ball spinning against the far post and in.
The lead certainly gave the Eagles confidence, while putting early pressure on Bankstown, and the Lions struggled to make much headway, what chances that did come their way not really testing Justin Biega. Domenic Hudap made a good run and shot, but didn’t connect properly and Gosue Sama shot his freekick around the wall, but also just past the post. Nicolo Sama also had a chance but was wide.
But these were mostly half chances, and it seemed that Bankstown were having trouble getting out of first gear. The best chances for another goal in the first half went to Jajaw who perhaps should have backed himself more with two good opportunities. The first he laid off when he had his own chance to shoot, and the second he rounded Joseski but made the angle too tight. A shot on either occasion could well have put Parramatta two up.
However, that wasn’t to matter in the long run.
Within six minutes of the second half, Parramatta did double their lead. A corner from the right was initially missed, but a second chance feel to Hyung An who forcefully headed towards goal. Joseski did his best to keep it out, and parried it forward, but not before it had already crossed the line. Referee Chris Young had little hesitation in awarding the goal, the lack of argument from the Lions giving a clear impression that it was certainly a goal.
That second goal really put the wind in Parramatta’s sails. Robert Tribbia had a great chance to get on the scoresheet, heading over, but within another three minutes, it was 3-0, Devante Clut receiving a poor clearance on the edge of the area, controlling quickly before shooting home.
Niram Kanoun, on for Jajaw, made his presence felt within four minutes of coming on. He made it 4-0, a Choi cross from the left finding its way to his feet, before he slotted away and then with ten to go, Choi got his second, a left foot strike low into the net.
This was certainly an impressive display and perhaps what many had predicted would come. No one should be fooled by Parramatta’s current midtable position and if further games match this, the Eagles will be on the rise.
The Lions can only trust that it was just one of those games.
Parramatta FC 5 (Danny Choi 6’, 80’, Hyung An 51’, Devante Clut 60’, Niram Kanoun 66’) v Bankstown City 0
Sunday 5 May 2013
at Melita Stadium, South Granville
Referee: Chris Young
Assts: David Stack and James Tesoriero
Parramatta FC: 1. Justin Biega 2. Domenic Trimboli 8. Robert Tribbia 14. Andrija Petkovic 12. Hiroaki Kawasaki 17. Hyung An (6. Daniel Penfold 66’) 5. Daniel Gullo 15. Suad Ameti (7. Daniel Rezo 71’)10. Devante Clut 16. Danny Choi 11. Wand Jajaw (9. Niram Kanoun 62’)
Subs not used: 3. George Youssef 22. Domenic Badolato
Yellow Cards: Suad Ameti, Hyung An.
Coach: Lee Sterrey
Bankstown City: 25. Zlatko Joseski 17. James O’Rourke 5. Simon Verrender 22. Zac Vallorani 15. Sam Salameh 7. Steve Liavas (19 Michael Yarnold 56’) 9. Jordan Simpson (39. Thomas Kovacs 78’) 24 Domenic Hudap 21. Nicolo Sama 10. Saso Petrovski 11. Gosue Sama.
Subs not used: 8. George Nohra 27. Tolerance Mpofu
Yellow Cards: Sam Salameh, James O’Rourke.
Coaches: George Nohra and Bill Pilovski
Fraser Park v St George
Two goals in three minutes by Aleks Jovovic sent St George on the way to a 3-1 win at Fraser Park, moving the Saints to second on the table, on Saturday’s standings.
The goals couldn’t have come at a more opportune time either as St George were reduced to ten men only four minutes after going 3-1 up, George Codrea receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Thomas Taylor. But the two goal buffer, with just over ten minutes to go, was never likely to be threatened.
In an even first half, it had been Fraser Park who had taken the early lead. A perfectly taken corner, swung menacingly into the area, was superbly headed home from close range by a diving Nicholas Dimitropoulos. There was little chance of a miss, the connection coming inside the six yard box.
There were few chances in the opening forty five for either side, but St George did manage to draw level ten minutes before half time. Good work by Matt Sadler down the left, in some space, saw him turn in onto his right, and swing the ball high over Michael Frost into the far corner. It was well taken hit from outside the area, Frost having little hope.
But one gilt edged chance should have seen Fraser Park take the lead into the break. A quick free kick, a feature of Fraser Park in this game, saw Mitchell Davidson receive the ball with no defender within cooee. But after turning in, he blasted the shot high and over, a perfect chance lost.
St George had started to exert some pressure in the final stages of the first half, and this escape proved invaluable. With Fraser captain Paulo Oliviera not returning to the field for the second half due to injury, St George became more dominant in the second period and if the first half had produced little in terms of goal mouth action, the same couldn’t be said for the second.
Jovovic threatened within minutes of the restart but delayed his shot a little too much, while Carlo Musumeci drew a fine save from Dion Shaw at the other end. Marino Musumeci then put one over the bar for St George, and George Codrea somehow had his shot cleared off the line by a prostrate Fraser defence. Hussein Akil then twisted and turned before shooting just wide for the home side. All this within ten minutes. How it still remained 1-1 after this spurt of activity remains a mystery.
But with twenty minutes to go, the tide turned definitively in St George’s favour. Sam Messam was introduced off the bench and made an immediate impact. Within moments he set up Juan Chavez who was denied by Frost and then pressured Frost himself, the keeper only being able to parry onto the post. Jovovic then had the simple task of tapping in from a metre out.
Two minutes later, Jovovic again was the recipient of good work from Messam, putting St George two goals to the good. The send off to Codrea, with thirteen to go, perhaps gave Fraser Park a hint, but the Saints were solid. A couple of substitutions for St George helped shore up the result, defender Michael Smith coming on for Jovovic, while George Lagoudakis replaced Chavez.
But Fraser Park were done by this stage, and despite the ten men, St George were safely home.
The attention for both clubs now turns to the Waratah Cup midweek, with Fraser Park taking on Marconi in their first ever contest, while St George travel to association side West Pymble FC.
Fraser Park 1 (Nicholas Dimitropoulos 11’) v St George 3 (Matt Sadler 34’, Aleks Jovovic 71’, 73’)
Saturday 4 May 2013
at Fraser Park, Sydenham
Referee: Kevin Peddie
Assts: Sam Grasso and Matthew McOrist
Fraser Park: 1. Michael Frost 2. Rocci Gabey 13. Pat Cappuccio 19. Nicholas Dimitropoulos 3. Andrew Vitucci 11. Carlo Musumeci 4. Thomas Taylor 10. Paulo Oliviera (c) (21. Shivan Swamy 45’) 18. Mitchell Davidson (14. Daniel Fornito 77’) 20. Hussein Akil 9. Kris Holbrook (8. David Wilson).
Subs not used: 40. Wayne Estavao 35. Harrison Browne
Yellow Cards: Kris Holbrook 58’, Thomas Taylor 77’
Coach: Albin Mikulski
St George: 23. Dion Shaw 35. Costa Andricopoulos 19. Nicholas Napoli 5. Bill Tsanidis 3. David Dascal 8. Marino Musumeci (9. Sam Messam 70’) 16. Jonathan Castano-Acero 18. George Codrea 22. Matt Sadler 12. Aleks Jovovic (2. Michael Smith 79’) 9. Juan Chavez (c) (7. George Lagoudakis 81’).
Subs not used: 60. Daniel Nash 28. Andrew Grey.
Yellow Cards: George Codrea 57’
Red Card: George Codrea 77’
Coach: Manny Spanoudakis
Mount Druitt Town Rangers v Mounties Wanderers
Mounties Wanderers consolidated their position at the head of the league with a 3-1 win over bottom side Mount Druitt Town Rangers on Saturday evening. While it was scoreless at the break, and Rangers may have sensed an upset, a goal by Eli Squillacioti just two minutes after the restart put the visitors in front.
Daniel Severino then doubled the lead before Glenn McPherson brought Rangers back into it just after the hour. But a Mounties third, this time to Mark Symington, ensured that the Wanderers retained first position.
Mount Druitt Town Rangers 1 (Glenn McPherson 62’) v Mounties Wanderers 3 (Eli Squillacioti 47’, Daniel Severino 56’, Mark Symington 74’)
Spirit FC v Sydney University
Sydney University left it late at Christie Park but gained an all important point, a penalty in the final minutes bringing them level to 2-2.
Spirit had gone two up by the hour, both goals coming from Andrew McKie. The first was a first half penalty after Henry Wells was upended in the area with McKie heading home the second, getting on the end of a cross from brother Alistair.
At 2-0, Spirit could have been expected to go one with it, but a lack of concentration at vital stages allowed Uni back into the game. An own goal gave Uni a sniff of a comeback and then a penalty award for handball saw Crevani given the chance. The Uni captain made no mistake, slotting away for his fifth of the season.
Spirit FC 2 (Andrew McKie 2, 1 pen) v Sydney University 2 (o.g., Peter Crevani pen)
Northern Tigers v Bankstown Berries
Bankstown Berries came from a goal down at half time to overturn Northern Tigers 2-1 thanks to a double from Dimitri Zakilas.
After Tom Spencer had given the Tigers the lead, the Berries improved on a lacklustre first period, Zakilas getting between two defenders to bundle the ball over the line, from a Chris Gaitatzis cross, to draw Bankstown level.
Zakilas did the damage again, putting the Berries in front, pouncing on a loose ball after Stuart Page parried a shot from Kodjo Adjassou.
It was only the second win of the season for the Berries, but importantly, they still remain undefeated, the win lifting them to fifth on the table. It has proven a disastrous fortnight for the Tigers, their second loss in a row seeing them drop to third, albeit on goal difference.
Northern Tigers 1 (Thomas Spencer) v Bankstown Berries 2 (Dimitri Zakilas 2)
Hills Brumbies v Macarthur Rams
Macarthur Rams won a hard fought game against Hills Brumbies, taking all the points in a 2-1 win thanks to a second half strike from Craig Cooley.
An unfortunate own goal to Ryan Blaker had given the Rams the lead just before half time but an excellent buildup for the Brumbies saw Michael Noro touch and strike after being superbly released by Dragan Savic.
At 1-1, Hills looked the goods but Cooley, often the scorer of important goals, did so again, his winner for Macarthur ensuring that they remain well within reach of the top.
Hills Brumbies 1 (Michael Noro) v Macarthur Rams 2 (Ryan Blaker o.g. Craig Cooley)
Top Goalscorers
8 – Saso Petrovski (Bankstown City)
6 – Danny Choi (Parramatta FC)
5 – Juan Chavez (St George)
Peter Crevani (Sydney University)
Liam McConaghy (Northern Tigers)
Dimitri Zakilas (Bankstown Berries)
4 – Sam Messam (St George)
Under 20s
Fraser Park produced the result of the weekend defeating leaders St George 2-0 with both goals coming in the first half. After Saints keeper Costa D’Addona was ruled with carrying a Fraser shot over the line, Daniel Masters doubled the lead before the break. Despite some strong second half pressure, St George were unable to reduce the deficit.
A goal to Jason Naidovski was a feature of Mounties’ victory over Mount Druitt Town Rangers, as Naidovski continues his return to action after a preseason injury. Andrew Hirmiz also netted for Mounties with Garang Awac scoring for Rangers.
Benjamin Colussi scored a double for Parramatta to help the Eagles on the way to a 3-1 win, after Thomas Kovacs had given Bankstown City the lead in the 49th. But Colussi equalised with just a quarter of an hour to go, before Adrian Vranic put the Eagles ahead just a minute later. Colussi’s second came right at the end, with the Lions barely having time to kick off.
Justin Miller and Daniel Jovic were the scorers for Spirit in their 2-0 win over Sydney University. Daniel Nelson put Macarthur Rams 1-0 to the good in the first half before Jordan Caporale gained a point for Hills Brumbies. Bankstown Berries defeated Northern Tigers 3-1 to complete the weekend.
-By Peter Rowney
