Manly United hold Reds to scoreless draw
The blue skies finally showed following a miserable Sydney day, just in time for the celebrations at Sydney United Sports Centre following the unveiling of the newly laid artificial playing surface.
The afternoon will be memorable for the big names that graced Sydney United over the years – especially the goal scoring prowess of former goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac who dazzled with a fabulous performance – however the ultimate goal was for the first team to collect three-points against Manly United FC, something that the side was incapable of with the match ending 0-0.
An early penalty claim, and question marks over whether Mitchell Speer’s first-half header crossed the line were the best chances created by the home side before attacking midfielder Robert Mileski was given a straight red card for a poorly timed tackle.
Manly United too had its chances, Brendan Cholakian a stand-out performer for the Northern Beaches side.
A well-worked triangle by Matthew Sim and David Cain on 3’ minutes saw the latter play a tantalising floated pass into the path of the former who hit his first-time volley, from an acute angle, directly at Liam Reddy who made a routine save.
Sydney United 58 FC’s first chance of note arrived on 8’ minutes as Robert Mileski went down inside the penalty-area following some intricate passing by the Reds. The Reds attacking midfielder went down after contact with a Manly United defender, thought the referee ordered for play to continue.
The Reds very nearly opened the scoring on 12’ minutes as Mitchell Speer rose highest to head a corner delivery from the right on target. The Sydney United defender got a lot of power on his attempt, and for many in the stadium the ball crossed the line, though some desperate defending by Manly United on their own goal line saw the Northern Beaches side thwart any further danger.
The visitors continued to collect some positive time in possession in midfield with Cain and Sean Seavill moving the ball nicely for Sim and Colin Iley up-front. The final ball option however was constantly cut out by some stout Reds defending.
Back at the other end, Chris Triantis showed all his class when turning his marker nicely and driving a powerful left-footed effort only inches off target. The attacking midfielder’s effort whizzed its way past the frame of the goal with goalkeeper Dylan Mitchell seemingly beaten.
Triantis was at it again on 29’ minutes, this time using his right boot, unleashing another bomb from distance that failed to dip enough as the ball skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Midfielder Glen Trifiro got to see more of the ball in the middle of the park, alongside Triantis, and the creative player cleverly picked out his partner in crime Triantis on the edge of the penalty-area 3’ minutes later with the Reds’ number 10 sending his diagonal effort inches wide of the target.
The task at hand for the home side became all the more difficult in the 33’ minute when Mileski, who had made a positive start to the match, was shown a straight red card for what seemed an unnecessary challenge in the middle of the park.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the home side continued to press forward. Trifiro’s 40’ minute free-kick delivery from the left had the Manly rearguard on the back foot, though no Reds player could get a final touch on the ball as Mitchell claimed comfortably.
The visitors very nearly opened the scoring in the 2’ minute of first-half injury-time with another swift counterattacking move. Brendan Cholakian was played through on goal, and from a decentralized position on the left, saw his angled attempt diverted onto the crossbar by Reddy. The shot-stopper made a strong fist to deny Manly United.
Following the re-start, Sydney United carved out the first opening as Triantis laid the ball off to Speer who shot over from 25-metres out, on 48’ minutes.
The visitors responded immediately via Cain. The midfielder attempted a snap-shot effort from the edge of the penalty-area, though failed to get any real purchase behind his effort.
The Reds moved forward, still in search of finding a goal, with Glen Trifiro and Ante Tomic combining down the left – the latter over hit the cross from the byline.
Manly United’s Cholakian solo effort was all class, where he weaved his way past three defenders, before unleashing a left-foot attempt against his teammate, Scott Balderson, as the chance amounted to nothing.
Balderson carved out an opening of his own on 54’ minutes as he attempted a long-range chip. Reddy was quick to return to his goal line, making a comfortable claim as the Manly United number 7 heard the cries of despair from two teammates on either side of him, perhaps in a better position.
Cholakian continued to impress with his neat touches on the ball, easing past his markers with finesse and impressive energy, opening up the Reds defence on his own just prior to the hour mark – the chance however came to nothing.
The Reds went close to finding a goal when Ben Jurman rose highest to send his header, from a set-piece, inches wide of the target.
Sydney United 58 FC continued to press, despite playing with a man down, as Speer pressed forward to unleash a powerful drive on 75’ minutes. Speer’s shot packed a real punch though failed to trouble Mitchell who was well positioned to claim the ball.
The Reds had two almighty chances to find the back of the net on 78’ minutes. Trifiro and Triantis combined to release Barac down the left, his effort across goal was cut out by the defender, before Speer got to the back post and drive a volley wide of the target.
Despite additional pressure by the home side to find a winner, the visitors held firm to ensure a share of the spoils.
Following the match, Sydney United 58 FC midfielder Glen Trifiro was visibly disappointed with the final result:
“The efforts and enthusiasm of the players cannot be questioned, we approached the match with the right attitude and maybe we deserved more from this match,” explained Trifiro.
“We have not had a lot of luck recently and the results have shown that, though we are all working hard at the moment, so we hope to get back to winning ways.”
Manly United FC coach Craig Midgley too was a little disappointed that his side couldn’t capitalise on the numerical advantage:
“If you had asked me yesterday about coming here and taking a point, I would have gladly accepted,” commented Midgley.
“I thought the boys were really well organised today and we did our jobs well.
“Of course, with the extra man we would have liked to have taken the three-points though sometimes playing with an extra man makes the task a lot harder.
“They were well organised and still made it difficult for us today,” ended Midgley.
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 FC 0
Manly United FC 0
Sunday 2nd of June, 2013
Sydney United Sports Centre
Referee: Jonathan Price
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Zac Naylor
Fourth Official: Nathan Roberts
Sydney United 58 FC: 29.Liam Reddy (C); 22.Daniel Barac, 19.Matthew Bilic, 12.Tomislav Herceg, 3.Ben Jurman, 9.Robert Mileski, 4.Nathan Sherlock, 2.Mitchell Speer, 23.Ante Tomic, 10.Chris Triantis (8.Yuichi Yamauchi 84’), 18.Glen Trifiro
Substitutes Not Used: 41.Jordan Jennings, 5.Calum O’Connell, 15.Anthony Tomelic, 21.Chris Zuvela
Yellow Cards: Daniel Barac 49’, Mitchell Speer 68’, Ben Jurman 73’
Red Cards: Robert Mileski 33’
Manly United FC: 1.Dylan Mitchell; 7.Scott Balderson, 14.David Cain, 12.Brendan Cholakian, 10.Colin Iley, 5.Joshua Lawson, 15.James Oates, 11.Matthew Sim (C), 16.Josh Ward (3.Roberto Hamad 90’+2’), 2.Leigh Egger, 8.Sean Seavill (25.Dominic Ferguson 75’)
Substitutes Not Used: 22.Grant Brown, 20.Tonu Liiband, 6.Daniel Grant
Yellow Cards: Scott Balderson 44’
Red Cards: Nil
-By Joseph Carlucci
