Sydney United 58 dominate Wolves at home
Sydney United 58 FC proved they are a force to be reckoned with after a 4-0 demolishing of the South Coast Wolves in the IGA NSW National Premier Leagues Mens 1 competition at the Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday.
A dominant first-half display by the home side saw all four goals scored ending the game early.
Striker Mirjan Pavlovic returned from suspension with a vengeance, scoring a double with Glen Trifiro and Stjepan Paric also hitting the back of the net.
The home side showed their intent from the 2’ minute of play when a fantastic Ante Tomic corner was met by Pavlovic, only for his header to be cleared off the line.
Pavlovic didn’t have to wait long for his next chance as Yuichi Yamauchi fed a lovely through ball to the striker who converted from a tight angle to give his side a 1-0 lead on 5’ minutes.
United’s hunger created their second goal in less than 2’ minutes later when Nathan Sherlock’s diagonal ball found a free Glen Trifiro on the back post. The midfielder slotted the ball into the net to make it 2-0.
South Coast had their first sight on goal in the 12’ minute when a neat play by Steve Hayes saw John Martinoski’s shot from wide easily saved by Liam Reddy.
A minute later Hayes – lining up for the first time against his former club – tried to get his side back into the game with a driving shot forcing Reddy into a good save.
The Reds continued to pepper the South Coast defence with attacking raids and could have further extended their lead in the 18’ minute. After Reddy saved a shot he quickly threw the ball over the Wolves defensive line seeing Matthew Bilic go through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Unluckily for the winger his first shot was saved before his second attempt was deflected out for a corner.
South Coast slowly got into the battle of the midfield and in the 31’ minute an advancing Sam Chapple cut the ball back to Hayes on the edge of the box whose half volley when floating over the bar and out for a goal kick.
Yamauchi thought he created his second assist of the match in the 34’ minute when his cross was met by Pavlovic again on the back post only for the striker’s shot to hit the side netting.
But only 4’ minutes later the home side were celebrating again when Stjepan Paric struck the ball home off the post after the Wolves failed to clear the ball in a goalmouth scramble.
It got worse for the South Coast Wolves on the stroke of half-time when Zachary Mackenzie brought down Pavlovic in the box giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. The striker stepped up and cheekily chipped the ball into the net giving his side a 4-0 advantage at the break.
Pavlovic showed his intent to get his hat-trick straight from the break after back heeling the ball out wide to Bilic before getting on the end of the winger’s cross only to hit the side netting for the second time in the match.
The Wolves started to control possession in the middle of the park and Martinoski tried to spark his side back into the only for two shots within minutes of each other to go sailing well over the bar.
Christopher Nathaniel was next to try give his team a boost, winning the ball off Ibrahim Haydar before his shot was well saved by a diving Reddy in the 66’ minute.
Reddy was again quick to release the ball and United were unlucky not to go 5-0 up from the play, ending in BIlic’s lovely curling shot hitting the cross bar.
Pavlovic squandered a great chance to secure his hat trick in the 79’ minute, dispossessing the Wolves defence before taking the ball into the box only for Zachary Mackenzie to get back and tap the ball out for a corner before the striker could get his shot off.
As the game came to a close Daniel Barac saw his shot go over the bar, ending the game at 4-0.
Following the match, Sydney United 58 head coach Mark Rudan said he was pleased with his side’s performance:
“I think we’ve played just as well performance wise but probably haven’t been outing away the goals,’’ Rudan said.
“But today we had enough opportunities both in the first and second-half and it could have been a big score.
“The challenge was set at half-time to see if we could kick on. I was a little disappointed with the second-half performance although we still created chances which are positives.’’
Rudan is happy going into the back end of the season with several of his players returning to full fitness:
“We’ve got bodies back now and it makes a big difference,’’ he said.
“We’ve got more quality with Luka Glavas and Robbie Mileski which are two of the best players in the league to come back as well.
“With a run of games at home the boys are in fantastic spirits. We had bodies down at times but we all stood together, had some tough times but we did our jobs well.’’
In the opposition sheds South Coast Wolves midfielder Steve Hayes said his team’s slow start cost them:
“They came out and scored some early goals – they are a great team and we knew what we were going to be up against and we were there and weren’t ready,’’ he said.
“That first-half was a pretty disappointing show of football.
“We didn’t show what we are trying to do and how we are trying to play and we got punished badly for it.’’
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 FC 4 (Mirjan Pavlovic 5’, 45’, Glen Trifiro 7’, Stjepan Paric 38’)
South Coast Wolves 0
Sunday 16th of June, 2013
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Stephan Lucas
Assistant Referees: Leigh Pigram and Scott Edeling
Fourth Official: Benjamin Abraham
Sydney United 58 FC: 29.Liam Reddy (C); 4.Nathan Sherlock, 20.Ibrahim Haydar, 3.Ben Jurman, 23.Ante Tomic (5.Calum O’Connell 83’), 16.Stjepan Paric, 2.Mitchell Speer, 18.Glen Trifiro (10.Chris Triantis 78’), 8.Yuichi Yamauchi (22.Daniel Barac 42’), 19.Matthew BIlic, 7.Mirjan Pavlovic
Substitutes Not Used: 41.Jordan Jennings; 17.Chris Zuvela
Yellow Cards: Mirjan Pavlovic 22’
Red Cards: Nil
South Coast Wolves: 20.Thomas Hamilton; 11.John Martinoski (9.Josh Bingnam 82’), 17.Zachary Mackenzie, 4.Michael Robinson, 6.Christopher Nathaniel, 14.Mitchell Del Turco, 15.Matthew Floro (12.Joseph Lavalle 55’), 26.Jacob Timpano (C) (7.Dusan Kolonja 75’), 3.Sam Chapple, 8.Steve Hayes, 2.Jack Keating
Substitutes Not Used: 5.James Baldacchino, 1.Daniel Collison
Yellow Cards: Zachary Mackenzie 45’, Jacob Timpano 52’
Red Cards: Nil
-By Chris Georges
