Sydney United 58 on the rise after Tigers scalp

It took just 11′ minutes for Sydney United 58 FC to wrap up this match and although they were again reduced to ten men, APIA-Leichhardt Tigers lacked the firepower to compete, as Sydney United 58 FC ran out 3-1 winners.
APIA have been much improved of late but any hopes they had of giving the Reds a run for their money were dashed by United’s opening salvo.
Even though they were awarded a penalty, missed by Jason Oswell, and they played against ten-men for most of the second-half after Ben Jurman was given his marching orders, APIA was never really at the races as Sydney United 58 showed their true class.
There was less than 120" seconds on the clock when Glen Trifiro opened the scoring with a rare header, nodding home after a cross from the left by the influential Robert Mileski.
APIA tried in vain to get their heads in the game but by the time they did, the home side had already scored their second, and again it was created by Mileski.
The United number 9 crossed from the left again and once the ball was at the feet of Luka Glavas it was almost inevitable that he would score. The United captain didn’t err, cooly picking out the top corner of Andrew Bazi’s goal.
Brendan Reilly was being turned inside out at right back by Mileski and APIA-Leichhardt coach Billy McColl responded, substituting him in the 15′ minute, sending Keith Shevlin on and moving Bradley Bartels to right fullback.
Reilly wasn’t pleased by the decision, but the early sub and the concession of the second goal, and finally, they started to play.
They were gifted an avenue back into the game when Jurman conceded a penalty and was booked for his troubles.
The in-form Oswell stepped up to the spot but his penalty lacked conviction and was saved by Liam Reddy, who did well to find his feet and save the rebound from Oswell.
It was a shame for Oswell, who along with fellow new signing Aaron Clapham, looked the most lively for APIA-Leichhardt, who left talismanic playmaker Franco Parisi on the bench.
They were dealt a blow that turned into a blessing in disguise, when Mark Byrnes succumbed to a hamstring injury and was replaced by Michael Hawrysiuk in the 44′ minute.
In a twist of fate, Hawrysiuk scored with his first touch of the game, with the assist supplied by his fellow first-half substitute, Shevlin.
Adel El Jamal pumped a long free-kick from his own half that was flicked on by Oswell to Shevlin, who showed a great turn of pace to power into the area. His cut-back found its way to the back edge of the area, where Hawrysiuk arrived to lash a volley past Reddy with aplomb.
Things continued to go APIA’s way when Jurman received his second yellow card just 5′ minutes into the second-half.
It was a silly dismissal and another piece of ill-discipline from Sydney United 58, who are no strangers to the red mist.
But, just when it seemed that APIA had been presented with their golden opportunity, a slip from El Jamal in the 54′ minute saw Mileski put the icing on the cake of a great personal performance, as he raced on to a through ball that the APIA defender failed to cut out.
Faced with APIA goalkeeper Bazi, Mileski just about snuck his finish in, despite a decent touch from the shot stopper.
APIA threw on Parisi, and with Clapham and Oswell, they occasionally linked nicely in attack, but they left themselves wide open on the counterattack.
Daniel Barac replaced Glavas for Sydney United 58 and he had a glut of guilt-edged chances as Sydney United 58 counterattacked with vigour and one late opportunity was well stopped by Bazi.
His pace proved hugely problematic for El Jamal and Barac would have been disappointed not to have found the back of the net as the floodgates threatened to open.
Sydney United 58 coach Mark Rudan was happy with the way his side reacted to being down to ten men, as well as the breakneck pace with which they started the game:
"The performance was good," Rudan said.
"All things considered, I thought we started really well and played some very good football as well.
"We got our just rewards with the two early goals.
"APIA are a tough team to play against, they’re direct and very physical and it was a good challenge.
"I thought we did well considering that I thought some calls went against us and we let ourselves down having a player sent off at home, again.
"We had to work hard for our three points, even with ten men we were very positive.
"We train with ten men often, so we understand our positioning and our roles and also our movement in that situation.
"It was good to get our third goal so soon after the red card.
"Our shape was good and our discipline was good and we got what we deserved," Rudan said.
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers’ coach Billy McColl was ruthless in his scathing assessment of their performance:
"It was a disgusting display from APIA, and I’d like to apologise to all the supporters who have paid good money to watch that type of performance. It was unacceptable," McColl said.
"They just didn’t gel. Maybe they were thinking about the Waratah Cup final next week.
"It was a bad performance and credit to Sydney United 58, they deserved to win.
"I just told the boys that I’ve got three names in my starting XI for next week, based on today’s performance.
"I’ll look at the whole squad, because they need to be motivated to take on Sutherland Sharks next week.”
McColl was effusive enough to reveal who the three names were, perhaps as a wakeup call to the rest of the squad.
"Stephen Kayes, Michael Hawrysiuk and Michael West," McColl said.
Match Stats

Sydney United 58 FC 3 (Glen Trifiro 2′, Luka Glavas 11′, Robert Mileski 54′)
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1 (Michael Hawrysiuk 44′)
Sunday 30th June, 2013

Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Thomas Lee and Craig Fisher
Fourth Official: Matt Wright
Sydney United 58 FC: 29.Liam Reddy; 2.Mitchell Speer, 3.Ben Jurman, 4.Nathan Sherlock, 5.Calum O’Connell, 9.Robert Mileski (19.Matthew Bilic 76′), 10.Chris Triantis (15.Anthony Tomelic 88′), 11.Luka Glavas (C) (22.Daniel Barac 56′), 16.Stepjan Paric, 18.Glen Trifiro, 20.Ibrahim Haydar
Substitutes Not Used: 41.Jordan Jennings; 26.Theo Kofinas
Yellow Cards: Stepjan Paric 21′, Ben Jurman 23′, Ibrahim Haydar 38′,
Red Cards: Ben Jurman 50′
APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 21.Andrew Bazi, 2.Mark Byrnes (6.Michael Hawrysiuk 43′), 3.Adel El Jamal, 4.Brendan Reilly (8.Keith Shevlin 15′), 5.Michael West (C), 7.Stephan Kayes, 9.Jason Oswell, 13.David D’Apuzzo, 14.Aaron Clapham, 15.Bradley Bartels (10.Franco Parisi 64′), 16.Sean Symons
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Simon Jaeger (GK), 12.Miroslav Radulovic
Yellow Cards: David D’Apuzzo 28′, Michael West 88′
Red Cards: Nil
-By Matthew Connellan