Stallions storm home to claim Sharks scalp
Marconi Stallions twice came from behind to net its first win at Seymour Shaw, keeping its title ambitions alive whilst handing the League leader a massive blow as it attempts to hold onto top spot.
In what was a dramatic matchup – both sides displayed plenty of energy and created goal scoring opportunities – the Stallions recorded a 3-2 win. Perry Moustakas twice combined with Panni Nikas to head the Sharks into the lead in the first-half, though on both occasions Sutherland were brought back to reality as Milorad Simonovic first, then Tadgh Purcell, drew the visitors level.
Purcell’s second-half penalty sealed the deal, though not before Panni Nikas sky-rocketed a penalty of his own 6’ minutes from the end.
The Sharks opened the encounter with a lot of possession in their own third as the Stallions didn’t over commit in pressing up-front, instead awaiting the right moment to get Tadgh Purcell and Elsid Barkhousir running at the Sutherland defence.
On 4’ minutes, Purcell got a sniff after the Stallions won the ball in the middle of the park, though Moustakas cleverly used his body to shield the ball back into the path of his goalkeeper, Nathan Denham.
The Stallions carved out another opening 2’ minutes later from the left as Sean O’Connell rose highest, heading directly at Denham who claimed with complete ease.
On 11’ minutes, the Sharks created a magnificent goal scoring chance following a stupendous build-up. Nicholas Olsen received a delightful return ball to send him through on goal, after exchanging passes with Nikas that included a sublime ‘dummy’ by Jamie McMaster. With the goalkeeper closing the angle, Olsen could only divert his attempt wide of goal – the fabulous build-up though, certainly deserving of a goal.
The Stallions response was prompt, and perhaps equally deserving of a goal. A fine counterattack by the visitors saw Simonovic come into space. From a good 25-metres, the Marconi number 10 drove powerful attempt against the post, as Purcell blasted the follow-up wide of the target.
No less than 60’’ seconds later and Denham was forced into a fabulous save down to his right. The Stallions had the home side stretched, and a cut-back effort from the right, into the path of Shane Webb, saw the experienced campaigner drill on target, forcing the Sharks number 1 into a world class save as the Sharks cleared their lines.
At the other end, James McKenzie got forward down the left, combining with Nik Tsattalios, before the latter failed to get a shot on target from McKenzie’s centre.
Marconi maintained focus to frustrate the Sharks players who were struggling to find a focal point in the front-third in the early exchanges, regardless of all the possession.
It was the Stallions, in fact, who created the next two chances – somewhat in quick succession. Purcell forced Denham into another fine save, from the edge of the penalty-area, before Barkhousir picked up a loose ball following a corner, blasting his effort well over the crossbar.
Marconi, led once more ever so brilliantly by captain Nahuel Arrarte in the middle of the park, continued to ‘double team’ its opponents, frustrating Robbie Stanton’s men in their attacking half.
Marconi created a glorious chance to open the scoring in the 25’ minute when Sean O’Connell was released down the right. The attacking midfielder’s delivery was pinpoint accurate for Barkhousir, who could only divert his first-time volley directly at Denham.
Sutherland did get in behind the Stallions defence 2’ minutes later via McMaster, though the Marconi rearguard was exceptionally quick to get bodies behind the ball, forcing the Sutherland number 10 away from goal.
On 28’ minutes, Tsattalios had the Sharks supporters on their feet when he so elegantly wiggled his way past two markers on the left byline. The left-sided winger’s touches were pure class, denied only by some desperate Stallions defending that forced the ball behind the goal line.
The resulting corner produced the night’s opening goal, and it carried the name of defender Moustakas for the Sharks. The burly central defender rose highest to meet Nikas’ delivery from the left, sending his glancing header past a helpless James Chronopoulos in the Marconi goal.
Just as the Sharks supporters could breathe a sigh of relief, Marconi found an immediate response with a Simonovic equaliser. The silky touches from the playmaker saw the number 10 open up some room to shoot, and from almost identical territory – 25-metres out, as where he struck the post earlier, Simonovic went one better, this time sending the ball into the back of the net, off the post, to level proceedings.
Somewhat dramatically the Sharks restored its lead, and again it was the Nikas-Moustakas duo that proved Marconi’s undoing.
A free-kick from deep was floated into the penalty-area by Nikas who picked out a marvellous run by Moustakas. Once more the defender sent his glancing header past the outstretched arm of Chronopoulos.
Nikas was again the orchestrator on 41’ minutes as he played a tantalising through ball in behind the defence. McMaster made an exceptional run to latch onto the ball and round Chronopolous, though from an incredibly acute angle, the chance went begging.
There was just enough time for the Stallions to create another opening, and just as dramatic as the match had proven, Purcell netted an equaliser. The speedy attacker left Denham helpless with a diagonal effort finishing inside the bottom left-hand corner.
In the last minute of the half, the Sharks had goalkeeper Denham to thank for keeping the score level. Arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the competition, Denham reacted marvellously to produce a one-handed save to deny a Stallions side that finished the half with all the momentum.
The fast-paced end-to-end action continued after the re-start as both sides continued to insist on getting forward. Tsattalios first, for the Sharks, then Webb, for the Stallions, found some space down their respective left-flanks, though both defensive departments did well to thwart any look-in on goal.
The Sharks best forward forays all came through Nikas who looked to get on the ball as frequently as possible, though a wayward pass, and successive offside calls saw the home side fail to trouble Chronopoulos.
On the hour, the Stallions had a massive chance to snatch the lead. Arrarte was the recipient of a nicely floated ball into the penalty-area however the captain’s volleyed attempt was sprayed wide of the target.
Marconi goalkeeper, Chronopoulos, too showed all his class – the shot-stopper another of the League’s finest – with a point-blank save to deny Olsen in the 61’ minute. A fine build-up by the Sharks saw Olsen, Nikas and McMaster combine with a loose ball falling into the path of the youngster who saw his violent drive marvellously parried by the goalkeeper.
Just as the two sides appeared to be slowing up a little, the Stallions were given a golden chance to take the lead from the penalty-spot as Purcell was brought down inside the area. The Marconi number 17 took the penalty, taking responsibility on his own shoulders, and he blasted the attempt past Denham to hand Marconi the lead.
Sutherland looked to make an immediate response via Tsattalios, though the left-sided winger sent his diagonal effort wide of Chronopouolos’ goal.
Robbie Stanton played the Brad Boardman card 14’ minutes from the end, looking to add more physical presence in the front-third for his side. The move almost paid immediate dividends when the target man rose highest to meet a Nikas free-kick, only just sending his header over the crossbar.
On 83’ minutes, Nikas showed his full array of talent with a mesmerising run into the penalty-area, cut short by a trailing Stallions’ leg that left the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.
Nikas, who was celebrating his birthday, stepped up to draw his side level though, somewhat uncharacteristically, blasted his attempt well over the crossbar, much to the disbelief of the home supporters.
Marconi should have killed off the match 1’ minute later as Denham produced two more reflex saves from point-blank range – further testament to the shot-stopper’s talents.
It proved to be all the action that could be crammed into the match as the Stallions return to Bossley Park with three massive points to help its bid of playing finals football.
Marconi coach Jean-Paul De Marigny was very pleased following the final whistle:
“Very happy with the performance, with the intensity of the boys tonight,” commented the Stallions boss.
“If anything, we should have put more goals away and put the match out of reach earlier, though the way we approached the match was great.
“We are coming into some good form, and even though people are saying that we have some tough matches to come, these teams will not want to be coming up against us.
“I am happy with how we are travelling, and we will be looking to get as many points as possible from the final matches of the regular season,” De Marigny ended.
The mood was less pleasant in the Sutherland camp, though coach Robbie Stanton was quick to compliment the Stallions:
“They played a good match, they came here with a plan and they managed to execute it,” said Stanton.
“I thought we did some good things tonight, though we were a little sluggish and not quick enough especially up-front.
“We did manage to stretch them on a few occasions, though just could not do anything more with that.
“The missed penalty? Look, we perhaps could have forced the draw, and an interesting final few minutes of the match, though overall Marconi probably deserved the win for the chances created.
“We won’t be changing our style or our mentality, though we will be looking to limit the errors that we are currently making,” Stanton ended.
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 2 (Perry Moustakas 29’, 35’ )
Marconi Stallions 3 (Milorad Simonovic 31’, Tadgh Purcell 43’, 70’ (pen) )
Saturday 27th of July, 2013
Seymour Shaw
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referees: Craig Fisher and Nathan Wotton
Fourth Official: Matthew Wright
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham; 2.Nicholas Littler, 4.James McKenzie, 7.Nathan Elasi, 8.Nicholas Olsen, 10.Jamie McMaster, 13.Reo Morinaga (9.Brad Boardman 76’), 14.Nick Stavroulakis (C), 15.Perry Moustakas, 23.Panni Nikas, 33.Nik Tsattalios (17.Klim Gjorseski 75’)
Substitutes Not Used: 22.Andrew Depta; 3.Michael Stuart, 19.Chris Naumoff
Yellow Cards: Jamie McMaster 80’
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 22.James Chronopoulos; 2.Mitchell Thompson, 3.Ali Haydar, 4.Umut Tokdogan, 6.Shane Webb, 7.Sean O’Connell, 8.Jared Lum, 10.Milorad Simonovic, 17.Tadhg Purcell, 26.Nahuel Arrarte (C), 45.Elsid Barkhousir (25.Kojiro Hori 88’)
Substitutes Not Used: 21.Stefan Giglio; 16.Mark Cindric, 18.Jake McGing, 23.Christopher Nunes
Yellow Cards: Umut Tokdogan 83’, James Chronopoulos 84’
Red Cards: Nil
-By Joseph Carlucci
