Reds ‘pip’ Stallions to grab bragging rights over neighbours
Sydney United 58 FC remain in the hunt to finish on top of the IGA National Premier League NSW mens 1 competition with a 2-1 victory over the Marconi Stallions at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday.
The clash of two former National Soccer League heavyweights lived up to its expectations with several chances to both sides.
United captain Luka Glavas was the hero, bagging a double thanks to lead up work by Robbie Mileski on both occasions.
Both sides tested each other in the opening exchanges as they tried to create the first chance of the match.
The Stallions pushed forward with intent, the visitors the quicker of the two, and had a half chance in the 7’ minute as Tadgh Purcell headed the ball directly to the chest of Liam Reddy.
Luka Glavas sent a message to the Stallions defence a minute later with a great run down the right hand side before winning a free-kick on the edge of the box. Unfortunately for United, Glen Trifiro’s delivery was cleared from the box.
The home fans didn’t have to wait too much longer for a goal with Glavas opening the scoring on 14’ minutes. After great lead up play by Calum O’Connell, the left back played a ball through to Robbie Mileski who got around Jared Lum before squaring to Glavas who tapped home to give his side the 1-0 lead.
The striker had the chance to double his tally in the 18’ minute after running onto a fantastic through ball by Trifiro only for Chronopoulos to get a hand to the shot and parry the ball away for a corner.
Elsid Barkhousir created a splendid chance in the 24’ minute, receiving the ball out wide before turning two Reds defenders and cutting the ball with O’Connell back to clear the ball from the goalmouth.
Glavas continued to torment Ali Haydar in the 29’ minute, receiving a through ball before turning the ball past the defender only for his shot to be well saved by a diving Chronopoulos
Reddy was next to be tested on 37’ minutes as Shane Webb latched onto a Barkhousir pass with the shot-stopper dropping well to claim the ball.
A minute later, the ball went down the other end with Glavas having another chance to extend the lead. O’Connell moved forward well before faking a shot and passing the ball to Glavas whose shot trickled into the waiting hands of Chronopoulos.
3’ minutes before the break the Stallions drew level through Barkhousir. Captain Nahuel Arrarte opened the play up, passing the ball left to Mitchell Thompson whose pin-point cross went to the head of Barkhousir who made it 1-1 against his former side.
Milorad Simonovic had a great chance to put the Stallions in front on the stroke of half-time, receiving the ball from a Barkhousir back heel with the midfielder striking the ball well wide.
Marconi came out of the break much like they finished the first-half with swift passing, forcing United to chase them around the park.
Trifiro again opened Marconi up in the 53’ minute with a defence splitting ball falling to Glavas as the striker’s shot finished wide of the left hand upright.
As the game wore on, both teams showed their intent to bag all three points with gaping holes appearing in the middle of the park.
It was Sydney United who would re-take the lead for the second time in the match after Mileski showed his dribbling prowess in the 63’ minute before being taken down, giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Glavas stepped up to send Chronopoulos the wrong way and make it 2-1.
The goal sparked Marconi back into action and they had a great chance to level the game on 69’ minutes as Simonovic got on the end of a Lum through ball before shipping the ball well over the bar.
2’ minutes later, Lum had the chance to score himself with his well weighted free-kick tipped over the bar by Reddy.
Both coaches turned to their benches in the 75’ minute with Daniel Barac being replaced by Matthew Bilic for Sydney United 58 FC and Kojiro Hori replaced Sean O’Connell for the Stallions.
Glavas almost had his hat-trick in spectacular fashion in the 78’ minute, his back heel flick attempt hit the side netting from another Mileski cross.
Mileski again turned provider in the 82’ minute, laying the ball back to Mitchell Stamatellis whose shot went sailing well over the crossbar.
The game further soured for Marconi a minute later when Arrarte went down clutching his leg in the middle of the park before being stretchered from the field.
The Stallions pushed forward in the final minutes of the match to no avail with Sydney United 58 FC claiming all three points.
Following the match, Sydney United 58 FC coach Mark Rudan said he was happy with the result:
“I’m happy with the result but not entirely happy with the performance,’’ Rudan said.
“We are vying for the minor premiership and our goal was to win it right from the outset.
“Three games in a week I had a concern how we were going to turn up mentally and physically after the heroics of Wednesday night.
“I thought we started positively in the first half-hour and could have led by two or three goals going into the break.
“That’s something I guess we have to work on a little bit.”
In the opposition dressing room, Marconi Stallions coach Jean Paul De Marigny said his side will take many positives out of the match:
“The result was disappointing but I thought the boys played some decent stuff out there,’’ he said.
“I thought we had a real good chance when we scored the goal which was very positive but I thought we could have created a little bit more.’’
De Marigny wished his captain Nahuel Arrarte the best after being stretchered from the field:
“I think Nahuel is not looking good which is disappointing for him and the team,’’ he said.
“I wish him well with his recovery and I hope it is as quick as possible.
“But we have to identify first what it is exactly.’’
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 FC 2 (Luka Glavas 14’, 64’)
Marconi Stallions 1 (Elsid Barkhousir 42’)
Sunday 11th of August, 2013
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Sydney United 58 FC: 29.Liam Reddy; 22.Daniel Barac (19.Matthew Bilic 75’), 11.Luka Glavas, 20.Ibrahim Haydar, 3.Ben Jurman, 9.Robbie Mileski, 16.Stjepan Paric (23.Ante Tomic 90’+1’), 4.Nathan Sherlock, 6.Mitchel Stamatellis, 18.Glen Trifiro, 5.Calum O’Connell
Substitutes Not Used: 41.Jordan Jennings; 7.Mirjan Pavlovic, 15.Anthony Tomelic
Yellow Cards: Jurman 29’
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 22.James Chronopoulos; 2.Mitchell Thompson, 3.Ali Haydar, 4.Umut Tokdogan, 7.Sean O’Connell (25.Kojiro Hori 75’), 8.Jarred Lum, 10.Milorad Simonovic (19.Damien Travis 82’), 17.Tadgh Purcell, 6.Shane Webb, 26.Nahuel Arrarte (C) (23.Christopher Nunes 86’), 45.Elsid Barkhousir
Substitutes Not Used: 21.Stefan Giglio; 16.Mark Cindric
Yellow Cards: Mitchell Thompson 26’
Red Cards: Nil
-By Chris Georges
