Blacktown City crush Stallions
Marconi Stallions suffered its first defeat of the 2014 IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 campaign after a crushing 4-0 loss at the hands of current high flyers Blacktown City FC at Marconi Stadium on Saturday evening.
In the fifth minute pivotal Japanese import Ryuji Miyazawa received a headed ball in the box but unfortunately for the visitors his powerful shot was just over James Chronopoulos’ crossbar.
However, the visitors didn’t have wait too long to open the scoring because in the 9’ minute a cross from the right by Sasa Macura found Miyazawa dangerously lurking close to goal and he simply headed it in with all the time in the world.
A few minutes later Blacktown City doubled their lead. Danny Choi broke free down the left hand flank and sent the ball forward to Miyazawa in the box and, while the Marconi defence were waiting for the offside call, the busy Japanese striker shot against the out-coming Chronopoulos who parried the first attempt but the not the second.
It was too easy for Blacktown who by now had stunned a shell-shocked Marconi.
In the 25’ minute a superb ball sent Travis Major galloping away towards goal and, one-on-one with Chronopoulos, he looked set to score until the reliable Marconi custodian pulled off a great diving save to deny the visitors a certain third goal.
In the 39’ minute Marconi’s best chance of the first stanza of play arrived when a cross from the right by Zakeriya El-Rich found Shu Sasaki and the little Japanese maestro headed beautifully on target but only to find the awaiting Nenad Vekic. It was a dejected Stallions side that walked off at half time.
However, after the resumption of play, a transformation begun for the home side.
Immediately after the break the Stallions could have scored when a nice cross by Sasaki found El-Rich in the box and his diagonal shot was just wide of the mark.
A minute later a free kick by Milorad Simonovic went straight through the defensive wall and straight into the awaiting arms of goalkeeper Vekic.
Clearly Marconi were intent on making up for a poor first half. A spectacular attempt by Mitchell Thompson had Vekic back peddling before he turned the ball away for a corner. It was only the 48’ minute of play.
In the 53’ minute Sasaki turned and used both feet from just outside the box before finally unleashing the trigger and firing just over the crossbar. It was another close attempt for the Stallions.
In the 58’ minute Blacktown City finally registered their first attempt of the second half which was followed by their third goal.
A dangerous cross from the right by Daniel Araujo was well tipped over the crossbar and from the resulting corner the ball delightfully reached Zachary Cairncross who volleyed so beautifully that the ball simply lobbed over the head of the outstretched Chronopoulos. This was indeed a goal of the highest quality.
In the 68’ minute Blacktown City made it four when Travis Major did all the work himself, cut back inside the box and fired a diagonal missile that landed inside the post and in the back of the net. It was an outstanding riposte by Blacktown City to Marconi’s earlier pressure.
A few minutes later Major could have scored again but his powerful drive was well saved by Chronopoulos who spared his side some more blushes.
In the 80’ minute Macura unleashed a superb thunderbolt from just outside the box and the ball sailed narrowly wide of the intended target.
After the game Blacktown City FC coach Mark Crittenden couldn’t hide his delight at securing another comfortable away victory after beating St George FC at Kogarah last weekend.
“Yes, three away games and three wins and we’ll get to go back to our park next week which will be nice,” he said.
“The pitch was okay after all the rain and overall, we knew we would come here and it would be a battle because it always is at Marconi.
“We got away to a bit of a flyer and to lead 2-0 which was great and I am very happy in the end because Marconi is a dangerous side at any time.
“Next week is our first home game against APIA but at the end of day we’ll just worry about ourselves because we are a growing team and enjoying our football.”
His counterpart Darren Iocca had witnessed his side overcome Manly United in their midweek catch up clash but succumb tonight against Blacktown City FC. However, he was still very positive in his view of his side and the game.
“We can’t make excuses like that because the boys have been going very well and I am very happy with them overall,” he said.
“Three games in seven days is hard but Blacktown did play very good football.
“They got two early goals which did put is under pressure but my hat goes off to my players and to Blacktown players who played really good football.
“Sutherland is our next opponent which will be a tough one, especially after their two successive victories, but the boys are up to it and we’ll come out and play.”
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 0
Blacktown City FC 4 (Miyazawa 9’,13’, Cairncross 59’, Major 68’)
Saturday, 30th March, 2014
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee: Adam Susz
Assistant referees: Sarah Ho and Craig Fisher
Fourth Official: Sebastian Brennan
Marconi Stallions: 22.James Chronopoulos ©, 3.Ali Haydar, 4.Umut Tokdogan, 6.Jared Lum (8.Lachlan Reus 72’), 7.Sean O’Connell, 10.Milorad Simonovic, 14.Sam Conway (2.Mitchell Thompson 46’), 18.Jake McGing (9.Marco Sama 46’), 19.Damien Travis, 20.Shu Sasaki, 21.Zakeriya El-Rich
Substitutes not used: 15.Tomislav Mijic, 40.Aaron Liddell (GK)
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City FC: 1.Nenad Vekic, 3.Giorgio Speranza, 4.Yianni Frogogiannis, 7.Travis Major ©, 8.Sasa Macura, 9.Ryuji Miyazawa (21.Sam Perre 80’), 11.Danny Choi (12.Joel Hardwick 72’), 15.Marco Travaglini, 16.Kearyn Baccus, 18.Daniel Araujo (5.Jacob Poscoliero 61’), 19.Zachary Cairncross
Substitutes not used: 13.Blake Tuxford (GK), 17.Keiren Paull
Yellow Cards: Araujo 42’
Red Cards: Nil
Player ratings
3. Zachary Cairncross (BC)
2. Marco Travaglini (BC)
1. Ryuji Miyazawa (BC)
– By Joe Russo
