IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 Grade 20s Round 10 Review

APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC defeated Blacktown Spartans FC 3-1 in the Match of the Round on Saturday evening.

In other fixtures, Sydney United 58 FC beat Blacktown City FC 4-1 and Sutherland Sharks FC defeated leaders of the table, Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC.

MATCH OF THE ROUND

Blacktown Spartans 1-3 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers, at Blacktown Football Park

Four goals, two players sent off and one spot kick saw APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC claim a 3-1 victory over Blacktown Spartans FC in what was an end-to-end entertaining match on Saturday evening.

Only a minute into the game and the visiting side had already grabbed the lead.

APIA’s Blade Richards cross from a free kick into the six-yard box found Patrick Crane first to the ball, heading past the keeper to give the home side the lead.

But it was still early days and the Spartans quickly settled into the match coming up with a number of clear-cut chances.

In the 23’ minute Spartan’s Luke Clifford successfully rounded the APIA defence and his shot beat the on-rushing APIA keeper Christopher Moore, only to see his shot cleared off the line by Patrick Crane.

Ten minutes later and it was now Spartan’s Dario Vujovic who had an opportunity to level the score, but his chip from the left was sent over the crossbar.

The visiting side however were quick on the counter attack and their runs down the right would prove dangerous for the home team.

This looked to be the case when minutes before half time a run down the right by APIA’s Michael Cimino should have seen the visitors go two up, but with just the keeper to beat, Cimino shot whistled wastefully wide of the far post.

A minute into the second half and a cynical foul by the visiting side, saw the Spartans awarded a free kick just outside the box, but Tomislav Cirjak’s shot was sent over the bar.

APIA responded and in the 53’ minute Blade Richards chip shot from the left saw Spartan’s keeper, Aaron Liddell pull off a fingertip save.

However Liddell’s earlier good work was soon undone when his clumsy tackle in the box saw the referee award the visitor’s a penalty. For his troubles, a yellow card soon turned to red as he protested his innocence.

With Spartan’s substitute keeper James Stojcevki thrust straight into the action, he couldn’t stop APIA’s Zac Ribeiro converting from the spot.

Just like that, APIA had doubled their lead leaving the Spartans no option but to chase the game and they found an avenue back into the contest within two minutes.

A deliberate handball in the box from Blade Richards saw him sent off and Spartans awarded a spot kick of their own. With half an hour left on the clock, both teams were once again level in numbers, if not the score line.

It was another chance for Vujovic to make amends, and he made no mistake.

Having pulled a goal back, the home side pushed for the equaliser, leaving their defence open at times.

A 64′ minute APIA attack could have put the game to bed, but Stojcevki brilliantly pushed the ball away from danger.

In the 74’ minute APIA had another opportunity, first by substitute David Chung’s header which hit the cross bar, and then his rebound which missed over the bar.

A minute later and a delightful through ball from the right saw substitute Sinan Dilber on goal, and with only the keeper to beat, he found the back of the net to all but seal the match.

Spartans were unlucky not to grab a second goal when Alec Goodwin’s run down the side was followed by a shot, only for it to go wide of the post in the 79’ minute.

With minutes on the clock, Spartans last chance fell to Blake Fischer however his shot found the welcoming arms of Moore and that was that.

Blacktown Spartans coach, Fabio Macerola was frustrated with how the game had ended.

“We conceded very early in the game, but we had four or five chances to equalise or even take the lead," Macerola said.

“The penalty and send off really killed us. But we kept fighting and we played good football today, we deserved a win.”

“The results don’t reflect the game or our performance, which has been the story of our season so far.”

APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC coach, Rod Williams thought it was one of his sides worst performances this season, in terms of keeping the ball.

“If we can make that many mistakes and come out with a win, well that is good," Williams said.

“Our substitutes contributed in a positive way, its not always the way, but Sinan Dilber scored with his first touch.”

Match Stats
Blacktown Spartans FC 1 (Dario Vujovic PEN 60’)
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC 3 (Patrick Crane 1’, Sinan Dilber 75’, Zac Ribeiro PEN 58’)
Saturday 17 May 2014
Blacktown Football Park, Rooty Hill
Referee: Lachlan Keevers
Assistant Referees: Kearney Robinson and Andrej Giev
Blacktown Spartans FC: 1.Aaron Liddell; 30.Jeremy Bates (37.Patrick Griffiths 70’), 42.Luke Clifford (36.Christopher El-Hayek 85’), 22.Domenic Dileo, 32.Leon Faria (25.Riley Michels 85’), 27.Blake Fischer, 29.Sam Onana Awono, 38.Connor Powers, 23.Dario Vujovic (33.Alec Goodwin 71’), 35.Stephen Vukovic, 34.Tomislav Cirjak (40.James Stojcevki 57’)
Substitutes Not Used: Nil
Yellow Cards: Connor Powers 34’, Aaron Liddell 57’, Jeremy Bates 69’
Red Cards: Aaron Liddell 57′
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC: 45.Christopher Moore; 33.George Blackwood (41.Sinan Dilber 68’), 31.Daniel Bragg (32.David Chung 74’), 39.Matthew Casali (37.Liam Unicomb 85’), 29.Michael Cimino, 25.Patrick Crane, 27.Ali Nasreddine (38.Raffaele Moniaci), 42.Zac Ribeiro, 30.Blade Richards, 26.Adrian Vlastelica, 36.Anto Vujica
Substitutes Not Used: 44.Domonic Cox
Yellow Cards: Zac Ribeiro 12’, Michael Cimino 30′, Adrian Vlastelica 47’
Red Cards: Blade Richards 62’
ROUND REVIEW
SATURDAY
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 1-2 Sutherland Sharks at Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Sutherland Sharks FC beat Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC on Saturday evening.
Former White Eagles player Nikola Todorovski came back to haunt his former club scoring both goals in the first half for the visiting side.
Dolor Edosomwan grabbed a goal for the home side in the second half.
Marconi Stallions FC 1-1 South Coast Wolves at Marconi Stadium
Marconi Stallions played out a 1-1 draw with South Coast Wolves at home.=
Jack Fulton scored the goal for Marconi.
Shannon Fielding grabbed the equaliser for the visiting side in the 88’ minute.
SUNDAY
Rockdale City Suns FC 0-1 Sydney Olympic FC at Ilinden Sports Centre
Michael Gaitatzis scored the only goal of the game.
St George FC 0-1 Manly United FC at Seymour Shaw Park
Manly United FC beat St George FC on Sunday afternoon.
Christopher Arditti grabbed the only goal of the game.
Sydney United 58 FC 4 -1 Blacktown City FC at Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 FC defeated Blacktown City FC 4-1 at home.
Paul Gacic and Lawrence Hanna both scored twice to claim the win.  
Blacktown City scorer was Sam Perre.
– By Anneliese Scenna, National Premier Leagues NSW Grade 20s Reporter