IGA NPL NSW Grade 20s Round 19 Review

Sutherland Sharks FC have taken the three points with ease after their 2-0 win to Sydney Olympic FC in the Match of the Round on Saturday evening.

In other fixtures, third placed APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC have beaten Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC in second place, after a goal in the 75’ minute.

MATCH OF THE ROUND

Sutherland Sharks FC 2-0 Sydney Olympic FC at Seymour Shaw Park

Despite Sydney Olympic FC’s initial burst, Sutherland Sharks FC grabbed a goal in each half to claim a comfortable 2-0 victory at Seymour Shaw.

The home side started stringing some terrific passages of play and opened the scoring in the 6’ minute.

Jarrod Benham sent a beautiful cross up the line to Spiridion Kakavelis whose pass in the box found Jeremy Cox on the left, coolly beating the keeper before drilling the ball into the net, to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.

Sutherland’s central defender Jacob Bandur looked to double the lead from a corner in the 18’ minute when Spiridion Kakavelis’ cross into the box saw him with a chance on goal, but his header flew just inches over the crossbar.

Just past the half hour mark in what was the visiting side’s best opportunity of the half, Olympic’s Jason Madonis outpaced the defenders before having a shot just outside the box, only for it to go high over the crossbar.

In the 33’ minute, Olympic’s keeper Nicholas Sorras kept his side in the game after his quick reaction denied Daniel Loe’s first touch shot in the box.

Interchanges between Jeremy Cox and Kostandinos Nikas on the line proved to be a constant headache for the visiting side, as the Sharks managed to continuously outmanoeuvred the Olympic defence.

Just moments later Jeremy Cox had two successive shots on goal from the left of the box, but Olympic’s keeper Sorras stood up to the test, pulling off two superb saves on the near post.

The visiting side were yet to grace the scoresheet but it could have been a different story just minutes before half time.

From the right, James Andrew threaded the ball to Madonis, who soon found an unmarked Sotiri Kagaras at the top of box, but he didn’t have the composure to complete the move, wastefully shooting it high and wide.

Olympic came out full of running early in the second half and it looked like their half time pep talk would turn things around.

Five minutes in, Olympic’s Madonis short pass up the centre found Salman Hassani, but his shot from 20 metres out flew narrowly over the crossbar.

On the counter attack, Sutherland responded, when a cross from the right found Cox with a clear run down the centre and only the keeper to beat, but his shot was off target.

However in the 56’ minute, Amado Keita’s cross into the box found Christopher Mcstay, who’s brilliant diving header finally beat Olympic keeper Sorras, to double the home side’s lead.

With a two-goal cushion, the Sharks looked to seal the match moments later when Cox’s quick cutback to an unmarked Nikas should have led to a third, but poor finishing saw the shot sent high.

Sutherland’s defensive line denied Olympic any real chance and even Olympic’s central striker James Andrew struggled to impose himself in front of goals, having missed a crucial opportunity from a free kick in the 75’ minute.

The visiting side looked worrying in the closing minutes of the game as they searched for a goal and their closest effort for the second half came in the final minute.

A cross from the left found Andrew in the penalty box, but it wasn’t to be for Olympic, as they struggled to open up the home side’s defence, this time denied by the Sharks central defender Bandur who brilliantly cleared a last minute opportunity.

It’s an outcome that will provide a real boost to the Sutherland Shark’s season after their loss to Manly United FC last weekend and one which keeps them in the hunt for the top five.

But it’s a different story for Sydney Olympic as they look to regroup, having now picked up their fourth consecutive loss.  

Match Stats

Sutherland Sharks FC 2 (38. Jeremy Cox 6’, 36.Christopher Mcstay 56’)

Sydney Olympic FC 0

Saturday 26 July

Seymour Shaw Park

Referee: Kris Griffiths Jones

Assistant Referee: Joon Park & Danny Horstead

Sutherland Sharks FC: 28.Jacob Bandur, 26.Jarrod Benham, 38.Jeremy Cox (33.Cameron Belle 66’), 22.Andrew Depta, 34.Vincent Giannini, 32.Jordan Hughes (42.Nathan Blake 78’), 30.Spiridion Kakavelis, 37.Daniel Loe (48.Nathan Roberts 85’), 36.Christopher Mcstay, 41 Kostandinos Nikas (35.Lachlan Hughes 66’), 18.Jayden Koulizakis

Substitutes Not Used: 50.Brendan Curtis

Yellow Cards: Jordan Hughes 44’, Jacob Bandur 57’, Cameron Belle 74’

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney Olympic FC: 17.James Andrew, 26.Jonathan Aspropotamitis, 25.Luca Falcone, 36.Salman Hassani, 27.Sotiri Kagaras, 35.Alexander Kelly, 38.Christopher Kolistasis, 30.Jason Madonis (8.Evan Patramanis 65’), 1.Nicholas Sorras, 20.Joshua Tanner, 5.Brendan Trelor

Substitutes Not Used: 48.Chris Ferles, 5.Brendon Trelor

Yellow Cards: Jason Madonis 16’, Salman Hassani 22’

Red Cards: Nil

ROUND REVIEW

SATURDAY

Manly United FC 2-1 South Coast Wolves FC at Cromer Park

Manly United FC beat South Coast Wolves FC at home.

Manly scorers were Harry Sweeney and Lachlan McLean.

Brett Wilson scored for the visiting side.

Marconi Stallions FC 1-2 Sydney United 58 FC at Marconi Stadium

Marconi Stallions FC lost to Sydney United 58 FC on Saturday evening.

Bruno Antelmi scored for the home side.

Sydney United scorers were Mark Cindric and Lachlan Roberts. 

SUNDAY

Blacktown City FC 4-0 Rockdale City Suns FC at Lilys Football Centre

Blacktown City FC hammered Rockdale City Suns FC at home.

St George FC 2-0 Blacktown Spartans FC at Win Jubilee Oval

St George FC beat Blacktown Spartans FC on Sunday afternoon.

Andreas Vais and Nikola Todoroski each scored a goal. 

APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC 1-0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC at Lambert Park

APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC beat Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC at home.

Matt Casali scored the winning goal.

-By Anneliese Scenna