IGA NPL NSW Grade 20s Round 21 Review

Blacktown City FC have secured themselves a position in the top five with one round to go, after their 2-1 victory against Sydney United 58 FC 58 FC in the Match of the Round.
MATCH OF THE ROUND
Blacktown City FC 2-1 Sydney United 58 FC, 5:30pm at Lilys Football Centre
This crucial match lived up to its expectations, with three goals, two penalties and one red card, as Blacktown City FC grabbed the imperative victory against Sydney United 58 FC in a close encounter on Saturday evening at Lilys Football Centre.
Blacktown City came out of the box with urgency, creating many chances early on.
In the 8’ minute Blacktown’s Danny Seung-Joo Choo’s cross from the left to Yianni Fragogiannis found Sam Perre in the box, whose looping header unluckily hit the post before the Sydney United 58 FC defence quickly cleared to ball to prevent a homeside lead.
Nikola Kuleski carved out the next opportunity for the home side, as he cleverly stole the ball from an onrushing defender and with only the keeper to beat shot towards goal, only for it go wide of the post.
But the visiting side soon stepped up a gear, matching the home sides efforts and were unlucky not to grace the scoresheet in the 18’ minute. 
Sydney United 58’s David Semialjac created a short pass to Mark Cindric up the centre, before drilling the ball at the goal from 20 metres out, only to see the shot cannoning off the right post.
Were it not for the good positioning and impressive one handed save by Sydney United 58 FC keeper, Jayden Diacono, Marco Travaglini’s header in the box could have seen Blacktown take the lead in the 25’ minute.
Blacktown’s Sam Perre looked to give his side the advantage with one of the last shots of the half, but with only Diacono to beat he shot agonisingly high over the crossbar.
As the nights mist rolled in and with half time approaching, both sides looked capable of breaking the dead lock with every attack on goal.
Moments into the second half, the home side were awarded a penalty after Nikola Kuleski was brought down in the box.
Sam Perre stood up to take the penalty, sending it into the left corner of the net and grabbing the crucial lead for the homeside.
Sydney United 58 FC looked to respond and had two decent efforts at goal in the 53’ minute. The first from Cristian Gonzalez’s shot forcing a brilliant reflex save from keeper, Nenad Vekic on the left post and the second off a corner that saw Tomislav Borovickic’s shot sailing high over the crossbar.
Just past the hour mark, Marco Travaglini’s run from defence and superb cross into the box found Nikola Kuleski. With the keeper having been drawn out, Kuleski’s shot on goal was adjudged to have been hand balled off the line by United’s defender Jacob Esposito, drawing a straight red card. With the referee awarding the game’s second spot kick the task for the visiting side became that little bit harder.  
Sam Perre stood up to take the spot kick as he looked to secure his second goal for the match, this time smashing the ball into the right corner of the net to extend the home side’s lead.
Much can be said about Sydney United 58 FC’s keeper, Diacono who kept his side alive in the contest as he pulled off another one handed save to deny Sam Perre’s shot from the left in the 71’ minute.
Down to ten men, Sydney United 58 FC’s persistence was rewarded in the 81’ minute, when they grabbed a goal to put themselves back in the contest.
Giuseppe Camera who had been a constant threat on the left hand side sent a sensational cross into the box, finding an unmarked Jack Stewart on the right who made no mistake in heading the ball into the top corner.
The scores remained unchanged and with the referee blowing full time, the win sees Blacktown City jump into fourth position and guaranteed a spot in the top five, whilst Sydney United 58 FC are left to chase the final place in the closing round of the season.
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC 2 (Sam Perre 50’ 66’ both penalties)
Sydney United 58 FC 58 FC 1 (Jack Stewart 81’)
Saturday 9 August
Lilys Football Centre
Referee: K.Robinson
Assistant Referee: J.Park & K.Fisher
Blacktown City FC: 30.Lewis Beumie, 34.Danny Seung-Joo Choo (23.Jonathan Grozdanovski), 22.Patrick Flottmann, 35.Yianni Fragogiannis (28.Ryan Peterson 66’), 32.Keenan Gibson, 20.Joel Hardwick, 27.Nikola Kuleski (31. 27’), 24.Eoin Montford, 21.Sam Perre (29.Jack Press 83’), 15.Marco Travaglini, 1.Nenad Vekic
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Michael Figueira, 31.Matthew Stewart
Yellow Cards: 34.Danny Seung-Joo Choo 61’, 24.Eoin Montford 81’, 21.Sam Perre 82’, 23.Jonathnan Grozdanovski 85’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 26.Spiros Agathos, 25.Tomislav Borovickic (4.Alex Vlismas), 35.Daniel Bragg (12.Brasir Smith), 30.Giuseppe Camera, 15.Mark Cindric, 20.Jayden Diacono, 3.Jacob Esposito, 32.Paul Gacic, 33.Cristian Gonzalez (38.Jack Stewart), 27.David Semialjac, 34.Kris Vlismas
Substitutes Not Used: 37.Nathan Bertolissio 
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: 3.Jacob Esposito 65’
ROUND REVIEW 
SATURDAY
Manly United FC 3-2 St George FC at Cromer Park
Manly United FC beat St George FC at home.
Manly scorers were James Kain and Lachlan McLean who scored two.
Nikola Todoroski and Adriano Negro scored for the visiting side.
Sutherland Sharks FC 5-0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC at Seymour Shaw
Sutherland Sharks FC hammered Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 5-0 at home.
Daniel Loe, Christopher Mcstay and Jordan Hughes each scored one and Jeremy Cox scored two.
Sydney Olympic FC 1-1 Rockdale City Suns FC at Belmore Sports Ground

Sydney Olympic FC drew 1-1 with Rockdale City Suns FC at home.

Cameron Solevski scored for the visiting side.

South Coast Wolves FC 2-1 Marconi Stallions FC at Hooka Creek Park

South Coast Wolves FC beat Marconi Stallions FC.

Ben Zucco and Brett Wilson scored for the Wolves.

Marconi scorer was Jack Fulton.

APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC 1-7 Blacktown Spartans FC at Lambert Park

Blacktown Spartans FC thrashed APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC 7-1 on Sunday afternoon.

APIA scorer was George Blackwood.
-By Anneliese Scenna