Men’s State League Two Round 1 Review
The stage was set as the Men’s State League 2 competition kicked into gear with the Western Condors v Southern District Association Club our pick of the bunch in what was the Match of the Round.
Match of the Round
Western Condors v Southern District Association Club
The Western Condors and the Southern District Association Club have drawn 1-1 in a very evenly matched game at Calabria Sports Ground.
It was a real grind-out performance from the two sides, who were both strengthened by their brilliant displays in defence. It was the Western Condors who looked the more promising of the two in the opening exchanges however, through good shift plays to their flanks.
Julian Borgiani and Giuseppe Zampogna orchestrated these plays from the midfield, while Mirza Sehic and Aldin Tuzlic stood strong in defence. Southern Districts repelled this built up pressure and eventually found their feet twenty minutes into the game, after consecutive corners gave them their first chance on goal.
Striker, Reuben Agyei Danso found himself with just enough space to get a shot on target, however, Anthony Vrinat was up for the task as he deflected the ball away.
Although Western Condors still dominated possession, Southern District’s tireless defence was helping to create chances of their own. Striker, Mitchel Mclintock found himself on goal after he refused to give up on the play with a good challenge.
Moments later, they struck the cross bar through Nathan Niski, which unfortunately for them, sailed over and behind the net for a goal kick. The change in tempo and enthusiasm from Southern Districts, had a lot to do with the talk in goals from Tomislav Romic.
He also constantly looked for over-arm passes to his teammates in the hope of igniting a faster paced game. Anthony Vrinat was proving his worth through his actions, stopping multiple attacking raids from Southern Districts in the lead up to half time.
Mclintock, Niski and Agyei Danso linked up on a couple of occasions only to be denied by the keeper’s fingertips. The intensity of the game lifted moments before the break when tempers flared between Mclintock and Zampogna. However, nothing came of it and the scores remained 0-0 at half time.
The Western Condors started the second half like they did the first, by making use of the width of the pitch in order to spark an attack. Sehic again stood strong when needed, denying the opposition strikers of access to the goal.
Moments later, they were rewarded for their resilience through Nathan Niski who produced a spectacular off-ball run, to slide in between the Western Condors defence.
The pass was inch perfect by James Raiti who had been solid in both attack and defence at central defensive midfield. Once Niski had control of the ball, he took one touch to get it onto his favoured right foot and glided it beautifully into the bottom right corner of the goal.
The 1-0 advantage to the visitors had sparked their attack and similarly to the Condors, they too looked for their edge players more frequently.
Both sides exchanged blows as they both had equal chances at goal, but the two keepers showed why this was a low scoring affair.
Mauricio Navarrete connected with a fantastic strike, only to be denied again by Romic. McClintock should have put his side further in to the lead but squandered a few chances. This was mainly due to brave keeping by Vrinat who left his post on a number of occasions in order to shut down the one-on-one’s that came his way.
Despite Southern District’s attempt to run the time out by holding possession of the ball in the attacking corner, the Condor’s had belief that they could score an injury time goal.
Giuseppe Zampogna did exactly that when a cross-field ball found him on the left corner of the box. The ball sat up perfectly for his left boot, to stroke it into the net on the rise to leave the final score at one goal apiece.
This capped off a terrific match of football in which there did not deserve to be a loser, setting the tone for a very exciting season to come.
Match Stats
Western Condors 1 (Giuseppe Zampogna 90’)
Southern Districts Association Club 1 (Nathan Niski 51’)
Sunday, 12th of April, 2015
Calabria Sports Ground, Prairiewood
Referee: Mr Peter Wilson-Mosley
Assistant Referees: Mr Mathew Riedy and Mr Youael Shammon
Western Condors: 19. Sergio Arroyo, 15. Julian Borgiani, 6. Raul Carrizo, 10. Alan De La Cuadra, 17. Chris Kartambis, 12. Cristian Leiva Martinez, 18. Luke Mesiti (subbed by 8. Roberto Sanchez), 11. Mauricio Navarrete, 3. Cristian Olivares, 14. Matthew Putanac (subbed by 7. Alex Hezari), 1. Anthony Vrinat, 22. Giuseppe Zampogna
Substitutes Not Used: 23. Aaron Riccardi
Yellow Cards: 10. Alan De La Cuadra 48’, 11. Mauricio Navarrete 70’, 1. Anthony Vrinat 75’, 22. Giuseppe Zampogna 89’, 3. Cristian Olivares 89’
Southern District Associations Club: 12. Reuben Agyei Danso (subbed by 7. Dylan Fagan), 11. Milan Atlagic, 27. Nicholas Dionisiou, 17. Rocco Luca, 9. Mitchell Mclintock (subbed by 10. Glenn Williams), 4. Nathan Niski, 5. Gordan Opacic (subbed by 18. Joseph Mensah), 8. James Raiti, 23. Tomislav Romic, 16. Mirza Sehic, 20. Aldin Tuzlic,
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Adrian Iorfino, 13. Domenic Mercuri
Yellow Cards: 9. Mitchell Mclintock 50’, 11. Milan Atlagic 60’, 17. Rocco Luca 70’
Red Cards: Nil
Round 1 Summaries
Wagga City Wanderers v Camden Tigers
The Camden Tigers have started their season on the right foot after downing newcomers Wagga City Wanderers in a convincing 3-1 win away.
Both teams played a fast paced style of attacking football in the opening exchanges.
Wagga City Wanderers asked questions of the Camden defence and were rewarded with chances, only to be denied by a few brilliant one-on-one saves my goalkeeper, Matt Johnson. Both sides were level at the break with the score at 0-0, however, only moments into the second half, Camden opened the scoring through Adam Smutek.
Smutek was the recipient of a brilliant low ball across the box by Bailey Simpson and showed the composure required to do the rest.
Five minutes later however, Wagga City were awarded a penalty and made no mistake to even the score at one goal apiece. From there on however, it was all the visitors after Jayden Russell added himself to the score sheet with a second half double.
University v Hurstville FC
University of NSW proved their resilience after withstanding a Hurstville FC onslaught 2-1 at David Phillips Field on Saturday.
Hurstville FC set the tone early after scoring within the first ten minutes of the match through striker, Denis Cutura.
University of NSW however, hit back after a mistake from Hurstville’s defence, gifted a goal to the home side just before the break, which evened the score at one goal apiece.
Despite Hurstville creating multiple chances in the second half, the bounce of the ball did not go their way.
UNSW scored the match winner after converting one of their only attacking raids of the half with a terrific bottom corner finish.
Hurstville Minotaurs v Dunbar Rovers
The Dunbar Rovers have toppled the Hurstville Minotaurs 3-0 away from home in their very first State League 2 match.
Both sides were presented chances early in the match, however, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 35th minute through right back, Andrew Doddy.
Doddy ran onto a long ball in the midfield and managed to slice his way into the box before finding the far left corner for the first goal.
Johnny Niyonsaba made it 2-0 only five minutes later from a header off a corner, taking that advantange into the half.
Hurstville were presented a big opportunity not long after the break however, but failed to capitalise. Dunbar eventually sealed the victory through Rene Mrva in the 85th minute who was presented with an easy tap in off a deflection.
FC Gazy Lansvale v Prospect United
FC Gazy Lansvale have shared the points in their opening match with Prospect United after drawing 1-1. They were rewarded in the first half through fluid passing and persistence when Ali Alwali found the back of the net, giving them the lead at the break.
Three minutes later however, Ala Khan received his second yellow and was sent from the field.
Michael Abanoub capitalised as a result, after showing some great skill through a cut-back move. This freed up enough space for him to get his shot past the keeper and evened the scoring early into the second half.
Despite Prospect’s one-man overlap, FC Gazy Lansvale held on through grit and determination and will take that as a positive leading into the second round.
– by Lars Roy, Men’s State League 2 Reporter
