Blacktown City sweep understrength Olympic
SYDNEY Olympic was understrength and it showed as they relinquished their solo position at the top of the table.
Grant Lee’s side went down 4-2 to Blacktown City, who had a rare Danny Choi header, a Joe Gibbs brace, and a Sasa Macura goal, to thank for a valuable three points which takes them to third on the ladder, only point behind Olympic and APIA Leichhardt Tigers, but with a game in hand. Olympic now lead APIA only on goal difference.
Olympic’s team selection reflected that they had one eye on their Westfield FFA Cup match in a few days time against Rockdale City Suns. Youngsters Marcus Duncan, Jason Madonis, James Andrew, Jack Green and Olly Green, all started for Olympic, with the experience Yianni Spyrakis, Scott Balderson, Go Shirai and Dimitri Hatzimouratis starting on the bench.
It took only three minutes for Blacktown City to take the lead, when Choi smashed a bullet header past Paul Henderson from a Travis Major cross.
It was a start that reflected the greater intensity and pace with which Blacktown City opened the match, and Olympic’s defence looked shaky.
Olly Green had a chance to level in the 10th minute, but the midfielder couldn’t keep his header low enough to trouble Nenad Vekic between the sticks.
Blacktown City doubled their lead shortly after, when Duncan fouled Travis Major. He had been found inside left by a wonderful pass from Patrick Antelmi, and as he bore down on goal, Duncan barged him over with a challenge that perhaps would have been legal 30 years ago.
Gibbs’ penalty was to the bottom right corner and although Henderson got a big glove on it, the ball squirmed inside the post.
Olympic had to respond and they did, earning a penalty of their own eight minutes later, in the 29th minute. William Angel made a lung bursting run forward down the left, and a clumsy Yiannis Fragogiannis challenge meant the visitors had a spot kick of their own.
Michael Gaitatzis confidently stepped up to smash the penalty home.
Balderson made his way on at half time for Ryan Keir, who had an ineffective first 45′ minutes.
Unfortunately for the visitors, it didn’t change the flow of game, with Antelmi in particular outstanding for Blacktown City.
Olly Green had another chance in the 48th minute, but again blazed over after a poor touch by Zac Cairncross. Blacktown City made them pay when Gibbs showed his eye for goal again, heading in a delightful cross by Antelmi not long after.
Olympic were down and out, but found a lifeline through Balderson. The former Manly midfielder lined up a free kick from the right, and ripped a fantastic curling shot past Vekic into the top corner.
It was a goal of the very highest order, but it wasn’t enough to drag them back into the match as a late finish by Macura put the game to bed. The midfielder showed enough composure to make space for himself in the area before driving a firm shot past the despairing Henderson.
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC 4 (Choi 3′, Gibbs PEN 21′, 53′, Macura 90′)
Sydney Olympic 2 (M Gaitatzis PEN 30′, Balderson 78′)
Sunday May 10, 2015
Lilys Football Centre, Seven Hills
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Thomas Lee and Joon Park
Fourth Official: Karl Davies
Blacktown City FC: Vekic; Fragogiannis, Cairncross (C), Lewis, Speranza; Macura, Evans, Choi (Mallia 74′), Antelmi (Araujo 80′); Major, Gibbs
Substitutes not used: Prendergast, Perre, Beaumi
Yellow cards: Speranza 77′
Sydney Olympic: Henderson; Egger (Spyrakis 71′), Duncan, Markovic (C), Angel; Keir (Balderson 46′), Madonis, Andrew, J Green, O Green, M Gaitatzis (Shirai 74′)
Substitutes not used: Sadaka, Hatzimouratis
Yellow cards: Madonis 84′
Player ratings:
3- Patrick Antelmi (BCFC)
2- Joe Gibbs (BCFC)
1- Danny Choi (BCFC)
– by Matthew Lopez, National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 Editor, at Lilys Football Centre
