Men’s State League 2 Round 9 Review
Saturday proved to be a jam-packed day of Men’s State League 2 football, with all Round 9 matches being played across the one day.
This week also marked the half-way point of the season.
Despite Dunbar sitting on a comfortable three-win buffer at the top of the table, the battle for fourth spot continues to be competitive as only one win separates fourth with the eighth spot.
Our Match of the Round featured teams in this position when seventh placed, University of NSW hosted eighth placed, FC Gazy Lansvale at David Phillips Field.
Match of the Round
University of NSW drew 0-0 FC Gazy Lansvale, Saturday 6 June at David Phillips Field
University of NSW and FC Gazy Lansvale have drawn 0-0 in a gripping showdown on Saturday afternoon. Despite the scoreline, both teams had many chances to get ahead in the match but failed to put them away.
Uni of NSW and FC Gazy began the match at a fast pace, however, defence proved key in the early exchanges, which meant both teams took long range attempts on goal to ‘feel out’ one another.
The first shot of the day came in the sixth minute from Uni of NSW’s Marcelo Turdera, who took an audacious shot on goal from well outside of the box. Pablo Meza watched as the ball sailed wide of the left post, which allowed him to restart proceedings with a goal kick.
For FC Gazy, Ozcan Cetinay stamped his mark on the game early on, by combining well with his forwards through fluent passing.
He provided an effective ‘one-two’ passing play with Herbert Hidalgo, which put the midfielder in enough space to cross the ball in. Terrific scrambling defence by Uni of NSW denied the visitors, however, the pressure continued to mount as the first corner of the day was signaled in the 10th minute.
Nothing came from the corner for the visitors, however, a counter attack by Uni of NSW resulted in a reckless challenge and a free kick being awarded. The attempt on goal was disappointing however, and sailed well over the cross bar.
The constant back-and-forth flow was highlighted further when FC Gazy had the next opportunity to go one-up when a clever, quick free-kick was taken which put Ali Al Waeli one-on-one with goalkeeper, Nic Nelson.
Nelson pulled off a miraculous save and was required again only moments later, when a great pass by Ozcan Cetinay put Al Waeli again through on goal, only for him to spoil the shot at the vital moment.
At this stage, FC Gazy Lansvale looked the more likely of the two teams to penetrate the opposition defence as Uni of NSW were still resorting to long-range efforts.
They quickly realised that their set-piece plays were effective with Gavin O’Donovan proving to be a handful to contain in the air.
The big target man managed to get a head to these crosses more often than not, but failed to aim them on line.
The second half began similarly to the first with Marcelo Turdera again finding himself with enough space to attempt a shot only to be saved yet again by Pablo Meza.
Tensions flared when Ozcan Cetinay and Julian Tellier’s heads came together and he soon after received a yellow card for a rash sliding tackle.
Uni of NSW did not let this fluster them and continued to shoot if the opportunity presented itself.
Thomas Inglis backed himself from just outside of the box with a solid strike that just sailed wide of the left-hand upright, while Sargon David looked menacing for FC Gazy Lansvale down the opposite end.
Tellier continued to link with captain, Samuel Zouroudis down the right-hand touchline and almost opened the scoring with the best chance of the match in the 58th minute.
Thomas Inglis hit the post on the back of a brilliant ball by Samuel Zouroudis, which should have been dispatched.
The match continued to play end-on-end with both teams providing opportunites on the back of counter attacks.
Turdera found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the 65th minute on the back of a Thomas Inglis counter-attack.
His shot however, was brilliantly saved once again by Meza.
University definitely looked on top at this stage of the match and grew in confidence as a result of these chances.
A brilliant effort by FC Gazy right back, Christopher Theodosiou, saved an almost certain goal. The ball headed towards an empty net after the goalkeeper was caught out of position, but his commitment to track back and clear the ball at the dying stages ensured his side did not trail.
An appeal for handball in the box came from UNSW in the 75th minute only to be denied by referee, Danny Horstead. Although, moments later University of NSW were one-on-one once again through Michal Lalik, however, the lack of power behind the shot made it an easy save for Meza, who was having an outstanding game in goals.
The match wound to an end as physicality and desperation continued to become core themes. However, neither team could gain the advantage that they so desperately needed and move forward knowing that a potential victory could have been theirs, if they had better seized their opportunities.
Match Stats
University of NSW 0
FC Gazy Lansvale 0
Saturday 6th of June, 2015
David Phillips Field, Daceyville
Referee: Mr. Danny Horstead
Assistant Referees: Mr. Raymond Osborne and Andre Giev
University of NSW: 1. Nic Nelson, 19. Male Balazs, 11. Carl Bishop (18. Victor Cares), 2. Tom Cook, 4. Thomas Inglis, 17. Michal Lalik, 5. Gavin O’Donovan, 14. Julien Tellier, 9. Marcelo Turdera (15. Ruben Viglino), 10. Dean Zouroudis, 7. Samuel Zouroudis
Substitutes Not Used: 16. Daniel Kennedy, 29. Connor Maguire
Yellow Cards: 17. Michal Lalik 75’, 4. Thomas Inglis 85’
Red Cards: nil
FC Gazy Lansvale: 1. Pablo Meza, 11. Ali Al Waeli, 5. Mohamed Al Waeli (12. Brett Hawes), 8. Mirwiss Amiri (13. Christopher Varrica), 4. Mitchell Bozzetto, 7. Ozcan Cetinay, 6. Sargon David, 14. Herbert Hidalgo, 16. Badar Issa, 3. Christopher Theodosiou, 2. Ertan Uzel (9. Ahmad Al Waeli)
Substitutes Not Used: Zane Brown,
Yellow Cards: 9. Ahmad Al Waeli 55’, 7. Ozcan Cetinay 75’
Red Cards: nil
Dunbar Rovers 2-1 Western Condors, Saturday 6 June at Hensley Athletic Field
The Dunbar Rovers continue their perfect record of eight from eight after defeating the Western Condors 2-1, but was described by head coach, William Cullen, as the “hardest game played this season.”
Dunbar lacked all fluency in the first half, which had a lot to do with the fact they were missing six of their first eleven due to injury or suspension.
Despite the Condors having early chances, it was the Rovers who opened the scoring through Robbie Deasy, who converted a penalty as a result of a handball in the box.
The visitors squared up the score after they too converted a penalty from a foul given on the edge of the box.
When it looked as though the match would end as a draw, Robbie Deasy scored a brilliant goal, dispatching the ball far into the top right corner and showing the competition the resilience and patience required to maintain top spot on the ladder.
Southern Districts SFA 3-1 Hurstville FC, Saturday 6 June at Ernie Smith Reserve
Southern Districts have found themselves back in the winning circle after a great 3-1 win over second-placed Hurstville FC. As a result, Southern Districts leapfrog Hurstville FC from third spot and will be looking to maintain this momentum by bringing it into the second half of the competition.
After his previous attempts on goal went wide, Mitch Mclintock opened proceedings with a sweeping run across field and then chip, which found the back of the net.
Hurstville FC did not roll over, but instead fought back with a goal of their own. Mudrek Abaid got the visitors on the score sheet after pouncing on a costly turnover by a Southern District defender.
They could have grabbed the lead after they were awarded a penalty, but Tomislav Romic pulled off a miraculous save for the home side.
This sparked a momentum shift and was made even clearer when new signing, Matt Moyara scored a top-right screamer out of nothing.
Mclintock sealed the victory when Southern Districts were also awarded a late penalty, which saw him bag a double and his sixth for the season.
Prospect United 2-1 Wagga City Wanderers, Saturday 6 June at William Lawson Park
Prospect United have made it three consecutive wins after narrowly defeating the Wagga City Wanderers 2-1 on Saturday.
Head coach Tony Caruso gave a lot of credit to the Wanderers and said that they “dominated us in the first half.”
Their persistence paid off as the Wanderers went into the sheds with a 1-0 advantage after they tucked away a penalty.
Prospect regrouped after the break through a Wiltar Jajaw double, which featured a chip in a one-on-one situation, from outside of the box. Jajaw has been an outstanding midseason inclusion to Prospect’s line-up and has found the back of the net five times in his last two matches.
The Wanderers will continue to improve, with their debut win tipped by many opposition coaches to be not far away.
“Wagga are a very good outfit and will continue to cause teams headaches throughout the second half of the season,” said Caruso.
Camden Tigers 1-0 Hurstville City Minotaurs, Saturday 6 June at Ron Dine Reserve
The Camden Tigers have edged out a 1-0 win at home against the Hurstville City Minotaurs, in what was described by Minotaurs head coach, Peter Sarikakis as a “fifty-fifty match” which could have gone either way.
The Minotaurs failed to take the chances on offer when three one-on-one’s on goal went begging.
Camden persisted however and created opportunities of their own in the second half.
After the break Camden maintained more possession and were rewarded in the 70th minute from a Bailey Simpson bomb.
Simpson added to the exceptional goals scored this round by cracking the half-volley from just right of the goals, which sailed into the top corner.
“Injuries have been a concern for us and have definitely effected our form in the last month or so but it’s good to string together a couple of wins,” said Camden head coach, Dean Mackechnie.
For the Minotaurs, ‘The General’ Sarikakis is looking at the second half of the season to start fresh and is instilling in his players the belief they need to “turn it around.”
– By Lars Roy, Men’s State League 2 Reporter
