Sydney United 58 FC crowned Waratah Cup Champions

SYDNEY United 58 are the 2015 Waratah Cup champions after outlasting Blacktown City 1-0 in a tense clash at Valentine Sports Park.

A Chris Triantis goal in the 85th minute was all it took for Mark Rudan’s side to secure the silverware after 90’ absorbing minutes.

It was a tough defeat for Blacktown City who paid the ultimate price for a defensive lapse in the dying minutes of the match.

Early nerves got the better of Sydney United 58 and Danny Choi was unlucky not to open the scoring for Blacktown City after only 45 seconds.

The pacy winger found himself in space courtesy of a quality pass from Patrick Antelmi before blasting his shot high and wide.

The early scare proved to be the wake-up call Rudan’s side needed.

A more defensive outlook from the Reds side stifled the attack of Blacktown City.

It took until the 26th minute for City to claim only its second shot on goal when Connor Evans headed wide after breaking free of his marker.

Blacktown City had a defensive scare of their own 36 minutes in when Matt Lewis conceded a free kick on the right hand edge of the penalty area.

Deadball specialist Panni Nikas’ curling delivery found Nathan Sherlock unmarked, but his headed effort was blocked by a scrambling Zach Cairncross. 

It took until the 44th minute for the best chance of the half.

Mitchell Mallia broke free of his marker before receiving the ball on the penalty spot. However his weak shot was easily contained by Justin Pasfield in the Sydney United 58 net.

Returning to the field after the break, Blacktown City looked to impose itself on the match.

It was Mallia again who posed the threat with a jinking run through three United 58 defenders in the 54th minute.

However the midfielder was unable to finish with his shot hammered right into the path of Pasfield.

As the half progressed Sydney United 58 began to undo the shackles and open up the game plan.

Lead by Nikas, United pushed forward and challenged the City defence with quick counter attacks.

Man of the match Mitchell Stamatellis provided Nikas with the perfect foil and was unlucky not to capitalise in the 63rd minute when his powerful volley from the edge of the 18 yard box was saved by a diving Nenad Vekic.

The combination troubled Vekic again only minutes later when Stamatellis unleashed another stinging shot which was once again saved by the Blacktown City keeper. 

The pressure finally became too much for Blacktown City in the 85th minute.

A loose clearance from the defence fell at the feet Triantis who wasted no time in placing his shot past the outstretched arms of Vekic and into the back of the net.

With the seconds ticking away, Mark Crittenden’s side sent everything forward to send the match into extra time.

Despite the extra attacking impetus from last year’s cup winners, Sydney United 58 held firm in defence and stopped Blacktown City from creating any true chances.

The final whistle was music to the ears of United 58 and its fans as Rudan’s side claimed yet another piece of silverware.

Match Stats

Blacktown City FC 0 

Sydney United 58 FC 1 (Chris Triantis 86’)

Sunday, July 6 2015

Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood

Referee: Kurt Ams

Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Janush Adabjou

Fourth Official: Chris Young

Blacktown City FC: Vekic; Speranza (Tomaras 86’), Fragogiannis, Lewis, Major, Macura, Choi, Mallia, Antelmi (Araujo 70’), Cairncross, Evans

Substitutes not used: Prendergrast, Perre, Perkatis

Yellow Cards: Major 58’, Macura 80’ 

Sydney United 58 FC: Pasfield; Camera, Sherlock, Stamatellis, Triantis, Dragicevic, Bosma (Bilic 89’), Paric, Haydar, Zuvela (Tomelic 73’), Nikas 

Substitutes not used: Cindric, Vlismas, Ephraim

Yellow Cards: Triantis 40’ 

Player Ratings
BLACKTOWN CITY
1 – Nenad VEKIC
Made a couple of great saves. Distribution was good. He was certainly made to work the harder of the two ‘keepers. 7/10
3 – Giorgio SPERANZA
Solid at left-back, gave little away and played out of trouble well. 7/10
4 – Yianni FRAGOGIANNIS
Solid at right back, bombed forward on a number of occasions and provided extra attacking assistance to his strikers. 7/10
6 – Matt LEWIS
Great in tandem with Zach Cairncross in the centre of defence. 6/10
7 – Travis MAJOR
A few wayward passes but continually looked for the ball. Managed to pick up a caution in the second half, and a lot more was expected from the former Hyundai A-League player. 5/10
8 – Sasa MACURA
Excellent first-half performance, bossed midfield and linked well with Danny Choi. Picked up a caution in the 80’ minute. 8/10
11 – Danny CHOI
Lively, and energetic. Tricky flicks and passes with Sasa Macura set up the best moves of the game. 7/10
14 – Mitchell MALLIA
Came on strong in the second half but lacked end product. 6/10
16 – Patrick ANTELMI
Busy around the pitch, always looked to make the telling pass. Replaced in the 70’ minute by Daniel Araujo. 6/10
19 – Zachary CAIRNCROSS (C)
Marshalled the troops well, and was a cool head under pressure. 7/10
20 – Connor EVANS
Used the ball efficiently, and put in a fine performance. 6/10
SUBS
10 – Christos Tomaras
Came on in the 86’ minute when City were down by a goal.
12 – Daniel ARAUJO
Not enough time to truly impose himself on the game after he came on in the 70’ minute to replace Patrick Antelmi.
 
SYDNEY UNITED 58
1 – Justin PASFIELD g/k
Two important saves at the end of the first half and always confident when called into action. 7/10
2 – Giuseppe CAMERA
Not spectacular at left back but dependable, reliable and did what he had to do. 7/10
4 – Nathan SHERLOCK
Strong at the back but also got forward to help out in attack. 7/10
6 – Mitchell STAMATELLIS
Brilliant volley in the 62’ minute that could have produced a goal but for the reflexes of the ‘keeper. Dominant in the centre of the park, tackled well and used the ball wisely. 9/10
10 – Chris TRIANTIS
Won the game with his late goal. Picked up the first caution of the match, but was a constant threat on the right hand side. 8/10
11 – Daniel DRAGICEVIC
Struggled to deal with Choi in the first half but worked hard and asserted himself better in the second half. 6/10
12 – Koen BOSMA
Showed glimpses of undoubted talent, tricky footwork and neat crossing without any real impact. Subbed in the first minute of stoppage time for Matthew Bilic. 6/10
16 – Stjepan PARIC
Worked hard and in tandem with Stamatellis, helped United 58 get the job done. Passing was good and had a lot of bite in the tackle. 7/10
20 – Ibrahim HAYDAR (C)
A true captain’s performance at the back, strong on the ground and in the air. Lead the troops well in the dying stages. 7/10
21 – Chris ZUVELA
Hard working display in the middle of the park and broke up play well in the first half. The youngster was replaced in the 73’ minute by Anthony Tomelic. 6/10
23- Panni NIKAS
One of United 58’s best. Lively, threatening and always used the ball well. Was involved in everything going forward in the second half. 8/10
SUBS
5 – Anthony TOMELIC
Brought on in the 73’ minute to replace Chris Zuvela.
 19 – Matthew BILIC
Came on in the first minute of stoppage time.

–       By Micky Brock, Waratah Cup reporter, at Valentine Sports Park