White Eagles defeat Waratah Cup Champions
The Bonnyrigg White Eagles took a massive leap towards becoming serious Premiership contenders, defeating Waratah Cup Champions Sydney United 58 FC 2-1.
At a windy Sydney United Sports Centre, the White Eagles took all three points through goals from Robbie Younis and a spectacular strike by Aaron Peterson.
A late Michael Cindric goal only counted as a consolation for the home side.
The Bonnyrigg defence was caught off guard early on as Nikola Taneski snuck through in the fifth minute. Looking eye to eye with James Chronopoulos, Taneski skewed his shot agonizingly wide of the goal.
The away side was next to come close three minutes later. A characteristic ball whipped into the box by Tynan Diaz saw David Vrankovic come in just late when only the slightest of touches were needed.
It was then United 58 FC that almost hit the lead on 18 minutes. A deep corner found Mitchell Stamatellis at the far post, his header went just over the bar as the scores remained locked at 0-0.
It was a great tussle between two big boys in Robbie Younis and United 58 FC captain Ibrahim Haydar trying to get the better of each other.
Younis took his scoring tally into double digits, picking up a goal in the 25th minute from a well worked corner. A great ball into the box from Yuta Koakado found Tadrosse who poked the ball back across goal as Younis headed the ball into an empty net.
The Reds needed to reply and almost got their just reward as Panny Nikas played a great ball through for Koen Bosma on 37 minutes. The Reds winger jinked his way into the box as he attempted to cut the ball back for Paric but the White Eagles recovered well to thwart the danger.
Two minutes before the break the White Eagles almost had their second. Diaz again had the ball on the right, made some space for himself and sent a shot toward the bottom corner but Justin Pasfield made a great save as the United 58 FC defence cleared the ball out for a corner.
Pasfield then came out and picked the ball up from the ensuing corner, rolling the ball out to Daniel Dragicevic. Dragicevic led a swift counter attack as United 58 FC outnumbered the Bonnyrigg defence four to three. Dragicevic played a great ball for Paric who powered his shot toward goal but again Chronopoulos came to the White Eagles rescue.
A real goal-mouth scramble came from the resulting corner and somehow the White Eagles managed to clear their lines as referee Chris Young sounded the whistle for half time shortly after.
With the start of the second half, Diaz’s service into the box continued to create a nuisance for the United 58 FC defence and Kokado’s headed effort was well held by Pasfield.
Mark Rudan’s men thought they had an equalizer as Paric again sprung the White Eagles defence in the 51st minute. Chronopoulos was quick off his line though as Paric’s chip went agonizingly wide of the goal.
The White Eagles then moved two clear as they popped a fantastic goal on 53 minutes via a venomous strike by Peterson. A ball from the back wasn’t dealt with well by the United 58 FC defence as Peterson capitalized and sent a looping volley over Pasfield from 35 metres out in what truly was a stunning strike.
As the game teetered towards the end of the second half, it was game on in the 81st minute when the Waratah Cup Champions scored via substitute Cindric. Stamatellis sent a delightful ball to the far post where Paric sent a powerful header toward the top corner. Again Chronopoulos saved, tipping the ball onto the bar. The rebound fell to Cindric who headed the ball into the back of the net.
Reds fans thought their team equalized in the 85th minute. Another ball into the box saw Paric chest the ball and attempt a bicycle kick. Chronopoulos again got the better of him, tapping the ball away and then saving from a Nikas follow up.
The home side pushed hard in the dying minutes of the match but the White Eagles held firm to take a massive win home in the fight for the Premiership while the loss for United 58 FC left them hanging in the top five position on equal points with the Blacktown Spartans.
Match Stats
Sydney United Sports Centre
Sunday 12 July, 2015
Sydney United 58 1 (Cindric 81’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Younis 25’, Peterson 53’)
Sydney United 58: Pasfield, Bosma (Cindric 61’), Camera, Dragicevic, Haydar, Nikas, Paric, Sherlock, Stamatellis, Taneski (Tomelic 71’), Zuvela (Bilic 88’)
Subs Not Used: Babic, Vlismas
Yellow Cards: Bosma 35’
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: Chronopoulos, Fox, Diaz, Kokado, Mansueto (Caira 90+2), Miller, Peterson, Tadrosse, Vrankovic (Canak 86’), Younis (Jenner87’), Spruce
Subs Not Used: Matic, Doyle,
Yellow Cards: Fox 1’, Mansueto 58’, Caira 90+3
– by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 Reporter
