Men’s State League 2 Round 18 Review

The last round of the regular season has confirmed Dunbar Rovers as Club Champions despite picking up their maiden loss of the season against the Western Condors.
After going down 2-1 to league winners Dunbar Rovers last week, Southern Districts could not find themselves back in the winning circle after going down to Hurstville FC in a high scoring affair for this week’s Match of the Round.
Match of the Round
Hurstville FC 3-2 Southern Districts SFA, Sunday 16 August, St George Soccer Stadium
The match began physically after a Denis Cutura challenge on Southern Districts defender Gordan Opacic resulted in an early foul to the visitors.
Hurstville’s intentions to press the pace and put pressure on District’s backline was clear after they were forced to clear the ball on a number of occasions.
Hurstville’s early intensity was quickly rewarded with an outstanding goal in the fourth minute, after a cross into the box by Cutura found Michael Karagiannis unmarked.
Karagiannis struck the ball beautifully on the volley to find the top left corner to give the hosts the perfect start.
His confidence grew after the goal, which saw him take an audacious long-ranged attempt only moment later.
The ball however, dribbled across the face of goal to reset with a goalkick.
Southern Districts stemmed Hurstville’s momentum in the 9^th minute after a brilliant chip through by Leigh Gunn found Milan Atlagic in behind Hurstville’s defensive line.
Atlagic’s first touch was superb which put him in a great position with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Despite brilliant lead up work by the striker, a flustered shot saw the ball sail over the cross bar for a crucial, missed opportunity.
As a result, Southern Districts gained more cohesion in their attack and found success through Milan Atlagic, who was causing problems for Hurstville’s right-edge defence.
Despite showing improvement with the ball, it was their defence that were found wanting on a number of occasions.
This lack of communication at the back gifted Hurstville’s Michael Janov two unchallenged, long-ranged efforts on goal.
Unfortunately for them, he could not get his head over the ball, which saw both attempts clear the goals.
A frustration foul by Gracian Marando in midfield in the 30^th minute for Southern Districts saw a Hurstville free kick find Denis Cutura.
The aerial pass was supplied terrifically by Michael Janov, finding the striker for a headed attempt on goal which just went wide of the posts.
Only a few minutes later a challenge for the ball by Hurstville’s Vedran Jaganjac saw James Raiti knocked to the ground inside the box.
The referee pointed to the spot despite Hurstville captain, Andrew Harb frantically contesting his decision.
Southern Districts, Mitchell Mclintock attempted penalty was struck sweetly to the bottom right of goals, but was brilliantly saved by Hurstville’s goalkeeper, Michael Rutherford in the 34^th minute.
Only two minutes later, down the other end of the field, a Hurstville shot attempt on goal hit the hand of Joseph Mensah, resulting in a yellow card and another penalty. Denis Cutura stepped up to the mark and made no mistake, which took the score to 2-0 to Hurstville.
Hurstville maintained the barrage of attempts on goal and almost made it 3-0 just before the break, courtesy of some slick play between Cutura, Karagiannis and Nicholas Kougious.
Despite this, the score remained unchanged at the break with Hurstville leading 2-0.
The second half began in a completely different fashion to the first. A brilliant run down the left wing by Milan Atlagic displayed not only pace, but finesse to supply a brilliant pass to Mitchell Mclintock.
Despite Mclintock being in an acute angle to the goal, he smashed the ball first time on his weaker left foot, from the edge of the box. The ball projectiled like a rocket into the top right corner, which opened Districts account with the score at 2-1.
The fantastic start by the visitors was quickly forgotten after they gave away yet another penalty in the 50^th minute, in similar fashion to the first. Cutura buried the attempt into the right side-netting which took their lead back up to two goals.
Frustration began to creep into District’s game, which could be seen through Milan Atlagic’s rushed and unlikely goal scoring chance from improbable range.
For Hurstville, their confidence could not be tainted after a Denis Cutura headed pass found Vedran Jaganjac who attempted a well-struck bicycle kick in the 64^th minute. Jaganjac displayed great technique, shaving a coat of paint off the cross bar in the process.
The combination between Michael Karagiannis and Nicholas Kougious continued five minutes later when their one-two passing play on the right edge asked questions of Adrian Iorfino, who stood up to the task.
Similarly, Michael Rutherford pulled off a miraculous save from a Leigh Gunn shot, which left him injured in goals.
Moments later, Milan Atlagic exploited this injury by finding the back of net with a brilliant strike into the bottom left corner, taking the score to 3-2 to Hurstville.
Despite last-ditched attempts including one that struck the post by Gunn, Southern Districts could not find a late equaliser, which left the score at 3-2 to a deserved Hurstville FC.
Match Stats
Hurstville FC 3
Denis Cutura (36’, 50’), Michael Karagiannis (4’)
Southern Districts SFA 2
Mitchell Mclintock (46’), Milan Atlagic (76’)
St George Soccer Stadium
Referee: Mr. L. Foster
Assistant Referees: Mr. A. Long and Mr H. Juhari
Hurstville FC: 9. Denis Cutura, 2. Steven Flatt, 4. James Galic, 6. Andrew Harb, 15. Vedran Jaganjac, 14. Michael Janov (16. Jeffrey Forrest), 12. Michael Karagiannis, 7. Nicholas Kougious, 3. Thomas O’Neill, 17. Michael Rutherford
Substitutions not used: 99. Matthew Mulroney
Yellow Cards: 9. Denis Cutura, 4. James Galic, 3. Thomas O’Neill
Red Cards: 
Southern Districts SFA: 1. Adrian Iorfino, 11. Milan Atlagic, 6. Leigh Gunn, 17. Rocco Luca, 15. Gracian Marando, 9. Mitchell Mclintock, 18. Joseph Mensah (29. Anthony Forcella), 5. Gordan Opacic (12. Matthew Amoroso), 8. James Raiti, 16. Mirza Sehic
Substitutions not used: 111. Mark Pullman, 20. Aldin Tuzlic
Yellow Cards: 9. Mitchell Mclintock, 18. Joseph Mensah
Red Cards: Nil

Rest of the Round
Prospect United 2-1 Wagga City Wanderers, Sunday 16 August, Gissing Oval
Prospect United have just missed out on the top four despite defeating the Wagga City Wanderers 2-1 on Saturday.
It was a slow start by the Wanderers, which saw them give away a two-goal advantage, but they finished the match strongly when they found the back of the net in the last 20 minutes, which tightened Prospect’s lead.
However, it was another match that proved the importance of taking your chances. The Wanderers had far more shots on goal but Prospect displayed the composure required to close out the match.
Unfortunately, that is the end of the season for both clubs with Prospect finishing one point out of the top four.

Western Condors FC 2-1 Dunbar Rovers, Sunday 16 August, Calabria Sports Ground
The Western Condors have picked up the three points in a must-win match against the Dunbar Rovers.
After an even first half the Condors came out of the sheds firing and scored a screamer through Chris Kartambis.
The outstanding volleyed attempt on goal was backed up by another, before Dunbar found themselves on the scoresheet through Clive Delaney. The big centre back leapt off a corner to put a glancing header away which took the score to 2-1.
The Condors exploited Dunbar’s defence through counter-attacks and were deserved of the victory in the end.

Dunbar’s undefeated run has come to an end but they have won the Club Championship despite the loss.

Hurstville City Minotaurs 1-1 Camden Tigers, Sunday 16 August, Magdala Park
The Hurstville City Minotaurs and Camden Tigers have ended their season with a one-all draw.
The Minotaurs got off to a great start and opened the scoring in the 20^th minute.
They could not keep out Jayden Russell however, who equalised just before half-time, bringing his season tally to 11 for the season.
Despite a scoreless second half, both teams showed desperation in the hopes of edging out a winning goal, but the score remained 1-1 at the final whistle.

University of NSW 2-0 FC Gazy Lansvale, Sunday 16 August, Progress Park
University of NSW (UNSW) have finished their 2015 campaign with a dominating 2-0 performance away.
It took only 15 minutes for the visitors to open the scoring when Hajime Maki struck the ball from the edge of the penalty to find the back of the net.
Maki found himself in space, courtesy of Akira Koizumi’s lead up work.
Just before the break, UNSW were awarded a penalty but failed to convert through Michal Lalik.
They made sure they would not make the same mistake twice and slotted a second penalty attempt in the 75^th minute, this time coming from Koizumi’s boot.
UNSW under 20s player Andrew Ferizis made his first grade debut, joining fellow youngsters, Owen Steer and Scott Martin in victory.
– By Lars Roy, Men’s State League 2 Reporter