Missed opportunities thwart Parramatta and APIA
PARRAMATTA FC remains unbeaten in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s after a 0-0 draw with APIA Leichhardt Tigers at Melita Stadium on Sunday.
It was a match of missed opportunities as both sides failed to capitalise on their chances.
Parramatta started the stronger of the two, with an early chance falling the way of Marco Sama.
The number 10 created space for himself with a quick turn and forced APIA keeper Ryan Norval into an early save.
The best chance of the first stanza came courtesy of Josh Symons.
The Parramatta captain beat the APIA defence outside the penalty area but his powerful shot ricocheted off the woodwork.
Possession was evenly shared throughout the first half but it was Parramatta who created the better opportunities.
APIA did looked threatening in the final third, but they would’ve been disappointed in their execution with the scores locked at 0-0 when the half time whistle sounded.
APIA were determined to control possession early in the second half and looked far more comfortable on the ball.
The visitors extra possession led to panic stations for Parramatta in the 70th minute when Nathan Elasi Spurned a guilt edged chance.
The winger failed to get clean contact on the ball with an open net in front of him which sent his shot agonizingly wide.
In the last 15 minutes the game opened up, with the ball being played from box to box as both sides pushed for the win.
APIA’s best opportunity came after 77 minutes as David D’Apuzzo played a beautiful ball in from the left hand side which picked out Corey Bizco.
The substitute volleyed the ball at goal but it was sprayed over the crossbar.
Parramatta had the next opportunity as the game became remarkably stretched.
Frank Martey took the ball from inside his own half and had APIA on the back foot, before he produced a powerful shot that was hit straight to Norval.
On 85’ minutes it was absolute chaos inside the APIA box.
Gosue Sama found himself one on one and hit a shot which looking as if it would rocket into the back of the net but David D’Appuzo used his hand to stop the ball and was subsequently sent off.
Marco Sama stepped up to the penalty spot and approached the ball confidently but Ryan Norval went the right way and made a great save to ultimately win a point for his team.
Parramatta coach Franco Consentino was disappointed not to take away the three points.
“I thought we were good today and it’s always good to mix it with a big team like APIA. They’re a quality side with big players,” he said
“We missed a penalty which hurts and we deserved to take the three points today. They had one opportunity which we cleared off the line, but I think here at home we had the better of the chances.
“For a club like ours we just take a game at a time and see how we go week in week out and hopefully we can build on what we do the previous week.”
APIA coach John Carnevale was satisfied with the result.
“At the end of the day, going down to 10 men and with the penalty save I think you would take the point,” he said.
“I was happy with our second half. I thought our play was much better, our ball possession was smarter and we created a number of opportunities and controlled the half so that was really pleasing.
“On another day two of those chances we probably would have tucked away and won the match.”
Match Stats
Parramatta FC 0
APIA Leichhardt 0
20th March 2016
Melita Stadium, Sefton
Referee: Matthew Cropper
Assistant Referees: Thomas Lee and Janush A
Fourth Official: Jerry Bitas
Parramatta FC: 1. TURNBULL Luke, 4. SYMONS Josh, 15. MIJIC Tomislav, 6. GULLO Dan, 8. REZO Daniel (7.MARTEY Frank 79’), 9. SAMA Gosue, 10. SAMA Marco (14.GRIMA Luke 87’) 11. TOMIC Ante, 17.GERSBACH Joshua (19. TAYEBI DERAZKALA Aram 52’), 18. MALLET Tom 20.HAYDAR Ibrahim
Unused substitutes: 7.MARTEY Frank, 13.VAIS Andreas.
Yellow Cards: GRIMA 37’, MALLET 68’
Red Cards: Nil
APIA Leichhardt: 92. NORVAL Ryan; 2.MILLGATE Nathan, 21.MUATA-MARLOW Themba, 7. O’CONNELL Sean, 13.D’APUZZO David , 23.OLSEN Nicholas (11.MURRAY Jordan 66’), 20.SEKIYA Tasuka (8.BICZO Corey 76’), 16.SYMONS Sean, 18. UCCHINIO Adrian, 9.ELASI Nathan, 10.PARISI Franco (3.FSADNI Matthew 86’)
Unused Substitutes: 19. HASEGAWA Kenta 1.LIIBAND Tonu
Yellow Cards: O’CONNELL 37’, MUATA-MARLOW 45+1’, MILLGATE 72’, UCCHINO 90+1’
Red Cards: D’APPUZO 84’
Player Ratings:
3 – RYAN NORVAL (APIA)
2 – GOSUE SAMA (PAR)
1 – TOMISLAV MIJIC(PAR)
-by Jack Hislop, PlayStation® National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 Reporter, at Melita Stadium, Sefton
