Blacktown City too clinical for Eagles
PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition front runners Blacktown City FC has given Parramatta FC a lesson in clinical finishing after they claimed a 3-0 win at Melita Stadium on Saturday.
Strikes to Giorgio Speranza, Danny Choi and Mitchell Mallia was the difference as the reigning PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Premiers cruised to victory.
Blacktown City came out firing and it was only three minutes until the visitors had their first shot on goal courtesy of Riku Sasaki.
Veteran Parramatta centre back Ibrahim Haydar was called into action several times in the opening moments to break up the play for the Eagles as Blacktown went on the offensive.
The game sparked into life in the 13th minute when Luke Turnbull was twice called into action to stop efforts from Sasa Macura and Sasaki.
Parramatta weren’t going to be wallflowers and laid siege to the Blacktown goalmouth.
A combination of poor finishing and resolute Blacktown defence prevented the home side from finding the back of the net.
The deadlock was broken on the half-hour mark through City winger Mitchell Mallia.
The former Sydney FC player broke through on the left with a turn of pace and fired a low shot past Turnbull to make it 1-0 for the visitors.
Blacktown keeper Tristan Prendergrast took advantage of his elevation into the first team in place of usual custodian Nenad Vekic with a number of critical saves at the end of the first half.
Parramatta came out firing at the start of the second stanza as Josh Sama forced Prendergast into another fine save.
Tempers flared as the half progressed as scrappy tackles caught the ire of referee Kurt Ams.
As the match became bogged down in midfield, Blacktown fired into action with back to back goals.
Giorgio Speranza doubled Blacktown’s lead in the 57th minute when his low shot beat Turnbull before hitting the back of the net.
Choi made it 3-0 for the Mark Crittenden coached side in the 59th minute when he volleyed home from close range.
The Eagles were denied a late consolation goal in the 80th minute.
Symons centred for Josh Sama whose looping header was tipped over the bar by Prendergast.
The home side battled hard but come the final whistle, Blacktown was too strong.
Parramatta coach Frank Consentino praised Blacktown’s relentless presence in attack
“Blacktown was a class above going forward and are very clinical,” he said.
“We knew how quick they can turn a match and how clinical they can be.
“At the end of the day they took their chances whereas we missed that cutting edge in front of goal.”
Blacktown gaffer Crittenden was justly buoyant with the result.
“We are very happy tonight because this is a very tough place to get a result.
“Parramatta were well organised and we knew it would be a tough match.
“I thought Danny Choi and Giorgio Speranza were magnificent for us tonight. Overall it was a disciplined performance from the boys and we’re delighted to be going home with all three points.”
Match Stats
Parramatta Eagles 0
Blacktown City 3 (Mallia 30’, G.Speranza 57, Choi 59’ )
Saturday, April 2 2016
Melita Stadium, Granville
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Nick Backo & Patrick Teleki
Fourth Official: Nathan McCorist
Parramatta Eagles: 1. TURNBULL Luke, 4.SYMONS Josh ©, 5. MIJIC Tomislav, 6. GULLO Daniel, 8. REZO Daniel (14. GRIMA Luke 72’), 9. SAMA Josh, 10. SAMA Marco, 11. TOMIC Ante, 18. MALLETT Tom (23. TAYBEI DERAZKALA Aram 60’), 19.BROWN Blair (17. GERSBACH Joshua 72’), 20. HAYDAR Ibrahim
Substitutes Not Used: 7.MARTY Frank, 33.DIACOMO Jayden
Yellow Cards: Mijic 38’, Sama.J 50’, Mallett 56’, TAYBEI DERAZKALA 84’
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City: 20. PRENDERGAST Tristan, 3. SPERANZA Giorgio, 4. SPERANZA Roberto (17. BEUMIE Lewis 60’), 6. LEWIS Matthew, 7. MAJOR Travis, 8. MACURA Sasa (9. GIBBS Joey 67’), 10. EVANS Conor, 11. CHOI Danny Seung-Joo, 14. MALLIA Mitchell, 19. CAIRNCROSS Zachary ©, 21.SASAKI Riku (16.ANTELMI Patrick 74’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. VEKIC Nenad, 12. GROZDANOVSKI Jonathan
Yellow Cards: Macura 45’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Danny Choi BC
2 – Giorgio Speranza BC
1 – Josh Symons (PFC)
-By PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Micky Brock.
