Round 3 Review – State League Men’s
An exciting, high-scoring round of State League Men’s football took place this weekend, with thirty five goals scored across six games.
MATCH OF THE WEEK – St. George FA vs. University of NSW: 3-1.
Floodlights bathed over a chilly Peter Moore Field, as St. George FA hosted the University of NSW on Saturday night.
The home side came out of the blocks firing, and put the Lions under a lot of pressure with an energetic, pressing front two lines. UNSW struggled to get out of their half, as their midfield looked to find a foothold into the game.
It was almost the dream start for St. George in the second minute, after Christopher Lawson connected at the back post with a whipped corner. His powerful header was cleared off the line by the UNSW defence.
The Lions compacted the centre of the park, forcing St. George down the wings, where their crossing was less than impressive in the opening period. However, their wide players were finding a lot of space due to aggressive overlapping from UNSW fullbacks.
St. George eventually broke through in the thirteenth minute. Left winger Samuel Messam intercepted an attempted switch just behind the half way mark and left his fullback Samuel Zouroudis for dead as he burst towards the UNSW goal. Lions centreback Mate Balazs was able to stand Messam up as he entered the goal box, but the physically imposing winger cut inside and managed to squeeze his shot under the goalkeeper.
The University of NSW had their best chance of the first half in the twenty fifth minute. Industrious midfielder Rodrigo Ortega Urra leaned into a powerful shot from well outside the box, that sliced through the air and just wide of the St. George upright.
St. George will be disappointed that instead of kicking on, they became sloppier as the half progressed and the game descended into relative chaos in midfield. Neither side was able to establish a firm grip on play.
However, the home side eventually added to their lead in the forty second minute with a brilliantly direct goal. Bursting down the right wing, St. George switched the ball swiftly to the far post where Samuel Messam headed home his second goal of the game.
As the players headed into the sheds at half time, neither side will have been entirely content with their performance. Nevertheless, James Spanoudakis for St. George was particularly impressive, extremely industrious through the core of midfield.
St. George should have had a third in the fiftieth minute, after Spanoudakis beat his man in the goalbox and cut back to Marton Vass on the penalty spot. The central midfielder had plenty of time to line up his shot, but fired straight into the hands of the UNSW goalkeeper.
Messam almost completed his hat trick in the sixty first minute, finding himself one on one with the UNSW goalkeeper. His placed shot was saved superbly by Matthew Porch.
UNSW began to commit more and more players forward in search for a way back into the game. They almost found a goal in the sixty fourth minute after Hezio Silva Neto danced his way through the St. George back four and lifted the ball over the goalkeeper. His effort was cleared desperately by Lawson before it could cross the line.
UNSW were presented a huge opportunity in the sixty ninth minute. After a frustrating hour, St. George midfielder Marton Vass flew late into the legs of UNSW’s centre back Sylvain Sommacal with a strong air of exasperation. He received his second yellow, and his marching orders.
The home side dropped much deeper and their wingers compacted, in a formation resembling a Christmas tree; clearly set up to defend their two goal lead. UNSW continued to pour more aggressively forward.
However, it would be St. George to score again in the seventy fifth minute. Substitute Mark Kamara came on to spearhead the St. George attack, and made an immediate impact. Holding off his defenders, the young striker burst into the box and coolly finished.
UNSW scored their first goal of the season only a minute later, immediately restoring the two goal deficit. A bouncing long ball was headed back by St. George fullback Daniel Mitwali. However, his back pass looped over the top of the St. George goalkeeper, allowing UNSW’s opportunistic Hajime Maki to smash it with violence into an open net.
The Lions almost returned the favour immediately, giving away a penalty in the eightieth minute. Samuel Zouroudis continued his rather torrid night defending the much taller Samuel Messam, bundling the St. George winger over in the box. However, Messam fired his penalty into the hands of a quickly diving Porch and UNSW could continue to dream.
It was not to be, however, as St. George fairly comfortably saw the game to completion and even came close to adding to their lead on a few occasions. While they will be looking to improve their discipline, the State League newcomers continue their impressive start to the season.
Match Stats
St. George FA 3 (Messam 13’/42’, Kamara 75’)
University of NSW 1 (Maki 76’)
Saturday, 16th of April, 2016
Peter Moore Field, Belmore
St. George FA: 41. Terry Dal Broi, 5. Jordan Janic, 4. Christopher Lawson, 11. Samuel Messam, 18. Daniel Mitwali (17. Wassan Dagher), 12. Simon Retsos, 7. Sean Richardson (6. Mark Kamara), 10. James Spanoudakis, 3. Bill Tsanidis, 9. Fouad Umlil, 16. Marton Vass.
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Dylan Webster, 21. Joshua Kemmler
Yellow Cards: 12. Simon Retsos, 7. Sean Richardson, 16. Marton Vass
Red Cards: 16. Marton Vass
University of NSW: 4. Mate Balazs, 9. Luiz Lobo, 14. Hajime Maki, 7. Sean Miller, 11. Matthew Newton, 20. Rodrigo Ortega Urra (19. Florim Binakaj), 1. Matthew Porch, 10. Hezio Silva Neto (12. Felipe Testa), 8. Sylvain Sommacal (17. Michal Lalik), 6. Dean Zouroudis, 2. Samuel Zouroudis.
Substitutes Not Used: 21. David Booth, 7. David Richardson.
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Round Summaries
Gazy Auburn FC vs. Wagga City Wanderers: 4-6
It was an all-time classic at Progress Park this weekend, as Gazy Auburn and Wagga City locked heads in a ten goal thriller.
Wagga City took a 4-1 lead into halftime, after Auburn had their goalkeeper Zane Brown sent off in the twenty fourth minute for what appeared to be dissent. Gazy were flabbergasted by the decision, and unhappy with the referee – but had no choice but to push on.
And push on they did, fighting back bravely in the second half with a brace from Yusuf Orfali and a strike from Zihori to dramatically tie things up at four goals apiece by the seventy fifth minute.
The Wanderers would not be undone, and broke Gazy’s hearts with a pair of goals in the final ten minutes to secure their third win of the season. A hattrick from Dunn was supported by a brace from Maclennan and a goal from Jolly.
Wagga City reclaim their place on the top of the table, with a two point lead over St. George and Hurstville.
Camden Tigers FC vs. Hurstville City Minotaurs: 4-2.
The Camden Tigers finally earned their first win of the season with an exciting 4-2 victory over the Hurstville City Minotaurs. Desperate for a win, it wasn’t easy for the home side who endured a rollercoaster ninety minutes.
The Tigers went into halftime with a comfortable two goal lead, thanks to strikes from Mugridge and Shuttleworth. The Minotaurs fought back strongly in the second half, and impressively levelled terms after Dominic and Ram both got on the scoresheet.
However, in the last five minutes the Minotaurs switched off and Camden were primed to punish mistakes, with Jayden Russell scoring two late goals to secure all three points.
They will feel like they deserved their long awaited victory, after two impressive but fruitless performances in the opening two rounds.
Prospect United vs. SD Raiders FC: 1-6.
Southern Districts secured their first victory of the season in a dominant performance away to Prospect United. The home side were swept aside by a rampant Raiders outfit who stole away with all three points thanks to a hat trick from Mclintock and goals from Smith and Symington.
Prospect coach Brian Vella had feared a wounded Southern Districts would turn on the fireworks this weekend but is still disappointed with his side’s performance.
“We started really well and should have been two nil up in the first twenty minutes, but then against the run of play they got a suspect penalty and confidence grew.”
“We have a young team that need to be more consistent.”
Western Condors FC vs. Nepean FC: 2-4.
Nepean FC claimed their first win of the season, sweeping aside the Western Condors in an exciting clash this Sunday.
As appears to be the theme of the weekend, Nepean held a commanding 3-0 lead at half time but fell victim to a spirited comeback from the Condors in the second half. Nevertheless, Nepean held strong and put the game away with a fourth goal.
Blazevic, Bingham, Enwiya and Kerr found the back of the net for the visitors who now move equal on points with their opposition this weekend.
Bankstown United FC vs. Hurstville FC: 1-1.
Bankstown United continued their unbeaten maiden flight in the State League Men’s with a deserved point against Hurstville FC thanks to a goal by Luke Jones, but the home side will feel they could have come away with more this weekend.
Bankstown coach Petar Finka believed his side had their chances to finish off the game before half time, but admits “Hurstville played well on the counter attack.”
Finka gave special mention to goalkeeper Adam Biernat, who was Bankstown’s hero in the second half after saving a penalty.
Hurstville also remain undefeated this season, but will feel like they have lost two points from this fixture rather than gaining one. They now slip two points behind Wagga City atop the table
-by Daniel Palmer, Football NSW State League Men’s Reporter
