Courageous Blacktown City defeat Manly

A spirited 10-man Blacktown City has overcame Manly United 2-1 in an thrilling PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash at Lily’s Football Centre on Sunday.

Second half goals to Danny Choi and Travis Major allowed the home side to fight back after Sam Gallagher provided Manly with a one goal advantage after 90 seconds of the opening whistle.

The fight back was all the more impressive considering the send off of fullback Giorgio Speranza who was dismissed by referee Kate Jaciewicz after receiving a second yellow card in the 42nd minute.

Both sides entered the match in good form; Blacktown City last week claimed a 1-0 win at APIA Leichhardt Tigers, while Manly United stole a last-gasp 1-1 draw at home to league leaders Sydney United 58.

Manly arrived at Blacktown with new signing Richie Cardozo who returned to the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition after playing in Armenia and Malta.

Cardozo’s inclusion in the starting eleven gave the Blacktown City defence plenty to think about. The skillful number nine’s enterprising play had an early impact on the match.

In the first minute, a Cardozo corner was punched over the bar by Blacktown keeper Nenad Vekic, but a minute later Sam Gallagher took advantage of a dangerous Cardozo corner to head home from six yards out to make it 1-0.

Cardozo then struck a free kick over the bar, demonstrating his dangerous left foot; while, moments later teammate Pandurevic followed, shooting over the top by inches.

Adam Parkhouse was another major thorn in Blacktown’s side, causing problems down the left flank and whipping in a series of dangerous crosses.

After weathering the early onslaught, Blacktown eventually settled down and gained some parity. Danny Choi crossed in the 17th minute, only to see his good work headed straight at Manly keeper Dylan Mitchell. Sasa Macura then had a crack, but again Mitchell was up to the task.

Blacktown City slowly began to gain some momentum, stringing together some nice passes and putting the Manly side under pressure.

From a foray into the Manly back third, Choi was brought down by Keiren Paull in a challenge reminiscent of a classic ‘rugby’ tackle on the edge of the box. The referee awarded a free kick but surprisingly, no card was given. Choi’s low free kick beat the wall but Mitchell again saved the day.

In the 28th minute, Blacktown’s Patrick Antelmi latched onto a Mitchel Malia cross and struck the ball past Mitchell. But Blacktown’s celebrations were short-lived as referee Kate Jacewicz disallowed the goal for offside.

Three minutes later, Adam Parkhouse made a telling run down the left flank but his cross was well saved by Vekic. Then in the 35th minute, Blacktown’s Travis Major took an inch perfect pass and let loose with a fine shot from inside the box from an acute angle, beating the keeper but missing the target by inches.

Three minutes later, Manly’s Sam Gallagher unleashed a rasping long-range shot, only to be denied brilliantly by Vekic.

Then a huge changing point in the match struck in the 42nd minute when Blacktown fullback Giorgio Speranza was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

The sides went to the sheds with Manly leading a 10-man Blacktown City 1-0.

Both coaches spoke about the dismissal at halftime and when the teams came out for the second half it was Manly who started on the front foot.

In the 46th minute a thunderous Manly shot hit Blacktown’s Zachary Cairncross smack bang in the face and as he hit the deck, the vistors took advantage and scored. But sanity prevailed and referee Jacewicz blew the whistle and stopped play while Cairncross received treatment.

With the advantage of an extra man, Manly found plenty of space on both flanks. In the 50th minute Cardozo had a crack from from a corner, only to see Vekic punch clear.

But despite being a man down, Blacktown showed plenty of bravery and composure under duress, especially Danny Choi, whose energy and skill was at times mesmerizing.

In the 55th minute, Choi showed his brilliance down the left flank, crossing perfectly for Travis Major. Major’s initial effort was blocked by Mitchell, but the Blacktown number seven tapped home the rebound to equalise.

In the 58th minute, Manly’s Dejan Pandurevic had an opportunity from a free kick just outside the box. Unfortunately for the visitors, he struck his effort straight at the keeper.

Danny “Energiser Bunny” Choi continued to cause problems in the middle of the park, his energy proving to be a constant threat to Manly. 

Just on the hour mark, Choi sent in a tantalising corner for Antelmi, whose header was saved brilliantly by Mitchell.

Then in the 73rd minute, referee Jacewicz awarded Blacktown a penalty. Choi stepped up and slotted home to give his side an unlikely, yet deserved, 2-1 lead. 

Manly came back hard and in the 78th minute Jamie Lobb let loose with a long-range effort that just blazed wide.

Then in the 84th minute, Aidan Hancock turned brilliantly inside the box, only to see his effort well saved by Vekic.

On the stroke of fulltime Choi again tormented the Manly defence, passed to Riku Sasaki who released to Travis Major, who blasted a shot at Mitchell, who blocked what should have given the home side a 3-1 lead.

Manly almost snatched a late equaliser but an injury time appeal for a penalty was waved away by the referee.

Blacktown City held on to secure a courageous 2-1 victory.

Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden was pleased with his side’s effort.

“That game was tough, very tough,” he said.

“To go down to 10 men and come from 1-0 behind was always going to be tough.

“They’re a very well organised football side and we thought at halftime if we could score first we had a chance.

“It didn’t matter if we were going to be beat 3-0 or 4-0, we were going to have a crack. We did that and we got the points.”

Meanwhile, Manly coach Paul Dee was pleased with his side’s first half effort but wasn’t surprised by Blacktown’s fightback. 

“They’re a good side and they showed that by coming back from a goal down with only 10 men,” he said.

“It was a tale of two halves.

“I was impressed by our first half effort, but we let the second half get away.”

Match Stats

Blacktown City 2 (Travis Major 55’, Danny Choi 73’)

Manly United 1 (Sam Gallagher 2’)

Sunday, 22 May, 2016

Lily’s Football Centre

Referee: Kate Jacewicz

Assistant Referees: Sarah Ho, Joanna Charaktis

Fourth Official: Kelly Jones

Blacktown City: 1. VEKIC Nenad; 3. SPERANZA Giorgio, 4. SPERANZA Roberto, 6. LEWIS Matthew (C), 7. MAJOR Travis, 8. MACURA, Sasa (21. SASAKI Riku), 10. EVANS Conor, 11. CHOI Danny Seung-Joo, 14.  MALIA Mitchell (17. BEUMIE Lewis), 16. ANTELMI Patrick (9. GIBBS Joey), 19. CAIRNCROSS, Zachary

Subs:, 12. GROZDANOVSKI Jonathan, , 20. PRENDERGAST Tristan,

Yellow Cards: 19. CAIRNCROSS, Zachary 29’, 3. SPERANZA, Giorgio 4’, 42’

Red Card: SPERANZA, Giorgio 42’

Coach: Mark Crittenden

Manly United: 1. MITCHELL, Dylan, 2. PAULL, Kieren, 3. LOBB, Jamie, 4. OUGHTRED, Travis, 5. WILLIAMS, Rhys (16. ADELI, Shervin), 6. GALLAGHER, Sam, 8. FERGUSON, Dominic (18. BRAGG, Daniel), 9. CARDOZO, Richard (24. HANCOCK, Aidan), 10.CHOLAKIAN, Brendan, 11. PARKHOUSE, Adam, 14. PANDUREVIC, Dejan

Subs: 22. GIVERIN, Luke, , CARTER, Will, BALNEAVES, T

Coach: Paul Dee

Player Ratings

3 – Adam Parkhouse (Manly United)

2 – Nenad Vekic (Blacktown City)

1 – Danny Choi (Blacktown City)

-By PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Derek Royal.