Ruthless Sydney United 58 into Waratah Cup Final
Sydney United 58 scored a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Marconi in a one-sided Waratah Cup semi-final at Sydney United Sports Centre on Wednesday night and booked its ticket to defend the Cup for the second successive year.
On a cold Sydney night when some players chose to wear gloves to keep out the cold, the home side’s dominance clearly illustrated the difference between the two top divisions in the PlayStation 4 NPL NSW Men’s competitions.
But despite the comprehensive nature of the result, Marconi showed tremendous courage and character to emerge with the only goal in the second half.
Sydney United 58 dominated the early exchanges, with the brilliant Panni Nikas striking a free kick just over the bar, while Marconi keeper Kristian Sekutkoski was forced to save twice in less than a minute,
United’s dominance was rewarded in the sixth minute when the top tier competition’s top scorer Chris Payne calmly lobbed the keeper to open the scoring.
In the eighth minute, Marconi launched a swift counter attack and striker Sean Rooney had an opportunity to equalise, only to see his shot cleared off the line by a United defender.
In the 12th minute Nikas set up Yutaro Shin, who lost his footing inside the box and shot straight at Sekutkoski. It could so easily have been 2-0.
Nunes, Giannaros and Rooney showed some nice interplay in the 16th minute, with Nunes squaring a great ball across the six-yard box, only to see it cleared away.
Marconi had a good period of attack, with some nice interplay and a few corners causing the NPL top tier leaders’ defence plenty of concern.
But in the 24th minute, Sydney United 58’s Tomislav Uskok headed home his side’s second goal after a great cross from the right.
But despite being two goals in arrears, the Stallions refused to give up.
The nucleus of the side, Pavlovic, Rooney, Jesic, Nunes and Giannaros, kept the home side honest and created several opportunities.
Indeed, Pavlovic, a former Red himself, just missed the target by millimeters with a deft header from a corner just on the half hour mark.
Marconi played well in the front third and had a virtual monopoly on corners, but the Stallions just couldn’t find the back of the net.
Unlike their opposition, Sydney United 58 had no such problems in front of goal, with Payne heading home his second from a lovely Nikas free kick in the 36th minute.
Two minutes later, Nikas struck goal number four past the hapless Sekutkoski, and Payne grabbed his hat-trick in the 42nd minute after a perfect through ball from Shin.
Clinically precise, Sydney United 58’s ability to take their chances proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Just shy of the break, Rooney unleashed a screamer, only to see goalkeeper Thomas Manos pull off a brilliant save.
Sydney United 58 went to the sheds with a comprehensive 5-0 lead.
The home side made several changes at halftime, with normal skipper Robbie Mileski coming on for Payne; midfield warhorse Nick Stavroulakis replacing Eddie Bosnar, Stewart on for Shin and Vrilic replacing Nikas.
The second half started just as the first half half had ended, with the home side hot on the attack.
But this time they couldn’t breach the Stallions’ defence.
Eventually, the match slowed down from the manic pace of the opening half to a slower, more conservative tempo.
Marconi’s first string goalkeeper Chad Taylor replaced the hapless Sekutkovski and was immediately forced into action, saving bravely at the feet of a United attacker.
In fact, Marconi began to play with more calmness and composure, gaining their deserved reward in the 64th minute when Sam Perre smashed the ball into the net from close range, reducing the deficit to 5-1.
Stallions goalkeeper Taylor was called on to save his side again, pulling off a spectacular save in the 69th minute.
Pavlovic was thwarted by Manos in the 81st minute, the keeper bravely clearing in a one-on-one with the former A-League player.
In the end, Sydney United 58 were far too good for their NPL 2 opponents but Marconi showed courage and character in the second half and did well to score the only goal against a side that in the first half was white-hot and virtually unstoppable.
Sydney United 58 coach Mark Rudan was pleased with his side’s performance and proud that they’d made yet another Waratah Cup final.
“Our boys were up for the game and I think the difference between the two sides was we were more clinical in front of goal,” Rudan said.
“Marconi had their opportunities in the first half but couldn’t score. I also noticed their body language changed when we scored our second goal. But overall, we’re proud to be in another Waratah Cup final.
Meanwhile, Marconi coach Jeff Suzor was proud of his side, especially their second half performance.
“The boys showed tremendous courage and character in the second half,” Suzor said.
“We had our chances in the first half but we just couldn’t score. They (Sydney United 58) are the top club in the state and to do as well as we did against them in the second half was very satisfying. I’m proud of my boys.”
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 5 (Chris Payne 6’, 36’, 42; Tomislav Uskok 24’, Pani Nikas 38’)
Marconi Stallions 1 (Sam Perre 64’)
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Sarah Ho, Janush Ababjou
Fourth Official: Craig Fisher
SYDNEY UNITED 58: 21. Thomas MANOS, 2. Kristopher VLISMAS, 4. Eddy BOSNAR (14. Nicholas STAVROULAKIS), 5. Nathan BERTOLISIO, 6. Chris PAYNE (10. Robert MILESKI), 7. Yutaro SHIN (12. Jack STEWART), 11. Nikola TANESKI, 20. Tomislav USKOK (3. Masato MOCHIZUKI), 23 Panagiotis NIKAS (8. Ante VRILIC, 24. Jacob TRATT, 33. Nathan SHERLOCK
Coach: Mark Rudan
MARCONI STALLIONS: 21. Kristian SEKUTKOSKI (GK)(1. Chad TAYLOR), 6. Raimond COLETTA, 7. Mirjan PAVLOVIC, 8. Sean ROONEY, 10. Marko JESIC, 11. Sam PERRE, 12. Bright APPIAH, 14. Peter MARKOVIC, 22. Emmanuel GIANNAROS, 23. Christopher NUNES (C), 25. Philip MAKRYS
Subs: 17. Steven DREWERY, 16. Noah CHIANESE, 4. Simon VALASTRO, 18. Brandon VELLA
Coach: Jeff Suzor
-By Derek Royal
