Manly United snatch three points at Rockdale
A last gasp Brendan Cholakian goal has helped Manly United snatch a 2-1 win in its PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s clash with Rockdale City Suns at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
It was yet another heartbreaking result for the home side with Cholakian’s long range strike against the run of play condemning Paul Reid’s side to defeat despite dominating for most of the match.
An early goal to Dylan Macallister after nine minutes set the tone for the opening exchanges before Richie Cardozo’s 39th minute strike tied the scores at 1-1 at the break.
A much more open second half had both sides sharing chances but it was Manly’s clinical finishing which ensured the visitors collected all three points.
It was a horror start to the match for Manly’s star recruit Shane Cansdell-Sherriff in his debut for the club.
The former Leeds United player struggled to control a pass back in the centre of defence and lost possession to Dylan Macallister who then powered his shot past a hapless Dylan Mitchell and into the back of the net.
It was the fast start Rockdale desperately needed after their frustrating midweek 1-1 draw against Hakoah Sydney City East.
Peter Makrillos had a great opportunity to open the scoring in the 21st minute when he found space on the edge of the penalty area. The former Stoke City product shaped his shot but could only blast high over the crossbar.
Manly slowly began to fight their way back into the match with the speed of Paul Dee’s side a constant threat to the Rockdale Defence.
It was from a fast break that the visitors created one of their best chances of the first half when Adam Parkhouse was taken down on the edge of the penalty area.
Manly captain Brendan CHolakian stepped over the dead ball in the 34th minute and delivered a powerfully hit effort which swerved and dipped forcing an exquisite save from Suns’ shot stopper David Bradasevic.
However, Manly would not be kept scoreless for long.
A whipped cross into the box was flicked onto the crossbar by Sam Gallagher with Richie Cardozo able to tap in at the far post levelling the scores at 1-1.
Despite dominating for most of the first half, Rockdale went close to conceding right on the cusp of the break.
Manly were awarded a penalty kick in the 43rd minute when Bradasevic was ruled to have taken out Manly winger Parkhouse just inside the box. The Rockdale keeper made up for his earlier mistake with an incredible diving save to deny Cholakian from the spot and ensure both teams went into half time at level pegging.
Both teams were given license to push forward at the start of the second half trading chances and the action went end to end.
Toufic Alameddine had the first chance of the second stanza but the rockdale winger’s powerful shot was saved by Dylan Mitchell in the Manly goal.
Some fast thinking goal keeping from Bradasevic denied a manly chance in the 55th minute when he rushed out 35 metres to clear a manly long ball over the top as Pandurevic broke free of his marker.
Hristijan Tanoski had a great chance for Rockdale in the 70th minute but his free kick on the edge of the box sailed marginally wide.
Rockdale were driven to secure all three points and lifted their intensity in the final 15 minutes.
Rockdale defender Nicholas Petrillo jumped high to head at goal from a corner kick in the 77th minute but it went wide.
Aleks Canak missed a gilt-edged chance with three minutes left on the clock after he skied a pinpoint cross from Toufic Alameddine.
It would prove to be a costly miss for the home side with Manly racing down the other end of the pitch and scoring thanks to a long range bomb from Brendan Cholakian.
Cholakian’s whole team celebration provided an unlikely chance for Rockdale to equalise immediately with referee Kris Griffiths Jones restarting play while Manly was on the sideline patting each other on the back.
However, the home side failed to capitalise from the clear run on goal.
Macallister had one last shot on goal for Rockdale but it wasn’t to be for the home side as his shot was blocked.
Manly captain Brendan Cholakian was overjoyed after his sides snatch and grab victory.
“We were playing good football in the second half and with third spot on the line we knew how important it was to win this match.
“To score the winner was an incredible feeling. after missing a penalty earlier in the match i felt i owed it to my teammates and I’m happy to have been able to have helped the team win such a big game.”
Rockdale’s Paul Reid rued another case of what could’ve been for his side.
“It’s tough to lose a game this way but that’s just football,” he said.
“We played well tonight and just lacked the finishing in front of goal we needed.
“From here we just need to pick ourselves up and focus on finishing the season well.”
Match Stats
Rockdale City Suns 1 (Macallister 9’)
Manly United 2 (Cardozo 39’, Cholakian 84’)
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referees: J Tesoriero & R Osborne
Fourth Official: M Wright
ROCKDALE CITY SUNS: 1. BRADASEVIC David, 2. PETKOVSKI Daniel, 4. MCCLENAHAN Trent, 5. REID Paul, 6. Blake RICCIUTO, 9. MACALLISTER Dylan, 10. Peter MAKRILLOS (12. Idriss EL HAFIANE) 11. TANOSKI Hristijan (Aleks CANAK), 15. PETRILLO Nicholas, 17. ALAMEDDINE Toufic, 19. Patrick SAVOR
Substitutes not used: 22. Andrew BAZI, 20. Stefan DUBOCANIN, 16. Isaac SAVOR.
Yellow Cards: Reid 9’, Bradasevic 42’, Petrillo 49’
Red Cards:
Manly United FC: 1. Dylan MITCHELL, 2. Kieren PAULL 3. Jamie LOBB, 4. Travis OUGHTRED, 6. Sam GALLAGHER, 9. RIchie CARDOZO, 10. Brendan CHOLAKIAN, 11. Adam, PARKHOUSE (7. Travis COOPER), 14. Dejan PANDUREVIC, 17. Shane SHERRIFF (5. Rhys WILLIAMS), 21. Joseph FOX.
Substitutes not used: 20. Shaun CATLIN,, 13. Scott Balderson, 18. Daniel BRAGG
Yellow Cards: Cholakian 83’
Red Cards:
