Sharks break Hakoah hearts

A first half goal from Sutherland Sharks’ Tomohiro Kajiyama has all but ended Hakoah Sydney City East’s slim PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s competition finals hopes in a feisty 1-0 win at Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday.

Kajiyama’s 37th minute strike was all Sutherland needed as Carlos Villazon’s side continued their dramatic reversal of form.

The visitors had most of the early attack and several corners in the first few minutes led to the first chance of the game when James Andrews scuffed his shot wide.

Hakoah worked their way back into the contest with a free-kick from Lee Jones which was nodded over the bar by striker Kevin Lopes.

Paul Orgad had a pair of chances for the home side as he too took aim from outside the box with Nathan Denham too good in the Sharks net.

Tomohiro Kajiyama posed the biggest threat for the Sharks as the winger turned outside the box and shot wide.

Kajiyama once again went close in the 27th minute when he stung the palms of Hakoah Sydney City East ‘keeper Anthony Costa in a shot that rifled out for a corner.

Lopes was played through delightfully for the home side but screwed the chance just past the far post as Hakoah Sydney City East’s frustration grew.

Their frustration turned to anger in the 37th minute as Sharks striker Jack Press forced Costa into a save, but Kajiyama was on hand to volley home for a 1-nil lead.

Deklan Gilmartin was introduced to the match in the 25th minute for the home side and almost restored parity just before the break.

Gilmartin broke into the box but a deflection from the stoic Sharks defence helped it out for a corner.

The Sharks defence was robust throughout the contest and limited Hakoah Sydney City East to long range shots.

Adrian Vranic cut an isolated figure for a majority of the match but had a golden chance just after the resumption of play.

He stepped in to win the ball and had enough space for a shot but only cushioned it to Denham.

That was the story of the second half for the home side. They tried to unlock the stubborn Sutherland Sharks defence with diagonal balls but were repelled each time.

Sutherland sat deep but countered well when needed, using Press’ pace up top to keep Hakoah Sydney City East guessing.

Substitute Jordan Figon could have sealed the three points for the visitors just before the hour mark but his shot rolled gratefully into the hands of Costa.

Hakoah Sydney City East threw on extra attacks to try and snatch something from the game but it was one of those nights where the Sutherland defence wouldn’t be breached.

They went home happily with three points as Hakoah Sydney City East wondered what could have been.

Afterwards Sutherland coach Carlos Villazon was delighted with the Sharks display.

"I thought we controlled the game most of the time and stayed compact with our defence and three midfielders working very hard." He said.

"We talked before the game about stopping the long ball and I think that was Hakoah’s problem tonight."

Hakoah Sydney City East coach Mark Robertson cut a frustrated figure after such a scrappy encounter.

"It was a very disappointing game all round. Both teams were sloppy and lethargic but in general it was a disappointing game. I didn’t enjoy coaching it,” said Robertson. 

"As the clock started ticking down we started doing things we weren’t supposed to and it didn’t work."

Match Stats

Hakoah Sydney City East: 0

Sutherland Sharks: 1 (Kajiyama ’37)

Saturday, 16th July 2016

Hensley Athletic Field, Pagewood

Hakoah Sydney City East: 1. COSTA Anthony, 3. SHADDOCK Connor, 4. WALKER Bradley, 8. ORGAD Paul, 11. RAE Gavin, 14. JONES Lee(JABLONSKI ’55), 17. MUNDELL Jordan, 23. DE JONG Andre(GILMARTIN ’25), 31. LOPES Kevin, 33. VRANIC Adrian and 40. BLUMBERG Dylan(D’MELLO ’78)

Substitutes not used: 18. D’MELLO Aaron and 34. PAIKIN Brad

Yellow cards: Shaddock ’80, Vranic ’70, Walker ’74 and D’Mello ’80

Red Cards: Nil

Sutherland Sharks: 1. DENHAM Nathan, 3. MURAYAMA Takuya, 4. KAYES Stephen, 5. LITTLER Nicholas, 6. GORDON Matthew, 7. PRESS Jack, 8. MCSTAY Christopher, 10. DA SILVA Joshua(FIGON ’71), 15. MOUSTAKAS Perry, 17. ANDREW James(STERGIOU ’81) and 35. KAJIYAMA Tojohiro

Substitutes not used: 14. O’SHEA Patrick, 16. GOMEZ CASTRO Laureano and 21. LOE Nikolas

Yellow cards: McStay ’50 and Murayama ’69

Red Cards: Nil

-By PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s reporter Justin Davies