APIA snatch points off United 58
In an exciting end-to-end PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s clash at Edensor Park, Sydney United 58 and APIA Leichhardt Tigers shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw on Sunday.
APIA’s Nick Olsen proved to be a thorn in United’s side with a Man of the Match performance for the visitors, while Panni Nikas again showed his class for the home team.
A Nikas free kick opened the scoring for United 58 early in the second half before Olsen struck back moments later.
Chris Payne gave the home side the lead with 30 minutes left to play but Olsen once again played the role of party pooper to perfection scoring his second in the 83rd minute to ensure his team went home with a point.
It wasn’t a great performance from Sydney United 58 as they dropped the chance to clinch the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s Premiership with three weeks to play as rivals and Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 opponents Blacktown City have kept their hopes alive in possible snatching it off the Reds.
United had a golden opportunity to open the scoring inside the first minute when a pinpoint Nikas free kick was headed just wide by sharpshooter Chris Payne.
Despite the early opportunity, it was APIA who dominated the first half, creating enough chances to win three matches let alone one.
But try as they did, Danial Cummins’ side just couldn’t find the back of the net. United meanwhile seemed to be in a state of perpetual hibernation, possibly playing their most uninspiring football of the season.
For APIA the ever-dangerous Nick Olsen found Tasuku Sekiya in front of goal, but the linesman raised his flag for offside. Olsen was at it again in the 19th minute, but Corey Biczo blasted his shot over the bar. APIA strung together some accurate passes and created several opportunities. Biczo was upended just outside the box, while Elasi eventually headed wide.
In the 23rd minute Chris Payne again went close, this time heading a cross onto the bar.
But such was APIA’s dominance that for every opportunity created by United, the visitors created three.
Sekiya set up Zane Sole only to see his shot fly over the bar. The visitors at times opened the United defence at will, a scenario that would have caused coach Mark Rudan a serious case of indigestion. But despite their dominance, the visitors failed to capitalise and were unable to find the back of the net. Elasi missed a sitter in the 38th minute while another chance went begging just as referee Ben Abraham blew for halftime.
“Come on United! Wake up!” shouted someone in the crowd.
His urging seemed to work as United started the first half with the intensity they lacked in the opening 45 minutes.
And as always it was that man Nikas who came to his side’s rescue. First of all, he unleashed a rocket that went just wide and in the 55th minute he finally broke the deadlock with a brilliant free kick that left APIA keeper Ryan Norval grasping at thin air.
But despite the setback, APIA refused to back down, with Nick Olsen being causing all sorts of dramas in the United defence. First of all he wriggled his way past two defenders only to shoot straight at the keeper. But just past the hour mark, he drove home the equaliser after a brilliant run down the right flank by Corey Biczo.
United hit straight back, with Tratt missing a golden opportunity to give his side a lead. But a few minutes later Chris Payne did what he does best and in a one-on-one with Norval, slipped the ball home to give United a 2-1 lead.
In the 73rd minute APIA’s Sekiya hit a volley just wide and 10 minutes later it was that man Olsen who again came to his side’s rescue, slotting home the equalizer from close range.
Just a minute shy of fulltime, Nikas went agonizingly close to scoring the winner with yet another brilliant free kick. The ball beat Norval but sailed wide of the near post. APIA had a golden opportunity themselves but United 58 keeper Thomas Manos came to the rescue, diving at the feet of the APIA attacker, before parrying a rocket from Olsen. In the end, a draw was probably a reasonable outcome.
“We didn’t lose and that’s a bonus,” said Sydney United 58 coach Mark Rudan.
“Individually APIA’s a fantastic side and they’re fighting for survival. The club is in relegation mode and it was important that we matched their aggression, intensity and desire because you could see from the outset that they were hungry to pick up all three points.
“I wasn’t entirely happy with the first half but (in the second half) we took the lead on two occasions but we weren’t good enough to hold on.”
Meanwhile, APIA coach Danial Cummins rued an opportunity missed but was still proud of his team’s efforts.
“Definitely an opportunity missed,” Cummins said.
“They’re on top of the table for a reason, they’re a very good side. I’m very proud of my boys, we showed a lot of character and probably showed that we’re capable but just not consistent enough.
“The first half I thought our structure was quite good. But throughout the game we didn’t go wide quick enough. But when we did get wide and got the crosses in, we created opportunities.
“There was a lot on the line for us reputation-wise tonight and we needed to back up that (great) first half and put in a good shift in the second half. I feel like we did that.”
Wednesday will see the home side tackle Blacktown City FC in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 at Lily Homes Stadium with kick off set for 7:30pm – a match not to be missed by anyone.
Match Stats
Sydney United 58: 2 (Nikas 55’, Payne 66’)
APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 2 (Olsen 62’ 83’)
Sunday 24 July 2016
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: B Abraham
Assistant Referees: N Wotton, R Osborne
Fourth Official: T Harris
SYDNEY UNITED 58: 21. Thomas MANOS (GK), 4. Eddy BOSNAR, 6. Chris PAYNE, 8. Peter TRIANTIS, 10. Robert MILESKI (7. Shin YUTARO), 14. Nick STAVROULAKIS, 18. Glen TRIFIRO, 19. Matthew BILIC (33. Nathan SHERLOCK), 20. Tomislav USKOK (17. Theo KOFINAS), 23. Panny NIKAS, 24. Jacob TRATT.
Unused Subs: 11. Nikola TANESKI, 40. Gabriel KOLIOMIHOS
Yellow Cards: 6. Chris PAYNE, 14. Nick STAVROULAKIS, 17. Theo KOFINAS, 23. Panny NIKAS,
Red Cards:
Coach: Mark RUDAN
APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS: 92. Ryan NORVAL (GK), 6. Luke AUSTIN, 8. COREY BICZO, 9. Nathan ELASI (11. Jordan MURRAY), 15. Themba MUATA-MARLOW, 16. Sean SYMONS, 18. Adrian UCCHINO (10. Franco PARISI), 19. Brandon LUNDY, 20. Tasuku SEKIYA, 22. Zane SOLE, 23. Nick OLSEN
Unused Subs: 4. Bradley BARTELS, 5. Brendan HOOPER, 50. Blake TUXFORD (GK)
Yellow Cards: 8. COREY BICZO, 19. Brandon LUNDY, 9. Nathan ELASI, 18. Adrian UCCHINO, 23. Nick OLSEN.
Coach: Danial Cummins
By Derek Royal, PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s reporter
