Blacktown City book Grand Final ticket
A Danny Choi penalty in the 89th minute has booked Blacktown City a ticket to the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s Grand Final with a 3-2 win against Sydney United 58 – it was the club’s third final in three years.
Choi fired home in the dying stages to wrap up an incredible fight back from the visitors despite being down 2-1 at half time.
Sydney United 58 must now beat an in form Bonnyrigg White Eagles to confirm their place in the decider on September 11.
Blacktown City struck after only three minutes through Connor Evans but Nick Stavroulakis and Chris Payne ensured the home side had a half time lead.
However, Blacktown is renowned for their fighting spirit and respond with aplomb in the second stanza as Patrick Antelmi and then Choi fired home to lock down a Grand Final Berth.
From the opening whistle Blacktown City went on the offensive.
Three minutes in they were on top.
Connor Evans pounced on a pass from Patrick Antelmi and blasted past the outstretched arms of United 58 shot stopper Thomas Manos to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Blacktown’s ferocious attack caught the home side off guard as Mark Crittenden’s side looked to make its mark early.
It took 15 minutes of the first half to expire before the Reds managed to fight their way back into the match.
Yutaro Shin though he had levelled for United 58 in the 17th minute when he fired into the back of the net from inside the 18-yard box. However, the assistant referee raised his flag for offside.
Mark Rudan’s Sydney United 58 had awoken and they had a point to prove.
In the 33rd minute Chris Payne sent the home fans into raptures when he out jumped his marker to head home from point blank range.
But the celebrations ended as soon as they started with the offside flag once again denying the home side.
The disappointment spurred Sydney United on and they were able to finally break through but through an unlikely source.
Sitting on the edge of the 18-yard box, Nick Stavroulakis latched onto the ball and hammered into the back of the net after a failed Blacktown City Clearance.
It was a huge goal for Stavroulakis who, although not noted for his scoring, battled hard and got his just reward with a rare goal.
Moments later it was 2-1 for the home side.
Panni Nikas was awarded a penalty after he suffered a kick to the head by Zach Cairncross in the 45th minute. Chris Payne obliged by hammering his spot kick into the back of the net.
It was the perfect end to the half for Rudan’s men but the Reds knew the match was far from from over.
As expected it was one-way traffic at the start of the second half with Sydney United 58 pushing hard to wrap up the result.
Nenad Vekic was in inspired form for Blacktown making save after save to keep the visitors in the match.
It was all Blacktown needed and in the 70th minute Patrick Antelmi levelled the scores with a long range drive from 25 yards out.
The game became an end to end battle after Antlemi’s goal with each team trading chances.
Roberto Speranza made a miraculous goal line stop to prevent Shin from giving the home side the lead in the 80th minute.
The game took a twist in the dying stages when Masato Mochizuki took down Blacktown’s Riku Sasaki in the penalty area with only one minute left in regulation.
Referee Chris Young was quick to award a penalty to the visitors and Danny Choi stepped up with the match riding on his spot kick.
United 58 keeper Manos dived and saved the City wingers shot but could only parry it into the path of Choi who kept his composure to volley in the rebound.
Choi was kept quiet for most of the match but had his chances although youngster Kristopher Vlismas did hold his own marshalling the South Korean star.
Sydney United 58 battled for a late equaliser and threw everyone forward.
A long ball into the box with only second left in added time was United 58’s last true chance of the game. Defender Jacob Tratt broke free from his marker but his header sailed inches wide.
The final whistle was music to Blacktown’s ear’s with Mark Crittenden’s side Grand Final bound.
Blacktown City defender Matt Lewis said he was overjoyed to win such a hard fought match.
“Oh we are all over the moon,” he said.
It was a great game and to fight back like we did is a testament to all the boys.
“Down 2-1 at half time Critto (coach Mark Crittenden) said just keep focused and take our chances.
"It was end to action but we were able to get it done. It’s a great feeling.”
Sydney United 58 midfielder Panni Nikas said it was a difficult result to stomach.
“We played very well today and paid the price for a few moments of ill-discipline,” he said.
“Despite going down early in the match we never panicked and earned our half time lead.
“To concede late like we did was heartbreaking but we have another chance next week and we are confident we can return to our winning ways against Bonnyrigg.”
It sets up a huge match next weekend as Sydney United 58 will take on the Bonnyrigg White Eagles while City have the pleasure of a week off before the big clash at Leichhardt Oval on the 11th of September.
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 2 (Stavroulakis 43’ Payne 44’)
Blacktown City 3 (Evans 3’ Antelmi 72’ Choi 89’)
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Sunday, August 28 2016
Referee: Chris Young
Assistant referees: L Greenshields & R Osbourne
Fourth official: B Abraham
Sydney United 58: 21. Thomas MANOS, 2. Kristopher VLISMAS, 3. Masato MOCHIZUKI, 6. Christopher PAYNE, 7. Yutaro SHIN (11. Nikola TANESKI 78’), 10. Robert MILESKI, 14. Nicholas STAVROULAKIS, 18. Glen TRIFIRO, 20. Tomislav USKOK, 23. Panni NIKAS 24. Jacob TRATT
Substitutes: 4. Eddy BOSNAR, 19. Matthew BILIC, 29. Daniel DIAZ, 30. Luke BABIC
Yellow Cards: Stavroulakis 60’ Uskok 64’, Mileski 73’
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City: 1. Nenad VEKIC, 3. Giorgio SPERANZA (21. Riku SASAKI ), 4. Roberto SPERANZA, 6. Matthew LEWIS, 7. Travis MAJOR, 8. Sasa MACURA, 9, Joey GIBBS, 10 Connor EVANS (17. Lewis BEUMIE 78’), 11. Danny CHOI, 16. Patrick ANTELMI, 19. Zach Cairncross (15. Shane D’Cunha 63’)
Substitutes: 20. Tristan PRENDERGRAST, 12. Jonathon GROZDANOVSKI
Yellow Cards: Vekic 90’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Nenad Vekic
2- Nick Stavroulakis
1- Connor Evans
