Blacktown City crowned 2016 PS4 NPL NSW Men’s Champions
Blacktown City FC are PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Champions with star winger Danny Choi guiding the Seven Hills based side to a 3-0 victory against Sydney United 58 FC at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
The electrifying midfielder has developed a knack for moments of brilliance and he delivered once again with a man of the match performance in the season decider to end United 58’s hopes of winning a historic treble of Premiership, Championship and Waratah Cup.
Two quality goals, including a 30-yard wonder strike, were just some of Choi’s highlights while super-sub Patrick Antelmi also found the net with a strong solo effort.
While the scoreline suggests ferocious attack from Blacktown, it was their dogged defence which won the match for the team that calls Lilly’s Football Stadium home.
Sydney United 58 played relentless football and were at City’s necks for the majority of the first half with some fine football but were unlocked by a moment of Choi brilliance.
Surviving wave after wave in the first half, Blacktown held strong before punishing United 58 on the counter.
It was a courageous performance from Mark Crittenden’s team and one the Blacktown faithful won’t forget anytime soon.
It was a cagey start to the match with neither side willing to give an inch.
Play was physical and tackles were robust to say the least.
Sydney United 58 were gifted the first real chance of the game in the 6th minute with a free kick 30 yards out from goal on the western sideline.
Nikas’ curled delivery was headed toward goal by Chris Payne but Blacktown shot stopper Nenad Vekic was in position to make the save.
The Reds had the bulk of possession after the free kick and unleashed an aerial assault into the Blacktown penalty area.
Vekic was required to pull out save after save during a run of concerted pressure as the Mark Rudan coached Reds pushed hard to break the deadlock.
City captain Zach Cairncross was felled in an early challenge and battled with a back injury for much of the first half.
Despite playing on for 20 minutes, the Blacktown captain succumbed to his injury after 25 minutes forcing an early substitution with Shayne D’Cunha taking to the field.
United 58 went centimetres away from scoring the first of the game in the 26th minute.
A powerful header from Jacob Tratt was cleared off the line by Matt Lewis after it sailed underneath a diving Vekic – the calls of the ball crossing the line were heard across Leichhardt Oval however the game played on.
Seconds later Sydney United 58 captain Robbie Mileski missed a gilt-edged chance when he headed over the bar from only five yards out.
Blacktown City were on the back foot but were holding strong as frustration began to creep into the play of United 58.
City had slowly fought their way back into the match with electric winger Mitch Mallia the primary outlet for Crittenden’s side.
With five minutes remaining in the half, Danny Choi unleashed the spectacular.
Taking possession on the right hand side of the penalty area, 30 yards from goal, Choi smashed a perfectly hit shot which bobbled and curled past a diving Thomas Manos to give Blacktown a 1-0 lead.
The match was waiting for a moment of brilliance and Choi delivered in spades.
A shell-shocked United 58 nearly conceded a second goal moments later but regrouped to close down Blacktown in the nick of time.
It would be the final play of the half with Blacktown taking their one goal advantage into the break.
Despite all their early pressure, Sydney United 58 were left to rue a half of wasted opportunities.
As expected it was one-way traffic to begin the second stanza with United 58 pushing forward for an equaliser.
Yutaro Shin went close for the Reds after 50 minutes but put his shot from close range over the crossbar.
United 58 struggled to break down the resilient City defence with striker Chris Payne and Nikas unable to find the space they needed to operate.
With so many players pushed forward, United 58 was open to the counter attack and thats exactly what Crittenden had his Blacktown side do.
It was a plan that paid off in the 72nd minute.
Substitute Patrick Antelmi broke free on the eastern side on the field with only one defender to beat. The Blacktown striker raced 40 metres, held off his marker and then fired past the keeper to make it 2-0.
A deflated United 58 refused to give up and introduced attacker Nikola Taneski to the mix.
Rudan’s men pushed and pushed but again the Blacktown defence remained resolute.
With four minutes left on the clock Choi struck again.
Racing through two defenders, the winger broke free and fired home from the top of the penalty area to make it 3-0 and end any chance of a late United 58 comeback.
The Reds pushed for goal late on but it just wasn’t to be their day.
Blacktown City’s fans erupted in jubilation at the sound of the final whistle wrapping up an incredible championship win.
You couldn’t wipe the smile of Crittenden’s face after the match.
“It has been an incredible season and the boys deserve every bit of it,” he said.
“Today wasn’t our most polished performance but we worked hard for 90 minutes and that is all I ask of the players.
“Sydney United 58 pushed us all the way, but I had confidence in our ability to get the result.”
A sombre Rudan looked to the positives despite the defeat.
“Although we set out all along to win the Grand Final, this result doesn’t take away from our season,” Rudan said.
“It was only our fourth loss of the season and on the day Blacktown City were able to get the job done.
“I felt we dominated the first half and were unlucky to go into the break conceding from only Choi’s wonder strike.
“We set out to do the same things we did in the first half but we just couldn’t find the break through."
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC: 3 (Choi 40’ 86, Antelmi 72’)
Sydney United 58 FC: 0
Sunday, September 11 2016
Leichhardt Oval, Leichhardt.
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referees: D. Horstead & L. Pigram
Fourth Official: C. Young
Blacktown City FC: 1. Nenad VEKIC, 3. Giorgio SPERANZA, 4. Roberto SPERANZA, 6. Matthew LEWIS, 7. Travis MAJOR, 8. Sasa MACURA, 9. Joey GIBBS (16. Patrick ANTELMI 60’), 10. Connor EVANS, 11. Danny CHOI, 14. Mitchell MALLIA (21. Riku SASAKI 83’), 19. Zachary CAIRNCROSS (15. Shayne D’CUNHA 26’)
Substitutes: 12. Jonathan GROZDANOVSKI,, 20. Tristan PRENDERGRAST,
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards: N/A
Sydney United 58 FC: 21. Thomas MANOS, 3, Mosato, MOCHIZUKI (11. Nikola Taneski 80’), 6. Christopher PAYNE, 7. Yutaro SHIN (19. Matthew BILIC 53’), 8. Peter TRIANTIS, 10. Robert MILESKI, 18. Glen TRIFIRO, 20. Tomislav USKOK, 22. Yanni FRAGOGIANNIS, 23. Panny NIKAS, 24. Jacob TRATT
Substitutes: 2. Kristopher VLISMAS, 17. Theo KOFINAS, 30. Luke BABIC.
Yellow Cards: Uskok 17’ Triantis 83’
Red Cards: N/A
