Tigers roar over hapless White Eagles
The APIA Leichhardt Tigers continued their flawless start to the season in the first leg of the Robbie Younis Annual Challenge Cup, defeating the Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4-0 in their Round 4 fixture of the PlayStation®4 National Premier League NSW Mens.
Celebrating the most prolific goal scorer in the history of the competition, and a former player of both clubs, APIA Leichhardt earned the honour of being the first to etch their name in the trophy with an emphatic victory at Lambert Park on Sunday night.
First-half goals from Themba Muata-Marlow (31’) and Sean Symons (45’) got the home side off to a strong start, before new signing Joshua Symons (51’) joined his brother on the score sheet with a classy second-half effort. Japanese playmaker Tasuku Sekiya (66’) put the cherry on top of a decisive win.
The Tigers dominated from start to finish as the White Eagles struggled to maintain possession through the midfield, and rued missed opportunities in front of goal. Bonnyrigg’s Hassan Jalloh had his side’s best chance of the match with a one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the opening minutes but unfortunately sent his shot wide left.
Sean Symons was unlucky not to open the scoring in the 21st minute when a cross sat up nicely for him floating across the face of goal. It took a superb leaping save from Bonnyrigg ‘keeper Stevan Savicic to keep out the header.
Muata-Marlow was the man to get the Tigers off the mark, heading in a goal off a corner in the 31st minute. Then just before the half Sean Symons extended the lead side-footing off a delightful Corey Biczo cross.
The second half saw much of the same as APIA Leichhardt continued to test the White Eagles defence with chances for the visitors appearing rare.
The other Symons brother Joshua signalled his return to Leichhardt after a long stint away with a scrambling goal from close range in the 51stminute and Tasuku Sekiya typified the victory with a tenacious run in the box rewarded with a goal after Savicic couldn’t hold onto the loose ball.
“I think we put a lot of effort in, and it was just silly mistakes really,” White Eagles coach Brian Brown said after the disappointing loss.
“When you’re 2-0 down against a good team like APIA it’s a long road back.”
Despite injuries hurting his team, Brown remains upbeat that a win is not far away.
“We’ve just got to keep working hard, stay together, be a team. It’s a good opportunity for the young ones to learn,” he said.
Sean Symons was beaming after his impressive showing at Lambert Park, but wasn’t yet comfortable with proclaiming the Tigers as the team to beat for the silverware this season.
“Not going to say we’re going to win it, but we’re confident if we keep playing well, we can keep going and progress,” he said.
“It was a great game. We knew Bonnyrigg would put up a good fight, so we came prepared. We worked hard to get the points. We’re feeling really good, everyone’s getting along really well, feeling fit, so it’s looking good this year.”
Match Stats
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 4 (Muata-Marlow 31’, S. Symons 45’, J. Symons 51’, Sekiya (66’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
Sunday April 2, 2017
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: B. Abraham
Assistant Referees: J. Adabjou & J. Bell
Fourth Official: C. Hughes
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers: 22. Luke Turnbull (GK), 18. Adrian Ucchino (7. Sean O’Connell), 8. Corey Biczo, 13. David Dapuzzo (C), 19. Brandon Lundy, 2. Nathan Millgate, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 11. Jordan Murray, 20. Tasuku Sekiya, 4. Joshua Symons, 16. Sean Symons
Substitutes Not Used: 10. Franco Parisi, 1. Blake Tuxford (GK), 5. Bradley Bartels, 9. Matthew West, 12. Dominic Cox, 17. Adrian Vlastelica, 6. Shervin Adeli, 3. Paul Galimi, 21. Cameron Stephan, 23. Mathew Cook
Yellow Cards: Adrian Ucchino (52′), David D’Apuzzo (80’), Joshua Symons (85’)
Red Cards: Nil
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 8. Troy Danaskos (27. Luke Ivanovic), 16. Samuel Gallaway, 12. Mun-Soo Gil, 21. Hassan Jalloh, 7. Gregory Kondek, 10. Martin Lo, 6. Zachary Mackenzie, 14. Taylor McDonald, 15. Raymond Miller, 20. Stevan Savicic (GK), 3. David Vrankovic
Substitutes Not Used: 13. James Mckenzie, 19. Thomas Shaw, 72. Jordan Geddes, 28. Nikola Krljar
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3- Sean Symons (ALT)
2 – Tasuku Sekiya (ALT)
1 – Joshua Symons (ALT)
-By Mel Hamilton
