Parramatta FC no match for ruthless Suns
Rockdale City Suns have jumped to the top of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition ladder after a comprehensive 4-1 win against Parramatta FC at Ilinden Sports Centre.
The Suns dominated the rescheduled Round 3 clash from start to finish and never looked in doubt of coming away with anything but victory.
Rockdale’s trio of Alec Urosevski, Jordan Figon and Harris Gaitatzis continued their impressive goal scoring form with all three hitting the back of the net, including a brace for Urosevski, in the win.
Parramatta FC were a shadow of the side which nabbed a hard fought 2-2 draw with Blacktown City on Saturday night with key players Jordan Crighton, Tomislav Mijic and Daniel Rezo all missing from the team sheet.
Rockdale dominated the opening exchanges pushing forward in attack with Paul Reid pulling the strings from midfield.
It didn’t take long for the home side to break the deadlock. Alec Urosevski scored a delightful free kick with his inch perfect shot cannoning into the top left corner of the net in the ninth minute.
A heavy downpour slowed the pace of the match but it didn’t hold the home side back.
By the 25th minute Rockdale had doubled its lead with Jordan Figon running onto a slick through ball from midfield before poking the ball into the back of the net. It was the burly striker’s fifth of the season as he has already shown to the Suns faithful what a positive transfer he has been this far in the 2017 competition.
Parramatta were reeling and despite their best efforts were unable to fight their way back into the match during the first half.
A diving save from Parramatta ‘keeper Ryan Norval saved his side from conceding a third goal after Toufic Alamaddine fired across the penalty area on the cusp of half time.
Parramatta looked far better at the start of the second and pushed on in search of a goal.
Chances to brothers Marco and Gosue Sama were easily saved by Ante Covic but the visitors were showing some fight.
However, Rockdale soon killed off any momentum Parramatta were building with a breakaway goal from Urosevski. The pacy striker blasted past Norval after running onto a line piercing through ball.
The goal fired up the home support and Rockdale were once again in control of proceedings.
Harris Gaitatzis secured the win in the 73rd minute when he tapped in at the near post after a scramble in the box from a corner kick.
Parramatta claimed a consolation goal in the 87th minute thanks to Howard Fondyke. In other circumstances his 25 metre rocket would’ve been applauded but at 4-1 down the visitors were in no mood to celebrate.
Rockdale City Suns player coach Reid praised the efforts of his players for backing up from Saturday’s match to secure the side’s second win in four days. However, the former Sydney FC and Adelaide United player lamented not being able to maintain a clean sheet yet again.
“It was a great win in tough conditions,” he said. People expected us to win tonight and it was great to see the players handle the pressure and secure the result.
“Parramatta were missing a few players and weren’t up to their usual standard, but despite that took advantage of our opportunities and didn’t take it easy.
“It was disappointing to concede so late in the match because we were so focused on maintaining a clean sheet.”
Parramatta FC Coach Franco Consentino said inexperience got the better of his side against well drilled opposition.
“We were missing a number of our most experienced players tonight and it showed,” he said.
“The young boys who came in, you couldn’t fault their efforts but a lack of experience at this level got the better of us and led to errors and conceding goals.
“It wasn’t our best performance by any means but we will bounce back this weekend.”
Match Stats
Rockdale City Suns: 4 (Urosevski 9’ 60’ Figon 25’ Gaitatzis 73’)
Parramatta FC: 1 (Fondyke 88’)
Wednesday, April 19 2017
Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
Referee: Tim Danaskos
Assistant Referees: Alex Goodhew & Travis Griffith
Fourth Official: Anthony Mansour
Rockdale City Suns: 22. Ante Covic, 2. Daniel Petrovski, 4. Trent McClenahan, 5. Paul Reid, 7. Alec Urosevski (16. Isaac Savor 77’), 8. Alec Canak, 10. Harris Gaitatzis, 14. Brayden Sorge, 17. Toufic Alameddine (11. Jonathan Grozdanovski 70’), 23. Jordan Figon (6. Black Ricciuto 73’), 3. Steven Hesketh
Substitutes not used: 1. David Bradasevic, 19. Patrick Savor,
Yellow Cards:
Parramatta FC: 1. Ryan Norval, 3. Chris Carboni, 4. Howard Fondyke, 9. Gosue Sama (19. Samuel DeOlivera 82’), 10. Marco Sama, 12. Marcus Donatiello, 14. Luke Grima (13. Nicolo Sama 60’), 16. Keenan Gibson, 17. Josh Gersbach (5. Gino Cerasoli 80’), 18. Tom Mallett, 15. Ibrahim Haydar
Substitutes not used: 11. Leandro Guzman, 21. Christopher Moore
Yellow Cards: Donatiello 68’
Player Ratings
3 – Alec Urosevski (RCS)
2 – Jordan Figon (RCS)
1 – Paul Reid (RCS)
