Sharks grab crucial victory over Parramatta FC
Grant Lee has notched his first PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s win as Sutherland Sharks coach with a dominant 3-1 victory over Parramatta FC at Seymour Shaw on Saturday night.
A double to Tomohiro Kajiyama and a sublime header from Jeremy Cox was enough for the Sharks.
While a late consolation goal from Parramatta’s Gio Cerasoli ruined the home side’s clean sheet, the result was enough to secure a second win in three games for Sutherland.
It was a scrappy opening as both teams tried to get a foot in the contest.
The home side would be the first to register a shot as Tomohiro Kajiyama fired an effort safely into the hands of Parramatta custodian Ryan Norval.
Sutherland continued to apply the pressure as the game passed the half hour mark. Norval once again called upon to make a double save from two stinging Sharks efforts.
An opening came right on the 30th minute for Sutherland. Jeremy Cox danced down the right wing before his shot cannoned off legs into the path of Kajiyama to finish and give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later it was 2-0 for Sutherlands as they moved a step closer to a maiden home win. A pin-point cross fell right to the head of Cox who nodded home from close range.
The Sharks had the chance to pile on more misery for rock bottom Parramatta FC in the opening stages of the second stanza.
Tomohiro Kajiyama was brought down in the box to give Sutherland a deserved penalty. The striker dusted himself off to take the spot kick but was denied by a left sided save from Norval.
Parramatta FC started to press higher as they searched for a route back into the contest. First Marco Donatiello tried to test Sharks keeper Nikolas Loe, then Marco Sama couldn’t put enough power as the Eagles remained scoreless.
They did find a late glimmer of hope when after some chaos in the box Cerasoli popped up as the defender fired home to make it 2-1.
Those dreams were short lived though as substitute Kevin Lopes strode down the wing for the Sharks in extra time and bent a cross into the path of Kajiyama.
The Japanese starlet didn’t miss and secured his double and three points for the home side.
Afterwards Sutherland coach Grant Lee was delighted to pick up the win.
“We’ve been working hard the last few weeks. First half we were patient and making chances and got our goals,” he said.
“We have some belief now and need to take it into our next few fixtures against the big teams.”
Parramatta FC assistant coach Mark Zecchin lamented a slow start.
“We were disjointed tonight,’ he said.
“We tried a new formation which didn’t pan out.
“Currently we have 13 players out so I thought the young players stepped up well despite the result.”
Match Stats
Saturday 13th May 2017
Seymour Shaw
Referee: A. Arndt
Assistant Referees: N. Wotton & M. McOrist
4th Official:C. Hughes
Sutherland Sharks 3 (Kajiyama ’30 and ’92, Cox ’34)
Parramatta FC 1 (Cerasoli ’87)
Sutherland Sharks: 3. MURAYAMA Takuya, 4. KAYES Stephen (FITZPATRICK ’71), 5. LITTLER Nicholas, 6. GORDON Matthew, 9. KAJIYAMA Tomohiro, 10. DA SILVA Joshua (MCSTAY ’87), 11. ELASI Nathan (LOPES ’90), 12. BROWN Blair, 13. COX Jeremy, 14. O’SHEA Patrick and 21. LOE Nikolas
Subs Not Used: 1. DENHAM Nathan and 17. FABIANO Claudio
Yellow cards: Da Silva, Fitzpatrick and O’Shea
Red cards: nil
Parramatta FC: 1. NORVAL Ryan, 4. FONDYKE Howard, 5. CERASOLI Gino, 7. DE OLIVERIA Samuel, 8. REZO Daniel, 10. SAMA Marco, 12. DONATIELLO Marcus, 13. BLAKELEY Ryan (KEENAN ’45), 14. JOHNSTONE Ryan, 15. CRIGHTON Jordan and 17. GERSBACH Joshua
Subs Not Used: 9. CHMIAK Nick, 16. FILLIPOVIC Marco, 18. PLATANIOTIS Marcus and 21. MOORE Christopher
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings
3 – Jeremy Cox (SS)
2 – Tomohiro Kajiyama (SS)
1 – Ryan Norval (PFC)
-By Justin Davies, PS4 NPL NSW Men’s reporter
