Round 11 Review – State League Men’s
Goals galore and shock results in another captivating round of the Men’s State League Competition.
Nepean FC (2) vs UNSW (4)
It’s been 55 days since UNSW last tasted defeat. Their 7 match unbeaten run has seen them collect impressive wins over Camden Tigers and Bankstown United. But this would be their toughest test, away to Nepean FC, the competition’s best defence and undefeated at home all year.
The Nepean Shed Crew was in full voice as the match began, creating an electric atmosphere on a chilly Saturday night at the foot of the mountains.
But they were silenced just two minutes into the game as Luiz Lobo scored his fourth goal in as many matches. The in-form winger showed a lethal eye for goal to finish smartly and give his side the best possible start in this match.
Nepean wouldn’t be behind for long though, as Clement Waoci scored his first goal of the season just minutes after. Buoyed by their equalising goal, Nepean created multiple clear-cut chances but on each occasion failed to take the lead.
On 35 minutes, they would have the ball in the back of the net, after brilliant build up play, only for the home fan’s cheers to be cut short but the assistant referee’s flag for offside.
Football can be a cruel game and Nepean were rueing their luck just 9 minutes before half-time when the ball, after a deflection, fell invitingly at the feet of Owen Steer, who tapped home from close range.
Despite a mountain of chances for the home side, it was UNSW who went into half time with the lead.
A large part of UNSW’s success in their undefeated run has been their ability to dominate the second halves of matches. They demonstrated this last round against Camden, with three late goals, and they emerged from the break in this match filled with confidence.
The message at half time from Nepean coach, Magdy Andrawes, was to keep patient, believing it was only a matter of time before they converted one of their chances.
And the Nepean faithful didn’t have to wait long, as Shomari Sabatho scored his third goal of the season. Nepean had clearly done their homework on the UNSW defence and Sabatho scored off the back of devastatingly effective direct football.
With scores level and a crucial three points on the line, fans settled in for an enthralling final 30 minutes.
But, in what has become all too familiar for rival sides in the State League Men’s competition, UNSW found a way to win.
With the clock winding down, Nima Beik weaved his magic through a crowd of players and finished expertly past the Nepean goalkeeper. Minutes later, the competition’s third leading goal scorer, Dylan Penglase, showed his experience with a smart finish with his left foot from inside the box to seal the game for his side and silence the vocal Nepean crowd.
Nepean’s coach, Magdy Andrawes lamented his side’s inability to finish the wealth of chances they created and believed the outcome of the match could have been very different had his side been more clinical.
For UNSW, the streak continues. Consecutive victories against genuine premiership rivals have silenced many of their critics and shown they are the real deal in season 2017.
Match Stats
Nepean FC – 2 (Clement Waoci, Shomari Sabatho)
UNSW – 4 (Luiz Lobo, Owen Steer, Nima Beik, Dylan Penglase)
Cook Park, Saturday June 24
Nepean FC: D. Adjassou, J. Bayubahe, M. Elongo, T. Hamilton, S. Hawthorne, J. Iannacito, D. Kanaley, S. Ly, C. May, R. Mcgeown, R. Polistina, S. Sabatho, M. Saeed, J. Senior, C. Waoci, D. Watson.
UNSW: N. Beik, F. Binakaj, J. Chahal, J. Daza, K. Gourlas, M. Lalik, P. Liaskos, L. Lobo, G. Penfold, D. Penglase, L. Petterson, G. Singh, O. Steer, L. Tweneboa, S. Wrublewski.
Camden Tigers FC (7) vs Wagga City Wanderers (0)
It’s often been said that you can tell a champion team by the way they respond to adversity.
After last week’s bitterly disappointing defeat to UNSW, Camden Tigers roared back to life with an emphatic 7-0 victory against Wagga City.
It was a night to remember for Dean Mugridge, collecting the match ball as he scored an impressive hat trick. His first goal came after 24 minutes, as he showed his predatory instincts, ghosting in at the back post to tap home. Mugridge scored his and Camden’s second just 10 minutes later and it was beginning to look like a long night for the travelling Wagga team.
Camden played with ferocious speed, both in attack and in their pressing defence, making it difficult for Wagga to build up from the back and settle into their passing game.
Shortly after half time, two of Wagga’s key defenders hobbled off with injuries, forcing coach Ben Schmid to bring on two inexperienced players from their under 20’s side, fatigued after a full 90 minutes earlier in the afternoon.
There was no mercy from the home side however, adding three quick goals after the break through Christian Cevenini, Blake Szumski, and Dean Mugridge – completing his hat trick.
The competition’s leading scorer, Jayden Russell, helped himself to a goal in the 75th minute before Bailey Simpson finished off the rout with an impressive finish late on.
A convincing win and an ominous warning to the rest of the competition, Camden are back.
For Wagga, it’s a frustrating result after failing to capitalise on the momentum generated by their first home win of the season last round. Coach Ben Schmid will be hoping injuries suffered in the match to two experienced defenders won’t be too severe as they look to get back to winning ways next week when they host Nepean.
Bankstown United FC (2) vs Prospect United (0)
Bankstown United took another step towards the premiership with a thoroughly professional performance denting the top four ambitions of rivals Prospect.
Surprisingly, Bankstown have flown under the radar in recent weeks, quietly going about their business collecting 4 wins on the trot.
And they started strongly in this match, Tom Markovski helping himself to a tasty McDouble to give his side just reward for a first half of football they dominated with fluent passing and committed defence.
Prospect worked their way back into the game in the second half, carving open several chances, but were nullified by a Bankstown defence that has conceded just one goal in four games.
Without former top scorer, Joel Bayubahe, after his recent transfer to Nepean FC, Prospect struggled to find the clinical finish their promising football demanded, ultimately failing to find the back of the net for the first time this season.
With only 7 games to go, the finals spots are beginning to take shape. Prospect’s coach, Darren Camilleri knows if his side are any chance of playing finals football, their next three points needs to come very soon.
For Claudio Canosa, Bankstown United’s head coach, it’s another pleasing performance and a crucial three points in what is quickly becoming a two-horse race for the premiership.
Western Condors FC (1) vs Hurstvile City Minotaurs (2)
Hurstville City Minotaurs got back to winning ways last week but needed to collect another three points here if they are any chance of playing finals football this season.
For Western Condors, their season seems over, after three defeats in a row has rooted them to the bottom half of the table. But with the ability to match any side in the competition on their day, Western Condors could prove to be a potential banana skin for teams like the Minotaurs who are hoping to play finals football.
The Minotaurs started strongly, looking for an early goal to settle pre-match nerves. However, they failed to capitalise on any of the early chances created.
But on 30 minutes, they would find the break through as Michael Zezovski kept his composure to finish well past the Condors goalkeeper.
As the game wore on, the Minotaurs continued to threaten, but Western Condors’ goalkeeper kept his team in the game with some truly unbelievable saves.
However, the Minotaurs would double their lead on 70 minutes as Dom Dom scored his second goal in two games.
2-0 is a dangerous score line and when Western Condors pulled a goal back, the momentum swung in favour of the home team. The Condors huffed and puffed but could not blow the Minotaurs’ house down as the game finished 2-1 and a crucial three points secured by Peter ‘The General’ Sarikakas’s side.
FC Gazy Auburn (1) vs Hurstville FC (4)
Sitting just outside the top four, Hurstville FC needed to collect three points in a tricky away match against FC Gazy.
It was clear from kick-off that Jack Bulic’s side understood the importance of this fixture, starting with purpose and positivity. They were rewarded for this early dominance with two goals inside the first quarter of the game, Patrick Lloyd grabbing the first then Freddie Umlil adding the second.
FC Gazy fought hard to find a way back into the match but it all went wrong on 30 mins as a straight red card reduced the side to 10 men.
Their misery was compounded just moments later when Freddie Umlil scored from the penalty spot to make it 3-0.
Ernesto Meduri’s FC Gazy side didn’t stop working despite being down to 10 men and on the stroke of half time found the back of the net after incisive build up play from their dynamic midfield.
Hurstville, leading by 2 goals and with a man advantage, dominated possession in the second half and made it 4-1 after Adrian Livio showed his class to finish past the keeper.
The game became a scrappy affair with crunching tackles and niggly fouls dominating the play and in the 90th minute, FC Gazy would pay the price as Panyar Maliet saw red for his second yellow card of the game.
Suspensions to key personal will hurt FC Gazy next week against Bankstown, while Hurstville will be looking for another three points when they host Western Condors – a team in the middle of a worrying form slump.
– By Ryan Latty
