Late Wolves winner crushes United 58
Wollongong Wolves have claimed another big scalp overcoming a wasteful Sydney United 58 who have now dropped out of the top five to record a 1-0 PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s victory at WIN Stadium on Sunday.
A late goal to substitute and promising young gun Jack Lombo helped the home side overcome a run of tough results and keeps their finals hopes alive.
The visitors will consider themselves unlucky to have not claimed at least a point on the road with Matt Sim hitting the base off the post on two separate occasions amongst other chances.
The game started off in tight fashion, with both teams unable to create a chance.
The action finally got going after 20 minutes with the visitors finally finding a way to challenge Wolves keeper Justin Pasfield.
A Panny Nikas free kick went agonisingly close to opening the scoring as it sailed wide.
The set piece chance opened the floodgates with Nicholas Olsen playing a beautiful ball for Matt Sim to run on to. Unfortunately, the latter couldn’t convert seeing his shot hit the base of the right-hand post.
The Wolves finally had their own chance when temporary left back Hristjan Tanoski forced a great save from Thomas Manos at the near post after cutting in on his right.
They continued their assault on the visitors when a counter led to a Patrick Antelmi missed shot from the left of the goal.
In true United 58 style, the visitors countered any momentum created.
Nikas found himself unmarked on the penalty spot from a corner only to head it straight at Pasfield, not long before a curling shot found the keeper again.
The second half continued in frantic fashion.
Wolves captain Chris Price saw his header cleared off the line by a Sydney United 58 defender.
Panny Nikas thought he found a goal before his shot clanged off the bottom of the left post.
Pasfield then made a miraculous lunging save to deny Nick Olsen.
It had turned into a physical affair when Pasfield produced a double save from a United set-piece this time from a Chris Payne effort
Matt Sim would’ve been checking if he was cursed after he hit the post a second time in the match and sure enough it proved to be a game changing miss.
Wollongong scored at the other end when an opportunistic substitute Jack Lombo got on the end of a guided Tashiro header to secure a vital win.
Wolves coach Jacob Timpano hailed his team’s effort
“Today’s win was all about the courage and the ticker which this team has,” he said.
“He (Pasfield) was magic, he’s in the form of his career and is a top class keeper”.
Sydney United 58 assistant Jerry Bilokapic was gutted with the result.
“We were unfortunate, dominated most of the game and to come away with nothing is gut-wrenching,” he said.
“Goals win games, we didn’t take our chances and they took the one that mattered. Credit to them.”
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves: 1 (Jack Lombo)
Sydney United 58 FC: 0
Sunday 2nd July 2017
Win Stadium, Wollongong
Referee: B. Abraham
Assistant Referees: J. Park & J. Bell
Fourth Official: S. Andrews
Wollongong Wolves: 1. Justin Pasfield, 4. Hayden Morton, 6. Nick Montgomery, 7. Christopher Price, 8. Brendan Griffin, 11. Hristjan Tanovski (10. Jack Lombo 75’), 14. Josh Macdonald (9. Peter Simonoski 53’), 15. Michael Robinson, 16. Patrick Antelmi (17. James O’Rourke 84’), 23. Stephen Hayes, 30. Yuzo Tashiro
Substitutes not used: 5. Ethan Kambisios, 12. Luke Kaires,
Yellow Cards: Hayes
Red Cards:
Sydney United 58 FC: 21. Thomas Manos, 3. Michael Neil, 8. Matt Sim,11. Yianni Perkatis, 14. Nic Stavroulakis, 17. Matthew Bilic, 20. Petar Markovic (16. Stepjon Paric 90’), 22. Yanni Fragogiannis, 23. Pani Nikas, 32. Nicholas Olsen, 66. Christopher Payne (9. Adrian Vranic 80’)
Substitutes not used: 18. Sam Perre, 28. Anthony Vrlic, 30. Luka Parvan.
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards:
-By PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Justin Smith
