Olympic continue finals series hunt
Sydney Olympic has kept it’s PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s playoffs hopes alive with a comprehensive 4-0 win against Hakoah Sydney City East at Lambert Park on Sunday.
A double to Will Angel, a goal to Yianni Spyrakis and a Gavin Rae own goal was what it took for the home side to secure all three competition points in what was a strong performance from Gorka Etxeberria’s side.
The result means Olympic control’s their finals fate and must secure at least a draw against Sutherland Sharks in the final round to ensure a top five finish.
The first action of the game was a costly miss for Hakoah Sydney City East.
In the 15th minute a cross from the right found an unmarked Anthony Frangie in front of goal, but he was unable to get a foot to the ball when even the slightest touch would’ve been enough.
It proved to be a costly miss for the visitors who conceded in quick succession soon after.
An Olympic cross from the left was met by a shot from Angel and, thanks to a big deflection off Hakoah player coach Gavin Rae, Olympic took the lead as the ball hit the back of the net wrong-footing goalkeeper Anthony Bouzanis.
Two minutes later in the 18th minute Sydney Olympic doubled their lead. A pin-point accurate cross from the left by Jinya An found Angel unmarked towards the back post and he placed a beautiful left foot shot in bottom corner of net.
In the 24th minute Sydney Olympic may have made it three when Angel passed the ball to Spyrakis who came inside and let fly with a shot that went just wide of the post.
In the 37th minute a great free-kick from distance by Mitchell Stamatellis was directed on target, but goalkeeper Bouzanis held on well just under the crossbar to prevent Olympic from scoring again before the break.
The opening salvo of the second half was in the 50th minute when a corner by Yu Kuboki was met by a George Timotheou header but ‘keeper Bouzanis turned the ball away for a corner.
In the 69th minute a quickly taken free-kick by Spyrakis was palmed away for a corner by a quick thinking Bouzanis. It could have been a real blow to Hakoah but for the actions of their alert custodian.
In the 88th minute Sydney Olympic made it three. Spyrakis played a wide ball to Radovan Pavicevic who crossed it back into Spyrakis’s unmarked path and he easily slotted the ball home for their third goal.
In the 92nd minute Pavicevic from the by-line crossed the ball back to an ever-alert William Angel who scored his second and his side’s fourth of the night.
After the game a delighted Sydney Olympic coach Etxeberria spoke about his side’s convincing victory.
“We are very happy because we are in the top five of course but I am personally happier because of their positive attitude,” he said.
“I liked the way that we won today and their tactical attitude and I am really happy with the boys. It’s now the end of the season and the boys are tired, but for me it’s pre-season and there are a lot of things to do, but they are doing a great job and working a lot to understand what is required and what I want.”
However, in the Hakoah Sydney City East dressing player-coach former Scotland international Gavin Rae was disappointed but they do have the round of 16 Westfield FFA Cup to look forward to.
“I am very frustrated and we can’t accept these type of performances which are just not good enough,” he said.
“We missed a chance and they went and scored up the park and the there was another one quickly after,” he said in reference to Olympic’s two first half goals.
“I am though looking forward to the Round of 16 Westfield FFA Cup draw this week but I would like to play somebody different, not someone from this league as we play each other every week, but whoever that is we’ll take it.”
Match Stats
Sydney Olympic: 4 (Rae o.g. 16’, Angel 18’ & 92’, Spyrakis 88’)
Hakoah Sydney City East: 0
Sunday 3rd August 2017
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistant Referees: Janush Adabjou, Matthew McOrist
Fourth Official: Daniel Stack
SYDNEY OLYMPIC: 1. Paul Henderson, 5. Yianni Spyrakis, 6. Mitchell Stamatellis, 7. William Angel, 8. Jason Madonis, 11. Jinya An, 12. Yu Kuboki (9. Radovan Pavicevic 78’), 14. Mohammad Rahimi (33. Niko Tsattalios 65’), 16. George Timotheou, 19. Darcy Burgess, 23. Tass Mourdoukoutas (99. Paul Katsetis 71’).
Substitutes not used: 15. Sebastian Malfara, 20. Ezequiel Consoni
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
HAKOAH SYDNEY CITY EAST: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 3. Robert Ezekiel (4. Jordan Swibel 82’), 6. Cameron Draper, 7. Alek Lekoski, 10. Andre De Jong (38. Finley Hayhurst 40’), 14. Anthony Frangie (23. Steven Katsionis 60’), 16. Oliver Green, 17. Gideon Sweet, 19. Gavin Rae, 33. Connor Shaddock, 40. Michael Kouta.
Substitutes not used: 30. Connor Eldridge, 45. Michael Figueira
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Card: Nil
-by Joe Russo, PlayStation®National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Reporter, at Lambert Park, Leichhardt
