Round 8 – State League Men’s Review
That’s what you can call a Match of the round, two of this seasons heavyweights went toe to toe in our match of the round to a thrilling result.
Elsewhere another top five clash ended up in a draw, Nepean continue to sneak up on the top 4 and Hurstville FC took the chocolates in the Hurstville derby.
Match of the Round
Central Coast United Captain Daniel Mcfarlane has scored a stunning freekick in the 91st minute to see off a fighting UNSW FC side at Valentine Sports Park.
In a game with plenty of goals, it was the visitors who raced out to three goals to one lead at the break courtesy of goals from Cade Mapu, another from Mcfarlane and Josh Swadling. Thy did take their foot of the gas though and it really should’ve cost them.
University took the lead early on courtesy of a Ben Dexter header. Before a couple of second half goals from Christian Soares and Luiz Lobo saw them look the team to go on and win it. Unfortunately for the students, their wasted chances and it came back to bite them with the late winner condemning them to their first loss.
As you would expect in a big match like this, the opening ten minutes were very much a period of adjustment with both teams not wanting to take much of a risk.
UNSW were the first to build any real pressure early on with a couple of corners coming their way. The second of which was converted into a goal after a powerful flying header giving the hosts the advantage.
It didn’t last long at all though, Mcfarlane was looking a threat early on and found himself with space from long range. He launched a powerful worm-burner along the wet surface which snuck inside the right-hand post.
Central Coast United had grasped the momentum and as a quality side it only took them less than ten minutes to double their advantage. A quick free kick found Arbelo who duly put in a well weighted pass to Mapu who beat the keeper and finished well.
University were reeling at the back and weren’t given any time to recover by the visitors. A ball from central midfield found Adam Blundenn breaking down the left whose low cross caught the defense napping and who else but Swadling at the back post to ease it home.
This would mark a turning point in the match though, as a two-goal lead can do Central Coast United took their foot off the gas. A warning shot was fired before the break from the students as Ignacio Pacheco found space only for his effort from a tight angle to be saved.
If I was to list every shot UNSW had in the second half, well this report could go on forever. It was the visitors with a chance to kill it off before the come back started though as Adam Woodbine hit the post from the top left-hand corner of the box.
The comeback finally started for University just after 55 minutes when Christian Soares unleased a terrific curling effort from just inside the box on the right wing.
This was followed by a period where usually reliable number 9 Nima Beik missed not one, not two, not three but four chances where you would’ve backed him to score (at least with more minutes under the belt). The best of which forcing the United shot stopper into a good save to his left.
Finally, the equalizer came on 78 minutes as Luiz Lobo launched an absolute rocket from 25 yards to bring the hosts level and you would’ve backed them from there.
As the hosts pressed they were always vulnerable and a foul just outside the box gave Daniel Mcfarlane the chance to be the hero. And didn’t he do just that with effectively the last kick of the game curling into the left side of the net to equal up the club championship and send United top.
Central Coast United coach Stu Davis was humble in victory, “I was very happy with the first half, we looked very dangerous and executed superbly. Mcfarlane has a magic left foot and it won us the game in the end”.
He continued, “Full credit to Uni, they came at us in the second half and had they converted their chances well we would’ve been in trouble”.
UNSW coach Gabe Knowles in response saw the Brightside, “I’m pretty pleased with our attacking play but we left some gilt-edged chances on the table which could’ve seen us run away with it”.
Continuing, “Ultimately some bad turnovers cost us a few goals tonight, we’ll address them and be better for it”.
Match Stats
Saturday 12th May, 2018 – Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood
UNSW FC: 3 (Dexter 11’, Soares 56, Lobo 78’)
Central Coast United: 4 (Mcfarlane 14’ 90’, Mapu 22’, Swadling 25’)
Referee: K.Yaghi
Assistant Referees: D.Richards & S.Dalmazio
UNSW FC: 1. Ian Johnson, 2. Ryuji Takeuchi, 5. Benjamin Dexter, 6. Ignacio Pacheco, 7. Christian Soares, 8. IIan Kessler (14. Luke Petterson), 9. Nima Beik, 10. Luiz Lobo, 17. Bastian Monroy Vargas (23. Sam Wrublewski), 19. Giles Penfold (18. Marcus Naoum), 39. Florim Binakaj.
Subs Not Used: 4. Michal Lalik, 21. Reece Richardson.
Yellow Cards: Pacheco, Kessler, Penfold.
Red Cards: N/A
Central Coast United: 1. Jack O’Mally, 2. Scott Mcginley, 3. Adam Blundenn, 4. Geordie Howe, 5. Nathan Blunden, 7. Jordon Bennett, 9. Adam Woodbine, 10. Alexander Arbelo (8. Dean Heffernan), 13. Cade Mapu, 24. Daniel Mcfarlane, 26. Joshua Swadling (16. Oscar Torres).
Subs Not Used: 12. Ian Mcandrew, 14. Tom Mallet, 21. Tom Marsh
Yellow Cards: Heffernan, Mcfarlane, Swadling.
Red Cards: N/A
Around the Grounds
Wagga City Wanderers 1-3 Balmain Tigers
The eventfulness didn’t stop at Valentine either, Wagga City Wanderers welcomed Balmain Tigers on a blustery afternoon at Gissing Oval.
It was all going smoothly for the visitors, they raced out to a three-goal lead before half time. A double to John Nkpolukwu to open his season tally as well as a captains finish to Swaray Kamara ensured they were in a comfortable place at the break.
However, football can change that in an instant and after Balmain missed a penalty early in the second half. Hell broke loose for the visitors as they saw two of their players sent off again from this point on which made it difficult for them to roar so more.
The feistiness continued with several cautions from this point for both sides which eventually led in a penalty for the Wanderers which was converted by Bradley Fangas. Wagga continued to push but couldn’t make up the remaining two goals which means the visitors come away with two wins in a row.
South Coast Flame 2-5 Nepean FC
South Coast Flame were unable to turn their fortunes around as they hosted Nepean FC at John Crehan Park on Saturday evening.
Nepean controlled much of the early play and pounced on their third big opportunity on goal as Mabarak Saaed was able to head a ball in after an initial shot hit the crossbar. Determined not to let them get away, the Flame bounced back when captain and keeper Matt White released Dion Sterjovski who converted a one on one opportunity.
Unfortunately for the Flame that joy was short lived as Roberto Polistina scored just two minutes later for the visitors. Any hope the Flame had was pretty much extinguished just before HT when Clement Waoci scored possibly the pick of the goals dribbling through the hosts defense before slotting the ball into the net.
Indeed, a quick one-two punch after the break sealed the win with Waoci scoring from the spot and Shomari Sabatho punished the hosts for a cheap turnover making it five. Flame earnt themselves their own penalty which was scored by Matt Mazevski but any flicker had been extinguished by then.
Bankstown United 2-2 Prospect United
Well football unites us all doesn’t it? These two teams even split the points. A sandy Jensen Park was the venue for another cracking Saturday night clash.
The scoring was opened early as a good old-fashioned scrap from a Bankstown corner ended in the hosts taking the lead with Steven Wright thumping home a finish inside the six-yard box. The pitch was a lot more conducive to building sand castles however it they had it could’ve got in the way of Nic Valjak as his dribble outside the area resulted in a deflected shot making its way into the back of the net.
The second half continued in the same vein, a scrappy high tempo affair. It was the visitors who took the advantage after 55 mins when Ray Romeo’s shot hit the crossbar before falling to Thomas Kasunic who headed home the rebound from close range. Bankstown this time hit back in a rollercoaster match (who would want to be a coach eh) with another corner resulting in Stephen Tomasich heading the ball in. All in all, it was a well-earned point for both in challenging conditions.
Hurstville City Minotaurs 0-4 Hurstville FC
The first Hurstville derby of the season took place at a soggy St George Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Let’s be honest here, only one team actually showed up in this one as the scoreline reflects. Again, in keeping with the weekends patterns, the visitors Hurstville FC raced out to a three-goal lead before half time came around.
It was a case of one team having their best half and the other well you can guess. Hurstville took the ascendency when a corner was tucked home by Daniel Kocina. The second was a traditional derby goal when Reece Turner scored a scrappy goal.
The pick of the goals came just before half time when a clever pass from Dario Borovickic found Turner who squared the ball right to Paul Gagro who calmly finished from outside the box. Things were wrapped up nicely shortly after the break as a long through ball found Paul Gagro who finished off the rout. For the Minotaurs, things can only get better after this…
FC Gazy Auburn 0-1 Western Condors
FC Gazy Auburn hosted Western Condors to round of this weeks round on Sunday afternoon.
Goals change games, unfortunately in this game it appears to be for the worst. The Condors took a lead through a stunning 25 metre strike from Joakim Moussinga early on. The goal came after a nice build bit of build up play led up to the strike which rocketed into the left-hand side of the goal.
From that point on the visitors relied on a bit of luck, however it can be argued they deserve a bit after some touch weeks.
The hosts put in a much-improved performance, they controlled large parts of the half with the condor’s keeper kept busy throughout. FC Gazy Auburn hit the crossbar on a couple of occasions before a penalty was missed late on. So, in a way despite the fact only one of these teams came out with the three points, both can definitely take positives from this performance. Derbies don’t work that way though and Gazy Auburn will be hurting.
BY Justin Smith
