Round 9 – State League Men’s Review
It was a super Saturday full of storylines in the State League Men’s competition this week, as the top four sides faced off against each other, whilst a young striker emerged to reignite the Flame.
Elsewhere (on Sunday), Prospect and Hurstville FC won comfortably and Minotaurs bounced back from last weeks disappointed.
Match of the Round: Nepean FC VS UNSW FC
Nepean FC have continued their hot-streak in another thrilling match of the round which resulted in a UNSW FC loss.
The hosts took the lead twice courtesy of inform striker Clement Waoci before eventually overrunning a frustrated University side late on with Jamie Dib converting from the spot and Matt Pritchard making use of an empty net late on to seal the victory.
For UNSW, for the second week in a row they came back from a losing position to equalize late on but couldn’t go on with it. On the bright side though, Nima Beik found himself back on the scoresheet.
In saying all this though, it was the visitors who came out of the blocks the better.
A two-minute period on ten minutes saw Christian Soares control the ball on his chest inside the box before firing a volley over the bar and a free kick from Luiz Lobo from just outside the box on the left wing produce a good save from Nepean’s shot stopper.
As the minutes went on, you sensed UNSW needed to take advantage and they nearly did just before the half hour when a cross from the right wing found the head of Nima Beik whose header went marginally over the bar.
The cliché goes, if you don’t take your chances… They were made to pay when in form striker Waoci found himself on the end of a Jamie Dib cross which really should’ve been cleared before it got to him and he was never going to miss. Advantage Nepean.
Moods were dampened just before the break as visitors UNSW produced a well worked set piece which saw a sumptuous near post header from Nima Beik find the far side netting to send the teams in even.
Unlike the first half, the second begun in very even fashion as you would expect from such a fixture.
Nepean started the second half better and this time Waoci who turned provider for Michael Fakiye whose shot deflected off the keeper to safety.
It served as a warning shot, Waoci was menacing throughout the night and found himself on the end of a Dib through ball. Waoci showed composure and coolly slid a finish under the keeper into the net.
In what turned out to be a thrilling last ten minutes, the students pushed for an equalizer and the got it on 84 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a player being brought down in the box. Beik duly converted into the left-hand corner of the net and brought the scores even once again.
Another attention slip would come back to haunt the visitors shortly after though, a lapse in concentration saw them on the backfoot in their defensive third and a clumsy challenge saw them as well concede a penalty. Jamie Dib stepped up and his shot found the back of the net much to the delight of the home faithful.
The drama wasn’t finished though, in desperation UNSW pushed everyone forward during injury time and they came agonizingly close to scoring with a Beik effort rattling the far post from a volley.
However, in this effort the goalkeeper had gone forward and Nepean were able to break UNSW hearts with Matthew Pritchard going all alone to dribble the ball into an empty net to complete the scoring.
Nepean Coach Magdy Andrawes reflected on the game, “When a team loses once after a winning run, they’re always vulnerable the next week but our boys showed maturity in withstanding their effort”.
He continued, “credit goes to our defence, they did really well tonight being one of if not the first to hold them out in open play”.
UNSW coach Gabe Knowles was in a philosophical mood, “We weren’t at our best today, we had to create new combinations in the middle of the park which took effect, it is what it is and next weeks a different challenge”.
Match Stats: Sarurday 19th May, 2018
Cook Park, St Marys
Nepean FC: 4 (Waoci 34’ 68’, Dib 85’, Pritchard 90’)
UNSW FC: 2 (Beik 43’ 83’)
Referee: Matthew Reidy
Assistant Referees: James Barnes & . Phillips
Nepean FC: 1. Thomas Hamilton, 2, Kurt Machut, 3. Daryl Watson, 7. Mubarak Saeed (20. Alex Moore 57’), 8. Shomari Sabatho, 11. Clement Waoci (15. Matthew Pritchard 75’), 18. Michael Fakiye, 24. Simon Ly, 27. David Adjassou, 30. Jamie Dib (14. Rory Mcgeown 86’), 45. Roberto Polistina.
Subs not used: 12. Raed Abdu, 23. Jake Senior.
Yellow Cards: Adjassou, Pritchard, Sabatho, Waoci
Red Cards:
UNSW FC: 1. Ian Johnson, 2. Ryuji Takeuchi, 4. Michal Lalik (8. IIan Kessler 60’), 5. Benjamin Dexter, 6. Ignacio Pacheco, 7. Christian Soares, 9. Nima Beik, 10. Luiz Lobo, 17. Bastian Monroy Vargas (23. Sam Wrublewski 75’), 22. Daniel Gonzalez, 39. Florim Binakaj.
Subs not used: 4. Michal Lalik, 21. Reece Richardson.
Yellow Cards: Gonzalez, Kessler, Monroy Vargas, Wrublewski
Red Cards:
Around the grounds
Central Coast United v Bankstown United
Central Coast United returned home to Pluim Park after a tough mid-week cup loss to face a Bankstown United desperate to prove a point.
Ultimately though, the hosts were too strong as goals from Jordan Bennett, Daniel Mcfarlane, Alex Arbelo and Scott Mcginley ensured they continued their undefeated start.
For Bankstown, they had periods of play where they were able to match it with the hosts but ultimately came up short.
After a slow start Jordan Bennet scored a belter to liven up the locals striking a volley from 25 yards. That settled the home sides nerves nicely and two goals followed in quick succession from Mcfarlane and Arbelo.
A tactical change from the visitors at the half saw the game change shape with much more open space found on the field. It didn’t immediately work though as they conceded from a corner, Mcginley the scorer.
There were chances aplenty in the second half, however neither team could trouble the scorers more with the exemption of Toshi Saikawa who showed good skill in the box before finishing. It was little more than a consolation though as the United express continues to roll on.
Western Condors 1-2 South Coast Flame
Western Condors hosted South Coast Flame in a clash where tensions very nearly overflowed at Chopin Park.
It was South Coast Flame who came away with the spoils courtesy of a late comeback headlined by a winning goal from new signing Louis Connell after Bojan Caric equalized a few minutes earlier.
Hosts Western Condors will obviously be disappointed after coming into this one off the back of a win and have held a goal lead for much of the contest. Their goal came from Joakim Moussinga just before the 20-minute mark.
Moussinga’s strike was possibly the pick of the goals getting on the scoresheet from a curling effort into the top right from 20 yards.
However, the Flame well and truly ignited late on as they managed to score two goals after the 80th minute. Bojan Caric managed to score a header from a Julio Mushaba free kick to equal the scoring before Matt Mazevski found 18-year-old Louis Connell who showed composure beyond his years to finish a 1on1 opportunity and give the Flame their first win in seven games.
Prospect United 3-0 Wagga City Wanderers
Prospect United returned to the winner’s circle with a comfortable victory over Wagga City Wanderers at William Lawson Park.
The hosts took control early and got on the scoresheet with goals to Kelvin Ofori as well as Brett Stephens to give them a half time lead. The game was also sealed by the latter with Stephens grabbing his second in the second half to kill the game off.
Wagga City Wanderers struggled to match it with the home side for large parts of the match and in truth the score could’ve been more if not for another outstanding goalkeeping display from custodian Robert Fry.
The scores were opened when a cross found Ofori, who was first to meet the ball and tuck it away. Brett Stephens also got himself on the scoresheet before the half hour mark when his first-time strike hit the target.
The second half was more of a sloppy affair however Stephens was a threat throughout and another surging run was rewarded with another goal to cap off the win for the home side.
Hurstville FC 5-1 FC Gazy Auburn
Hurstville FC hosted FC Gazy Auburn looking for back to back wins after an impressive win over their neighbours last week.
They managed just that with a second half performance which must’ve left the visitors feeling like they’d been run over by a steamroller. A double from Paul Gagro bookended goals to Joshua Padjen, Rhys Turner and Cristian Di Meglio.
FC Gazy Auburn will be dreading not creating enough chances in the first half. They caught their opponents off guard with their fluent style of play however found themselves down one goal at the break. They did however bring some hope with a goal to bring it back to 3-1 in the second half through George Iliopoulos.
A Paul Gagro goal opened the scoring before the break gave the hosts a lead and smartened up to their opposition in the second half. They were ruthless in their execution with further goals coming from Padjen, Turner and Di Meglio. It was the last goal which highlights this clash though, with the Gagro brothers combining well in the attacking third to set up Paul for his second.
Hurstville City Minotaurs 2-1 Balmain Tigers
A clash of contrasting fortunes concluded this week’s state league action as Hurstville City Minotaurs welcomed Balmain Tigers to St George Stadium.
Hurstville City Minotaurs bounced back in perfect fashion from last weeks heavy loss. A goal just before the 40th minute from Kushaal Ram and a late winner from Riad Agnache saw them claim the three points.
On the other hand, momentum was with Balmain coming into this and it looked set to continue when they took the lead through an Antony Barca. It wasn’t to be though as they produced an average second half.
The Minotaurs found themselves behind early as Balmain won a spot kick which was converted from the spot by Barca and it was looking like they’d be going in behind before a cracking finish from Kushaal Ram saw the scores evened. Having controlled the majority of the second half, the Minotaurs finally found a winner from the spot as Agnache ensured a result not many saw coming.
By Justin Smith
