Round 18 – State League Men’s Review
It was the week which looked to have sorted the contenders from the pretenders in the race for 5th position of this years State League Men’s 2018 competition.
We headed to St George Stadium to see neither team get what they really need whilst Nepean FC gained some breathing room in 5th place.
Elsewhere in the race for promotion. UNSW FC toppled Prospect United in a high scoring affair, Bankstown United beat a valiant Wagga City Wanderers and Central Coast United clung on to the points against South Coast Flame.
Match of the Round – Hurtsville City Minotaurs FC vs Western Condors FC
Western Condors have produced a stirring second half comeback to secure a point in a thrilling match of the round at St George Stadium against Hurstville City Minotaurs.
The Condors found themselves down by two goals after a sluggish start but after some harsh realities at half time, they bounced back and scored two goals through attacker Chun Him Yau including a stunning equalizer with ten minutes left.
Hurstville City Minotaurs on the other hand raced out to a fast start through goals to Hassan Abdul and Angelo Petratos. However, their inability to make it three during the first half came back to bite them in the backside when all was said and done.
The Minotaurs opened the scoring after just two minutes when a three-lane highway opened up through the middle of the Condors defense and Hassan Abdul was good enough to take advantage slotting the ball underneath the keeper from inside the box.
That gap wasn’t closed and the hosts seemed in the mood for it when Angelo Petratos was in the right place to tap home a square ball off a set piece to double their lead.
All the best chances were falling to the home side and the Condors were lucky to stay in the game on twenty-three minutes. The ball just wouldn’t go in suddenly with some desperation defending preventing a Shin Takahashi shot going in.
Despite being on the back foot, at the other end it was Yau who was causing problems having a few chances on his right foot, they would serve as a warning.
After half time, it was a changed game. If you don’t take your chances at this level you will pay and the Condors came out fired up.
It proved to be three minutes into the half when attacker Yau showed a superb finish with the outside of his right foot. It came after a quick counter attack with Valiente showing a good bit of skill to get the ball to him.
Yau was in the centre of all things good for the visitors with some good support coming from central midfielders Kaito Ikarimoto and Talan Myers. This time though, Yau was only able to hit the left side netting with an off-balance strike.
However, the visitors must have been thinking it wasn’t to be when a Josh Obeng cross couldn’t be finished off by Valiente or Hikaru Takase.
That was until Chun Him Yau did something spectacular. After being teed up by Myers, Yau launched a powerful effort from thirty yards which rocketed into the top left corner and secured a draw.
Western Condors Coach Barry Zambrano was both upset and pleased. “The First half was probably the worst performance we have put out all season, second half we were able to claw our way back and with five mins more we could’ve won it”.
“Overall though I got to be happy from where we were at half time and the character shown”.
Hurstville City Minotaurs coach Peter Sarikakis rued some missed chances, “We more than had our chances throughout the first half, we needed to score that third goal whilst we were on top”.
“We nearly held out and that second goal, you can’t do much about that. Two all draw is a fair result at the end of the day”.
Match Stats – Sunday 22nd July, 2018 – St George Stadium, Banksia
Hurstville City Minotaurs: 2 (Abdul 3’, Petratos 7’)
Western Condors: 2 (Yau 50’ 82’)
Referee: W. Riedy
Assistant Referee: D. Altar & J. Park
Hurstville City Minotaurs: 1. Dean Vagenas, 3. Deegan Hunter, 5. Lorenzo Fatica, 7. Angelo Vagenas, 8. Alireza Yousefi, 10. Sam Mehana, 11. Kushaal Ram, 21. Mate Balazs, 30. Shin Takahashi, 60. Angelo Petratos, 61. Hassan Abdul.
Subs Not Used: 6. Peter Fterniatis, 16. Riad Agnache, 23. Dali Duru, 27. Modar Sultan, Adem Elgun.
Yellow Cards: Agnache
Red Cards: Nil
Western Condors: 1. Benoit Beaujeon, 2. Kizyala Kiemo, 3. Andre Wallace, 4. Revedacs Adonteng, 5. Alexander Clarke, 6. Hikaru Takase, 8. Kaito Ikarimoto, 9. Talan Myers, 10. Chun Him Yau, 11. Joshua Obeng, 15. Tak Ho Wong.
Subs Not Used: 7. Gustavo Maya Valiente, 14. Alejandro Arregin, 16. Daniel Araujo.
Yellow Cards: Valiente, Clarke
Red Cards: Nil
Around the Grounds
UNSW FC 4-2 Prospect United
UNSW FC have kept their slim promotion hopes alive with a win over fellow top four side Prospect United at Heffron Park on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts got off to a fast start scoring twice within the first five minutes, a trait the visitors will be hoping to break before finals season. The goals were remarkably similar starting with a break down the right leading to a close range tap in from both Bede Leyland and Nima Beik respectively.
To Prospects credit, they did bounce back after those in attendance were fearing the worst and they were rewarded with a goal. Brett Stephens hit a close to perfect half volley from around the penalty spot and it really should’ve been even soon after a Joel Bayubahe chance was spectacularly saved as they enjoyed their best period of the game.
However, their hopes were dashed just after half time when Ryuji Takeuchi headed in a perfect Ignacio Pacheco delivery and despite another equalizer from Stephens completing his double. They were always up against it with Luiz Lobo rounding out the victory with a terrific solo goal cutting in from the left beating four defenders.
South Coast Flame 1-2 Central Coast United.
It was a game of two halves at John Crehan Park as South Coast Flame hosted Central Coast United.
Things looked to be repeating themselves from the first set of fixtures when Central Coast United controlled much of the first period to take a two-goal lead before the break. To the Flames credit however they bounced back and were perhaps unlucky to not come away with a point.
The Visitors scored what is becoming a traditional early goal when Joshua Swadling got on the end of a build-up which included all of the big 4 with Mcfarlane, Woodbine and Mapu playing a part. It was one-way traffic throughout the first period and you sensed they needed another which came through the same outlet. It came when Swadling cut onto his right foot launching a sweet strike to double the away sides lead.
In somewhat unusual scenes, Central Coast United found themselves on the backfoot for a substantial period of the second half and it nearly sent a few shockwaves across the competition. In the end though, they were only able to score one through Louis Connell.
Balmain Tigers 1-0 Hurstville FC
Hurstville FC continue to slide down the form table after they came out second best in a game against Balmain Tigers.
It is just the fourth win of which the Tigers have secured this season but you wouldn’t have known it had you’d been at Ilinden sports centre. A goal to Mohammad Qunber Ali from a piece of individual brilliance was the difference between the sides in a game of plenty of chances but not much quality in terms of finishing.
For the visitors Hurstville FC, it marks the latest in a series of disappointing results and unfortunately it is pretty safe to suggest they won’t be playing finals football this season. With quite a few missing players, they just haven’t been able to gel up front and it showed with only one major chance falling to Cristain Di Meglio throughout the ninety minutes.
FC Gazy Auburn 0-1 Nepean FC
Nepean FC finally return to the winner’s circle after a nervy hit out against FC Gazy Auburn on Sunday afternoon.
It had been a month since the visitors scored a victory in the competition and you had the sense that something had to give in this one. Fortunately for Nepean, it came up positive (not in pretty fashion though) through Daryl Watson. Watson poked home after a failed clearance fell to him in the box from a cross to give his side a much-needed upturn in form with games against UNSW and Bankstown looming.
FC Gazy on the other hand were right in the contest for the duration, keeping it tight at the back before a red card opened up a door for the visitors who in turn took advantage. It’s the best they can hope for at this stage of the competition as the season comes to a close.
Bankstown United 3-0 Wagga City Wanderers
Bankstown United continued their impressive run with a win over well-travelled Wagga City Wanderers.
It was a case of getting the job done and making sure no complacency kicked in for the hosts who scored twice before the break through all too familiar striker Mitch Cross and a first goal of the campaign to Futo Ihara. From there despite being on the dreaded two nil score line there was no catching them and an early second half strike to last weeks hero Matt Sadler ensured three goals for three points.
For Wagga City Wanderers, it served as there second last trip up the highway and once again, they put in a respectable yet all to familiar performance on the road. Lack of players due to work commitments did allow them to blood some youngster such as Anthony Mason, Jacob Ochieng and Zach Pinney who all put in a decent shift. 6000km down, 1400 to go.
By Justin Smith
