White Eagles trumped by never say die United 58 to book Waratah Cup Final ticket
Sydney United 58 came from two goals down to earn a place in the final of the Waratah Cup against the NWS Spirit FC with a 3-2 win against League One side Bonnyrigg White Eagles on Wednesday night at Valentine Sports Park.
The White Eagles went into the break with the lead after Aaron Peterson’s piercing strike 23 minutes in before doubling the lead just after halftime through Marie Gauthier.
A second-half surge from the NPL NSW Men’s club secured the side the win.
Christopher Payne scored a penalty just before the hour mark and then restored parity not long after with his second of the match.
Jordan Roberts saw his freekick take a sharp deflection off the wall to score the winner for United.
Within the first couple of minutes, United won a corner on the right.
The delivery eventually dropped to Matthew Bilic in the box, but his shot harmlessly bounced into the gloves of White Eagles’ keeper Michael Figueira.
Bonnyrigg created a chance of their own 11 minutes in as some effective hold-up play by Peterson on the halfway line allowed Joshua Karantz to go through on goal.
Karantz then evaded United goalkeeper Danijel Nizic’s challenge on the edge of the box; however, he was unable to find room for a shot with the ball spinning out for a corner.
Six minutes later Karantz looked lively again – bursting through the middle of the pitch to go through one-on-one, but the ball got caught behind him and Nizic was able to scoop it up.
Midway through the half, Bonnyrigg found the opening goal as Peterson shifted the ball inside from the left and unleashed a fierce right-footed strike from the edge of the box into the bottom left corner.
It was almost an instant response for Sydney United as a couple of minutes later Payne’s effort from the right corner of the box took a wicked deflection – bouncing onto the right post.
In the 33rd minute, United’s Patrick Antelmi headed the ball beyond Figueira on the left edge of the box but the forward was unable to latch onto it before it went over the byline.
Seven minutes after Payne received a bouncing ball over the top attempting to lob it over the goalkeeper under pressure – but it dropped wide of the left post.
Payne and Antelmi combined with three minutes to play in the half with the former playing Antelmi into the left channel; however, the shot rolled to Figueira.
The White Eagles went down the other end with Marie Gauthier fighting for possessing on the right before dragging a shot towards the left post that Nizic was forced to tip around.
The side had another opportunity in additional time after some effective build-up on the left allowed Kuipers to take on a shot from the edge of the box that went straight at Nizic.
Just four minutes into the second period Bonnyrigg doubled their lead as a ball floated into the box from the left was brought down by Gauthier who sent his shot beyond Nizic and into the net.
United swiftly halved the deficit with Christopher Payne burying a penalty into the bottom left corner beyond Figueira in the 57th minute.
The side nearly restored parity nine minutes later as Antelmi’s cross from the left found Kyle Cimenti in the middle but the substitute was unable to hit the target from very close range.
Not long after Payne struck the left post after Figueira parried a save following a right-sided corner.
The pressure eventually told in the 69th minute as a ball over the top found Payne who lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper with it bouncing into the net for his second of the match.
Buoyed by a quickfire double, Sydney United pushed on in pursuit of a go-ahead goal.
Antelmi prompted a strong save from Figueira 73 minutes in after picking up the ball in the left channel of the box – the keeper saving to his right.
Two minutes later, there was another chance for the side with Tariq Maia driving into the right channel of the box and rolling a shot narrowly wide of the right post.
United eventually took the lead in the 79th minute after Jordan Roberts’ deflected freekick from the left looped into the far-right corner having wrong-footed Figueira.
Antelmi nearly added a fourth with two minutes to go with his swerving shot from the edge of the box stinging the palms of Figueira before Maia sent a shot over the bar.
Seconds later, Figueira pulled off yet another save as Antelmi took on a shot from the left edge of the box that the keeper clawed away for a corner.
Sydney United 58 went on to book their place in the final of the Waratah Cup where they will face League One outfit NWS Spirit FC with details to be announced on the Football Website shortly.
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Aaron Peterson 23’, Marie Gauthier 49’)
Sydney United 58 3 (Christopher Payne pen 57’, 69’, Jordan Roberts 79’)
Wednesday 6 July, 2022
Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Bradley Wright
Fourth Official: Chloe Gray
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 22. Michael Figueira, 2. Jack Kuipers, 5. Goran Subara, 7. Joshua Karantz (4. Nikola Krljar 68’), 8. Sean Eve, 10. Marie Gauthier (25. Maksim Jez 84’), 11. Asmir Kadric, 18. Mun-Soo Gil, 19. Aaron Peterson (9. Radovan Pavicevic 63’), 34. Leonardo Belz, 44. Bradie Smith
Substitutes Not Used: 14. Jarrad Wiley, 40. Ross Skiadaresi
Yellow Cards: Mun-Soo Gil 18’, Jack Kuipers 27’, Asmir Kadric 85’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58: 1. Danijel Nizic, 3. Jordan Roberts, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic, 6. Christopher Payne, 7. Taisei Kaneko, 9. Patrick Antelmi (21. Mihael Marcic 90+2’), 11. Yianni Perkatis (8. Kyle Cimenti 46’), 15. Tariq Maia, 17. Matthew Bilic, 22. Yianni Fragogiannis
Substitutes Not Used: 14. Andreas Agamemnonos, 36. Adrian Knez, 55. Goran Palecek
Yellow Cards: Yianni Perkatis 25’, Patrick Antelmi 52’
Red Cards: Nil
By FNSW reporter Timothy Gibson
