Marconi secure finals football with win at Suns
The result sees the hosts bow out of finals contention after an impressive campaign saw them keep pace with the NSW Premier League?s heavyweights for much of the 2012 season.
The visitors meanwhile did all that was required of them in this afternoon?s crunch match with Nathan Elasi at the heart of both of Marconi?s goals, opening the scoring with a clinical solo effort in the first-half before setting up Jamie McMaster?s second-half strike.
The match preview incorporated a tribute to Suns captain Pece Apolevski; after a quarter century of loyal service and 6-years of leading his beloved club the Suns legend made his final home appearance for the side before his planned retirement at the conclusion of the 2012 season.
Marconi pressured the hosts from the outset, holding the ball in the Suns half and earning several early set piece opportunities while the Suns threatened on the counter.
Elasi provided Sean O?Connell an early opportunity with a low cross from the left wing in the opening minutes; the Marconi midfielder scuffed his finish, allowing Aaron Liddell the simplest of saves.
Rockdale responded with a left flank attack of their own soon after as Giorgio Speranza got the best of Chris Nunes before crossing to Alec Urosevski.
The 18-year old striker?s finish lacked his usual clinical touch as he pulled his finish over the crossbar from the edge of the six-yard box.
McMaster produced a clean strike on goal shortly after the quarter hour mark, perfectly meeting Joey Gibbs? lay off with a first-time volley that drew a confident save from the alert Liddell.
There was little Liddell could do to stop Marconi from breaking the deadlock midway through the opening half though as the Rockdale backline afforded Elasi the time and space to dispatch a powerful low strike into the bottom corner from 25-yards.
The host?s custodian did manage to get his fingertips to the shot but was beaten by the sheer power behind Elasi?s strike.
The goal sparked Rockdale into life, and while their increased possession in the Marconi half created goal scoring opportunities they unfortunately lacked the quality final balls to cut Marconi?s organised defence open.
McMaster saw another effort on goal easily held shortly after the half hour mark while Urosevski lost Takuya Muruyama?s cross in the sun soon after, allowing James Chronopoulos to comfortably pick the ball out of the air.
The visitors created a late half flurry in the host?s 18-yard box only to be denied by desperate defending to deny Marconi a second goal before the interval.
Both sides emerged from the sheds in search of further goals with so much to play for in the second-half.
While Suns pressed for an equaliser it was the hosts that doubled their advantage shortly after the hour mark after a swift counter down the left wing.
Elasi shrugged off the challenge of Muruyama, and while Gibbs drew the markers with a well-timed run toward the far post, Elasi cut back for the unmarked McMaster to rifle the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the Sun?s box.
Apolevski was substituted for Marino Musumeci minutes later, receiving a standing ovation from the home crowd as he before symbolically handing the captain?s armband to Pece Cvetanovski.
The hosts ventured forward in search of a route back into the match and came agonisingly close to scoring when Askin Oygur glanced a header inches wide from a Rockdale corner.
Urosevski ran onto an inch perfect through ball minutes later, however intense defensive pressure from Marconi?s central defensive pairing of Ali Haydar and Umut Tokdogan forced Urosevski into driving his finish straight at Chronopoulos who easily held the effort.
The chances dried up in the closing minutes as Marconi saw out the remainder of the match to secure the three-points that sees them seal their place in the top-five while the Suns drop out of contention after a very encouraging season for the club.
Marconi Stallions captain Nahuel Arrarte was pleased with the final result after Suns made them work hard for this afternoon?s win:
?We weren?t too happy with the game but were obviously happy with the result,? said Arrarte.
?They obviously had a lot to play for, and so did we.
?In the end we are very satisfied with the result; it puts us in a good position for next week and obviously leading into the semis.?
With finals football now secured the Marconi captain will still continue to look ahead one match at a time as the club:
?Once you reach the semis anything can happen,? said Arrarte.
?They?re all one-off games and obviously we?re in with a chance.
?We?ll just keep taking it game-by-game, we?ll keep working hard in training, and keep earning our results.?
With finals football now out of reach, Rockdale City Suns coach can be proud of all his side have achieved having progressed from promotion to pressing for a top five finish in just a couple of short years:
?If you have a look at our whole season it?s been a great one,? said Rudan.
?We?re blooding a lot of young plays which we?ll continue to work with; we have about six or seven under the age of 21.
?They?ve worked persistently and I?m more than delighted with how they?ve progressed.
?It will hold them in good stead for next year, which is the most important thing that we?re building towards.
?It?s important that these young guys are getting game time and understanding what is required of them and then as professionals they can step up to the next level.
?For me this has been a very successful season.?
Rudan also took time out to pay tribute to Pece Apolevski following the captain?s final home appearance after a quarter century of service to his club:
?He?s an absolute legend of the club,? remarked Rudan.
?He left the field fittingly and deserved the opportunity to lead the team out today and also good to see him get his standing ovation.
?He?s given 25 years of service to one club, which you don?t really see that anymore.
?Regardless of where or at what level it is; to dedicate himself to the one club really has earned him legendary status,? Rudan concluded.
Match Stats
Rockdale City Suns 0
Marconi Stallions 2 (Nathan Elasi 22?, Jamie McMaster 61?)
Sunday August 26th, 2012
Ilinden Sports Centre
Referee: Khodr Yaghi
Rockdale City Suns: 1.Aaron Liddell; 2.Takuya Muruyama, 3.Giorgio Speranza, 8.Paul Kohler, 23.Askin Oygur, 5.Pece Cvetanovski, 16.Anthony Perri, 7.Pece Apolevski (C) (19.Marino Musumeci 64?), 15.Tommy Cirjak (12.Huseyin Jasli 56?), 17.Sash Tirovski, 18.Alec Urosevski (9.Jason Naidovski 85?)
Substitutes Not Used: 6.Josh Lawson, 22.Steven Tanusoski
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 22.James Chronopoulos; 2.Andrew Mailer, 3.Ali Haydar, 4.Umut Tokdogan, 6.Shane Webb, 7.Sean O?Connell (19.Damian Travis 87?), 10.Joey Gibbs (9.Keith Shevlin 80?), 11.Nathan Elasi (42.Brendan Cholakian 80?), 18.Jamie McMaster, 23.Christopher Nunes, 26.Nahuel Arrarte (C)
Substitutes Not Used: 50.Hamish McLean
Yellow Cards: Nathan Elasi 71?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Michael Shoolman
