Sydney United Play Host To Mt Druitt Town Rangers In An Exciting Draw After Losing The Lead Twice
21st March 2022, By Adrian Talevski
United fail to secure the three points after Mt Druitt came from behind twice in quick succession to finish the game 2-2 in round 3 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams started the game on par with each other while playing at a high tempo and this was just early signs of what type of game was about to unfold.
Mt Druitt’s Rhett Desilva had the first chance of the game in the 8th minute, after a nice touch in the box saw him place his shot just wide of the goal.
In the 32nd minute, United were awarded a free kick just outside the box and it was none other than Glen Trifiro who stepped up to beautifully strike the ball over the wall into the bottom corner to take the lead.
Second week in a row Trifiro has opened the scoring for Sydney United 58.
After conceding, Mt Druitt replied back quickly with their own goal in the 34th minute.
John Roberts was able to power his header past United’s Danijel Nizic, after a well worked set piece from the corner.
United came close to taking the lead again, after Mt Druitt’s keeper Robert Fanella struggled to maintain Trifiro’s long distance shot which fell perfectly to Chris Payne in the 45th minute.
However Mt Druitt’s Captain Travis Oughtred was quick to react and poke the ball away for a corner before Payne could slot the ball into the net.
In stoppage time, Mt Druitt’s half nearly ended in disaster with an own goal.
Jake Trajkovski misdirected his headed clearance from a cross into the box towards his own goal but thankfully into Fanella’s hands.
The half ended 1-1 with United looking slightly more dangerous but Mt Druitt are no means out of this game.
As the second half starts, United took control early on with Mt Druitt looking to sit back and try to get United on the counter attack.
No surprise the first real chance of the second half came from United, in the 57th minute thanks to their early dominance.
After a string of passes, a penetrating ball through the middle saw Trifiro with a cheeky dummy, leaving the ball through to Patrick Antelmi who had his shot beat the keeper but no the post in a stunning play.
3 minutes later, United’s dominance was soon rewarded with a penalty when Mt Druitt’s Louis Khoury brought down Andrea Agamemnonos in the box.
Antelmi stepped up and slotted the ball in the bottom left corner, giving United a 2-1 lead.
Just like the first half, Mt Druitt replied back in quick fashion this time with Khoury who redeemed himself for conceding the penalty.
The ball came to Khoury in the box who drove his shot low and hard past Nizic, bringing his side back into the game at 2-2 in the 67th minute.
Matthew Billic, came off the bench for United with a point to prove as he scored a few minutes after coming on but had his goal ruled off for offside in the 74th minute.
United continued the pressure on Mt Druitt and while heading into the last 10 minutes of the game both Billic, in the 82nd minute and Antelmi, in the 87th minute must have thought they scored the winner for United but both men missed there golden opportunities when Mt Druitt’s defence were quick to pressure them in the box.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers could have turned this game on its head in the closing seconds of stoppage time.
Off a corner in the dying seconds of the game, Mt Druitt’s Cooper Coskerie had the ball reach him back stick in the box but miss hit his volley and saw his shot roll wide.
Mt Druitt were able to withhold United’s constant pressure in the closing minutes in what was a dramatic finish.
Sydney United 58 looked most dominant but would be disappointed not to take the win after leading twice in the game.
United look to pick themselves up and get a win next week against Northbridge Bulls FC.
MATCH STATISTICS
SYDNEY UNITED 58: 2 (Trifiro 32’, Antelmi 60’)
MT DRUITT TOWN RANGERS: 2 (Roberts 34’, Khoury 67’)
@ SYNDEY UNITED SPORTS CENTRE
SUNDAY, 20TH MARCH, 2022
3:00PM KICKOFF
Sydney United 58
Coach: Joe Haywood
1. Danijel Nizic, 2. Cristian Gonzalez, 3. Jordan Roberts, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 6. Christopher Payne (17. Matthew Billic 71’), 9. Patrick Antelmi, 10. Devante Clut (11.Yianni Perkatis 80’), 14. Andreas Agamemnonos, 18. Glen Trifiro, 19. Mihael Marcic 22. Yianni Fragogiannis
Substitutes not used: 5. Anthony Tomelic, 13. Jordan Ivancic, 15. Tariq Maia, 55. Goran Palecek
Yellow Cards: Gonzalez 71’, Antelmi 73’
Red Card: Nil
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC
Coach: Stewart Montgomery
2. Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika (12. Jake Trajkovski 18’), 4. Travis Oughtred, 6. Louis Khoury, 7. Jack Stewart, 8. Jason Perez, 9. John Roberts (30.Richard Cardozo 91’), 10. Diogo Barbosa (19.Bul Juach 69’), 11. Fumoto Kamada, 20. Robert Fanella, 21. Tarek Elrich, 22. Rhett Desilva (17.Cooper Coskerie 45’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Matthew Symes, 13. Jorge Tavares
Yellow Cards: Roberts 42’, Barbosa 54’
Red Card: Nil
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Harrison Fisher, Brodie Merchant
Fourth Official: Hadi Al-Nakeeb