United With Back-To-Back Wins In A Hard Fought Game Over Sutherland
Sunday 13th March 2022, By Adrian Talevski
United continue the new season in winning ways with a hard fought 3-2 victory over the Sutherland Sharks in round 2 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition at Seymour Shaw on Saturday afternoon.
United started the game strong in the early minutes, looking more comfortable on the ball.
This strong start nearly produced a goal for United with Kyle Cimenti having two good early chances to take the lead but failed to beat Sharks keeper Anthony Bouzanis on both occasions.
It was the 11th minute where Sutherland came to life, when Jason Madonis picked up the ball and went on a fabulous individual run through United’s defence, but sent his shot narrowly wide to the left side of the post.
A few minutes later it was Nick Sullivan’s turn to have a go at United’s Danijel Nizic’s goal with a nice strike just outside the box but Nizic got down to his left in time to punch it away.
The Sharks were testing Nizic’s speed in the 21st minute after Harry Callahan beautifully dinked the ball over United’s defence into the box for Madonis but Nizic rushed out quick, who saved the attempt out for a corner.
The Sharks are looking most dangerous going forward and moving the ball better up top.
It was United’s Glen Trifiro who scored the first goal of many in todays game in the 36th minute. It was fortunate for Trifiro, after the ball took an awkward deflection in the box and bounced up for him to slot it home at the near post.
This goal did not seem to damage any of Sutherland’s previous momentum as shortly after the conceded goal, James Andrew delivered a well-placed cross to Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu but saw his header just bounce wide of the post.
Devante Clut came close to doubling the lead for United in stunning fashion in the 43rd minute, with a thunderous strike from distance that hit the right hand post.
In response to Clut’s audacious attempt, the Sharks equalised on the cusp of halt-time when Andrew headed home the ball after a cross delivered by Madonis.
Just when you thought these last few minutes of the half couldn’t get any more interesting, United were awarded a penalty late in stoppage time. United captain Adrian Vlastelica was brought down off the ball by Ahmed-Shaibu in the box.
Chris Payne stepped up to convert the penalty into the bottom left corner, sending Bouzanis the wrong way and restoring United’s lead into the break.
Sutherland had the first real chance of the second half in the 55th minute, when Callahan attempted a shot from distance but Nizic was able to comfortably collect it.
United further extended their lead in the 63rd minute after Andrea Agamemnonos split Sutherlands defence with a tidy through ball for Cimenti who smashed it home.
Sutherland kept pushing and came close to scoring a second when Mitch Smith played a squared pass to Jeremy Cox in the box after being one-on-one with Nizic, but skied it over the bar in the 71st minute
Sutherland’s fighting spirits were kept alive 2 minutes later when United captain Vlastelica conceded a penalty that Madonis rifled into the top corner to ensure United are going to have to fight to take home the 3 points.
After coming off the bench, United’s Patrick Antelmi thought he had opened his account for the new season but rather created a highlight moment of the season for Sharks keeper Bouzanis in the 77th minute. Bouzanis made a fantastic double save, firstly a header then a follow up shot while keeping his team in the game.
In the 87th minute, Smith had the chance to bring the score level after the ball fell to him in the box and volleyed it at goal but Nizic got a hand to it and tipped it over the bar.
Sutherland kept knocking on United’s door but the defence of United remained strong and composed.
United managed to hold off Sutherland’s pressure to start the new season with back-to-back wins, in what turned out to be a thrilling game.
The United boys look to continue this strong start to the season, next week at home against Mount Druitt.
MATCH STATISTICS
SUTHERLAND SHARKS 2 (James Andrew 45’, Jason Madonis 74’)
SYDNEY UNITED 58 3 (Glen Trifiro 36’, Chris Payne 45+3’, Kyle Cimenti 63’)
@ SEYMOUR SHAW PARK
SATURDAY, 12TH MARCH, 2022
3:30PM KICKOFF
Sutherland Sharks
Coach: Nick Dimovski
1. Anthony Bouzanis, 3. Gabriel Contagiani, 6. Patrick O’Shea, 7. Harry Callaghan (10. Lachlan Everett 70’), 8. Jason Madonis, 12. Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu (9. Jeremy Cox 61’), 14. Chris Lindsay, 17. James Andrew (11. Nikola Taneski, 87’), 21. Michael Neill, 22. Nick Sullivan 18. Mitch Smith 61’), 23. Mark Rodic
Substitutes Not Used: 2. James Baldacchino, 16. Jacob Cremen-Cowan
Yellow Cards: 12. Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu 45+1 minute, Nikola Taneski 89th minute
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58
Coach: Joe Haywood
1. Danijel Nizic, 2. Christian Gonzalez, 3. Jordan Roberts, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 6. Chris Payne (9. Patrick Antelmi 65’), 8. Kyle Cimenti, 10. Devante Clut, 11. Yianni Perkatis, 14. Andre Agememnonos, 18. Glen Trifiro, 22. Yianni Fragogiannis (17. Matthew Bilic 70’)
Substitutes Not Used: 5. Anthony Tomelic, 15. Tariq Maia, 55. Goran Palecek, 99. Adrian Knez
Yellow Cards: 2. Christian Gonzalez 23, Devante Clut 89’, Patrick Antelmi 90+2’
Red Cards: Nil
Referee: Nathan Shakespear
Assistant Referees: Hadi Al-Nakkeb and Anastasia Filacouridis
Fourth Official: Harrison Fisher
