EXCLUSIVE APIA Leichhardt skipper Michael Galluzzo has no doubt goalkeeper Matthew Nash is A-League-bound after the goalkeeper’s penalty save helped the Tigers devour the Stallions in Sydney’s Italian derby.
The home side roared into a 2-0 interval lead courtesy of strikes from Stephen Kayes and Robert Younis at Lambert Park and that’s how it finished.
However, the visitors were handed a lifeline when the referee pointed to the penalty spot following a trip just past the hour mark.
Tolgay Ozbey stepped up to take the spot kick but couldn’t beat Nash, the former Sydney FC keeper diving to his right to tip the ball round the post.
Not a bad end to the week for the goalkeeper who was included in the May edition of FourFourTwo as one of the 10 best players currently outside the A-League.
Ozbey had earlier seen an effort cleared off the line while Jason Trifiro blazed over the bar in first half stoppage time with the goal gaping.
The home side wasted several opportunities to extend their lead in an occasionally spicy affair which saw yellow cards brandished at regular intervals.
But the Tigers held on pretty comfortably, much to the delight of their skipper and former Marconi man Galluzzo.
The defender told au.fourfourtwo.com: “It was a great three points, very important for us. We are very satisfied with the result, especially after a bit of a slow start to the season.
“With two Italian clubs coming up against each other, there’s always going to be a bit of beef and both sides put everything into it. We worked very hard to close them down and not give them space to hurt us.
“I thought our keeper Matthew Nash had a great game. Week in and week out he is just phenomenal. He saves us a lot. He deserves to be in the A-League without a doubt. I know there aren’t too many spots for keepers but he deserves one of them.”
Galluzzo, who was part of the 1995 Joeys World Cup squad alongside Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton, feels Nash isn’t the only player who should be setting their sights as high as possible.
He said: “I think the young boys here have to just play well week in and week and you never know what can happen.
“As for now, we’ve got players coming back after injury and suspension and we can look to kick on and try and make the top four.”
While the Tigers were left to smile, defeat at Lambert Park leaves the Stallions still without a win in six New South Wales Premier League matches.
However, the visitors were handed a lifeline when the referee pointed to the penalty spot following a trip just past the hour mark.
Tolgay Ozbey stepped up to take the spot kick but couldn’t beat Nash, the former Sydney FC keeper diving to his right to tip the ball round the post.
Not a bad end to the week for the goalkeeper who was included in the May edition of FourFourTwo as one of the 10 best players currently outside the A-League.
Ozbey had earlier seen an effort cleared off the line while Jason Trifiro blazed over the bar in first half stoppage time with the goal gaping.
The home side wasted several opportunities to extend their lead in an occasionally spicy affair which saw yellow cards brandished at regular intervals.
But the Tigers held on pretty comfortably, much to the delight of their skipper and former Marconi man Galluzzo.
The defender told au.fourfourtwo.com: “It was a great three points, very important for us. We are very satisfied with the result, especially after a bit of a slow start to the season.
“With two Italian clubs coming up against each other, there’s always going to be a bit of beef and both sides put everything into it. We worked very hard to close them down and not give them space to hurt us.
“I thought our keeper Matthew Nash had a great game. Week in and week out he is just phenomenal. He saves us a lot. He deserves to be in the A-League without a doubt. I know there aren’t too many spots for keepers but he deserves one of them.”
Galluzzo, who was part of the 1995 Joeys World Cup squad alongside Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton, feels Nash isn’t the only player who should be setting their sights as high as possible.
He said: “I think the young boys here have to just play well week in and week and you never know what can happen.
“As for now, we’ve got players coming back after injury and suspension and we can look to kick on and try and make the top four.”
While the Tigers were left to smile, defeat at Lambert Park leaves the Stallions still without a win in six New South Wales Premier League matches.
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