Reds Miss Chance As Olympic Slip

Sydney Olympic 1 (Robert Mileski 62’)
Manly United 2 (Robert Cattanach 24’, Matthew Sim 33’)

MANLY United FC handed Sydney Olympic a real shock at Belmore Sports Ground, recording a 2-1 win as the league leaders lost for only the third time this season. 

Oozing with confidence following the side’s midweek Waratah Cup semi-final victory, Manly United came out of the blocks quickly to stun the Blues.

Robbie Cattanach, who had already asked questions of the Sydney Olympic defence in the early exchanges, latched onto a missed ball by Jerry Kalouris to volley home the opening goal for the afternoon.

Manly United continued to play their attacking style of football, and Craig Midgley’s men doubled their lead in the 33rd minute courtesy of an absolute screamer from Matthew Sim.

After picking up a loose ball, Sim stepped past his marker before unleashing a venomous left foot drive from 20 yards out, sending his effort into the top left-hand corner.

Sydney Olympic were flustered but they did manage to pull a goal back on 62 minutes.

Some individual skill by Robbie Mileski saw the Blues pull the goal back, though it was all the Blues could do as Phil Makrys was sent off late on for a poorly timed tackle.

Sydney United 0
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0

SYDNEY Olympic’s loss against Manly United FC did not prove to be too damaging to the side’s lead at the top of the table as Sydney United failed to pick up maximum points in the hard fought 0-0 draw against Bonnyrigg White Eagles.

Both sides created chances on either side of half time, though a very physical battle in midfield proved to be the order of the day.

Steve Hayes shot over the crossbar early, before David Vrankovic got forward for Bonnyrigg, the youngster too guiding his attempted header over.

In the end, the draw sees Sydney United close Sydney Olympic’s lead at the top of the table to six points, while Bonnyrigg White Eagles remain eight points behind the Blues.

Parramatta FC 1 (Daniel Fogarty 49’)
Sutherland Sharks 0

ON Saturday evening, Parramatta FC made it successive victories against the ‘big boys’ as they added the scalp of Sutherland Sharks, a 1-0 win, in their bid to move away from the foot of the table.

Played on a cold evening at Melita Stadium, the Eagles managed to frustrate the Sharks with a compact, well-organised showing over the 90 minutes.

Sutherland squandered first-half chances to Sam Awad and Yianni Fragogianis as Parramatta FC hit on the counterattack early in the second period to find their winner.

Daniel Fogarty was sent though on goal, and with only goalkeeper Nathan Denham to beat, coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net.

The Eagles survived a few late scares – the biggest chance for the Sharks arrived in the fifth minute of injury time as substitutes Huseyin Jasli managed to drive his effort past goalkeeper Anthony Costa, only to be denied by an exceptional goal line save from Evangelos Petratos.

The second consecutive win for new coach Manny Spanoudakis has lifted the spirits of the Eagles supporters who are hoping for more of the same from their side as they bid to avoid relegation this season.

APIA Leichhardt 2 (Robert Younis 53’, Nicola Rizzo 65’)
Blacktown City FC 3 (Mitchell Duke 8’, Milorad Simonovic 25’30’)

AT Lambert Park, APIA Leichhardt Tigers’ poor first-half performance cost the side dearly as Blacktown City FC collected maximum points with a 3-2 win.

Leading 3-0 at the break courtesy of goals from Mitchell Duke, and a double to Milorad Simonovic, the reigning champions were forced to grind out the result late in the match as APIA Leichhardt made a late charge to try and salvage a point.

Robert Younis and Nick Rizzo had the Tigers back into the contest by the 70th minute, though an equalising goal was not forthcoming.

Marconi Stallions 1 (Nahuel Arrarte 26’)
Rockdale City Suns 2 (Joshua Lawson 84’, Dominic Hudap 86’)

MARCONI Stallions dropped points at home against Rockdale City Suns in a match the Stallions dominated for large spells but fell 3-2 in the dying stages.

Leading 1-0 with eight minutes remaining, courtesy of Nahuel Arrarte’s well-taken 26th minute goal, the Suns scored two late goals to leave Marconi Stadium with the points.

Josh Lawson headed the Suns level in the 82nd minute before Dominic Hudap volleyed home from the edge of the penalty area to hand new Suns coach Wally Savor his first win as first team boss.

Bankstown City 4 (Blaz Dejanovic 3’, Fredrick Graham 52’, Chris Bedzo 57’, Sean Mitchell 78’)
South Coast Wolves 3 (Saso Petrovski 20’, Mark Picciolini 28’72’)

AT Jensen Park, Bankstown City and South Coast Wolves played a highly entertaining match that produced seven goals for the fans as the Lions recorded a 4-3 win.

Blaz Dejanovic had the Lions ahead on three minutes after a poor Wolves clearance.

The Wolves drew level via Sasho Petrovski on 20’ minutes before Mark Picciolini found his side the ‘go ahead’ goal nine minutes later with a neat finish.

After the break, the Lions scored twice in the space of four minutes as Frederick Graham first, new signing Chris Bedzo next, gave the supporters something to cheer about.

Picciolini did restore parity in the 72nd minute, though Sean Mitchell found the match winner in the 78th minute as he volleyed Lenox Tweneboa’s cross into the back of the net.

-By Joseph Carlucci 

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