Sydney United made a huge statement in Round 7 TeleChoice Premier League action, alerting all adversaries that the team from Edensor Park is going to be a force to be reckoned with in 2009.
Ante Milicic's charges were phenomenal in their 90' minute demolition job of Sydney Tigers in-front of their home crowd. The Reds scored six-goals against the luckless Tigers, two of which arrived via the feet of Luka Glavas. Player/Coach Milicic, and former Sydney FC striker David Zdrilic bagged a goal each, as did Davor Bajsic and promising youngster Glen Trifiro with the Tigers finding a consolation via Jamie McMaster.
The win keeps Sydney United five-points clear of Manly United FC - Manly still to play a catch-up match against Sydney Olympic - though a confident display against the Tigers augurs the Reds campaign a very positive one indeed.
The goals kept coming in Wollongong as Wollongong Community FC slumped to a season low 7-0 defeat at the hands of Marconi Stallions. Without first and second choice goalkeepers Alex Augusto (injury) and Matt Brandalise (suspension), the home-side had to rely on Under-18 shot-stopper Bryce Daenell. The young custodian was certainly not to blame for the route, Daenell in-fact kept the score from blowing out any further with a serious of fine saves throughout the match. Marconi Stallions' composure and excellent ball movement across the park set-up the win as Alex Canak stole the show with a hat-trick. Ousmane Toure, Erick Anabalon, Christopher Nunes and Tim McGowan rounded out the result in what was a miserable afternoon for WCFC.
At Jensen Park, Brian Brown made his debut as Bonnyrigg White Eagles coach, leading the side to a respectable 0-0 draw against Bankstown City Lions. Played, at times, at a frantic pace, both sides created goalscoring chances, though scrambling defences - and some great goalkeeping by Andrew Bazi (Bankstown City) and Ali Akbal (Bonnyrigg White Eagles) - were the order of the day. The final result does little for either side's bid to keep pace with the front-runners on the League ladder, though Brian Brown will certainly be happy with the point on Bankstown City's turf.
On Saturday evening, Sutherland Sharks re-found confidence continued as Robbie Stanton's men scored three unanswered goals against West Sydney Berries to secure their third successive win, and a hold on third-spot on the ladder. Striker Brad Boardman sent a sigh of relief across Seymour Shaw Park as he opened his tally of goals with the opener against the Berries. Boardman has returned from injury in great touch though lacking confidence in-front of goal; the strike against the Berries will certainly add to the Sharks arsenal in attack. Panagiotis Nikas and Matthew Hall sealed the win in the second-half as the Berries deteriorated after a promising opening to the match.
Sydney Olympic faced Blacktown City Demons at Belmore Sports Ground after the Demons' Gabbie Stadium was not available for this fixture. The Blues, without several key starters, made hard work of the Demons who pressured Sydney Olympic from start to finish. Tolgay Ozbey's first-half strike set the Blues up to go on with the job though Tyler Simpson re-opened the contest after the break. A Chris Triantis penalty secured the win for the Blues; Sydney Olympic sits just outside the Top-Five with a match in hand still to come.
At Cromer Park a brave Penrith-Nepean United gave Manly United FC a mighty scare in a hard-fought encounter. The visitors were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty early in the night and constantly asked questions of the Manly United rearguard.
Keith Shelvin hit the Cromer Park boys ahead prior to the break following a whipped-in free-kick by Joey Schirripa. David Gardiner's hopeful searching ball midway through the second-half fell into the path of Penrith-Nepean substitute Greg Kondek who finished with aplomb from close-range to equalise.
Despite the home side's struggles, Bradley Groves sealed the three-points with a late strike following a fine interchange of passes involving Giosue Sama.
-By Joseph Carlucci
|
POS |
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
For |
Ag |
GD |
Pts |
|
|
1 |
|
7 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
17 |
4 |
13 |
19 |
||
|
2 |
|
6 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
3 |
6 |
14 |
||
|
3 |
|
7 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
12 |
||
|
4 |
|
7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
16 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
||
|
5 |
|
7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
11 |
||
|
6 |
|
6 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
15 |
14 |
1 |
9 |
||
|
7 |
|
7 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
8 |
1 |
9 |
||
|
8 |
|
7 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-5 |
8 |
||
|
9 |
|
7 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
9 |
13 |
-4 |
6 |
||
|
10 |
|
7 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
9 |
14 |
-5 |
6 |
||
|
11 |
|
7 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
15 |
-7 |
5 |
||
|
12 |
|
7 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
22 |
-16 |
3 |
||
Bankstown City 0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0,
Sydney United 6 (Davor Bajsic 22m Ante Milicic 36m David Zdrilic 41m Luca Glavas 43/81m Glen Trifiro 45m) Sydney Tigers 1 (Jamie McMaster 73m),
Wollongong FC 0 Marconi Stallions 7 (Ousmane Toure 20m Alexander Canak 28/42/73m Erick Anabalon 64m Christopher Nunes 85m Timothy McGowan 87m).
Sutherland Sharks 3 (Bradley Boardman 25m Panagiotis Nikas 65m Matthew Hall 76m) West Sydney Berries 0,
Sydney Olympic 2 (Tolgay Ozbey 32m Chris Triantis 64m pen) Blacktown City Demons 1 (Tyler Simpson 61m),
Manly United FC 2 (Keith Shevlin 38m Bradley Groves 83m) Penrith Nepean United 1 (Gregory Kondek 74m).
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