|
STALLIONS SEARCHING FOR FORM IN LEAD
UP TO FINALS
The
Marconi Stallions have slipped up for the second time in as many weeks
with a 2-0 loss away to the Rockdale Suns.
Credit though must also go to the home side in front a very healthy
crowd in their last outing at Bicentennial Park for the season.
There’s even an outside chance that Rockdale could be playing finals
football if Marconi lose at home and they overcome Sutherland Sharks
next week away at Seymour Shaw Park in the last round of the regular
NSW Premier League season.
Given
this mathematical possibility, the three points therefore that
Rockdale earned against Marconi were worth their weight in gold.
The
early action belonged to Rockdale City Suns with a number of half
chances that kept Marconi under pressure.
Marino Musumeci charged dangerously into the box after only a few
minutes of play but he couldn’t steer his shot on goal.
Shortly afterwards a square ball reached Dominic Hudap in the box but,
under pressure from the Stallions defence, he rushed his shot and
fired just over the crossbar.
In
the 54’ minute Steven Bozinovski did all the hard work as he created
space on the right flank and headed towards goal, but his tremendous
finish was beautifully saved by Jose Bello-Amigo with one hand.
A few
minutes later a fortunate bounce of the ball saw Musumeci end up with
the ball on his chest but Bello-Amigo was right behind him to deny him
any chance of netting.
In
the 67’ minute Rockdale took the lead with a grand goal from Kir. He
seemed to be running out of space down the left flank when he somehow
chipped or crossed back into the middle –it’s a matter of perspective
whether it was intended or simply fluked – and the ball majestically
flew into the net from the almost impossible angle.
The
crowd was stunned and so too were both his team-mates and the Marconi
players.
It
was indeed a spectacular goal that may well make the highlights reel
at the end of the season for great goals.
Nahuel Arrarte had probably the best opportunity for the Stallions in
the 79’ minute when his shot on goal was deflected just wide of the
post by a well positioned defender.
However, Rockdale doubled their lead just a minute later when a
Bozinovski cross found Almir Dizdaric who had his shot blocked but the
ball rebounded for the perfectly positioned Musumeci who headed home.
It was a clever and alert goal by a clever and alert striker.
After
the game Lee Sterrey, who watched the game from outside the perimeter
fence given that he was suspended for one week, was still upbeat about
many facets of play from Marconi.
“It
was always going to be a scrap down here on this surface and we knew
that before the game,” he said.
“Rockdale sit deep behind the ball and play well out wide on the
break, but until a player of theirs scores with an attempted cross –
that’s the type of thing that is happening to us at the moment – we
were in it.
“We
have a lot of young players and sometimes they needed to pick up some
loose balls which they didn’t today but that comes with experience.
“As
for the finals, we want to get in there on our own merit. We have
young players who have ability, strength and know-how, but
unfortunately today we didn’t hold up a ball all day.
“Credit to Rockdale and especially their defence because they handled
us really well and the bottom line is that we were simply not good
enough on the day.
“It
looked like being a scoreless draw until they scored, but I am still
proud of what we have done today and this year,” Sterrey said.
Meanwhile, in the Grade 20s Marconi Stallions defeated Rockdale City
Suns 1-0.
Match Stats
Rockdale City Suns 2
(Kir 67’, Musumeci 80’)
Marconi Stallions 0
Sunday, July 25th,
2010
Bicentennial Park South, Rockdale
Crowd:
815
Rockdale City Suns:
1.Benjamin McNamara; 2.Paul Dee, 3.Almir Dizdaric (21.Sam Awad 81’),
6.Joshua Lawson, 7.Peter Apolevski, 8.Dominic Hudap, 11.Adem Kir,
16.Steven Bozinovski, 17.Pece Cvetanovski, 19.Marino Musumeci
(13.Baturay Akin 82’), 23.Askin Oygur.
Substitutes Not Used:
10.Saso Trajcevski, 20.Andrija Petkovic, 40.James Cain
Marconi Stallions:
21.Jose Bello-Amigo; 2.Brenton Rhodes, 5.Adel El Jamal, 11.Matthew
Gordon (16.Jason Naidovski 54’), 17.Laurence Braude (39.Sean O’Connell
65’), 18.Jared Lum, 23.Christopher Nunes, 26.Nahuel Arrarte,
31.Mitchell Mallia, 34.Nathan Jagelman (9.Erick Anabalon 79’),
42.Giorgio Speranza.
Substitutes Not Used:
22.James Chronopoulos, 4.Umut Tokdogan
OFF THE POST
Radio Program- Every Tuesday 8pm on 89.3FM or listen live on the net
www.893fm.com.au ...Liverpool and Fairfield 's Premium Voice
of Football.
|
