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HUNGRY LIONS EDGE OUT STALLIONS
The Marconi Stallions recent run of good form has come to an end with
a 2-1 defeat away to the Bankstown City Lions on the weekend.
The
Stallions created the first chance of note in the opening minute of
the match as an Ali Al-Hilfi free-kick from the left-flank was met by
a left-footed Vamara Diarra half-volley on the turn; the ball finished
inches wide of the mark.
Bankstown City responded moments later as a Shane Webb cross from the
was partially dealt with by Stallions goalkeeper James Chronopoulos.
Hussein Salameh’s follow-up from close-range finished well over the
crossbar.
The
home-side squandered a golden chance on 27’ minutes as Shane Webb
played a tantalising through ball past the Stallions defence. With
Akil in a clear offside position, the Lions player shrewdly allowed
teammate Hussein Salameh to latch onto the ball and head goalwards;
Salameh’s effort from the edge of the penalty-area, with only
Chronopoulos ahead of him, finished well over the cross bar.
Severino was provider on 38’ minutes as his free-kick from the left
touch-line picked out George Nohra at the back post. The Lions
midfielder hit a first-time volley on goal, though was denied by an
exceptional reflex save by Chronopoulos; the Stallions defence cleared
the ball to safety.
Bankstown City found their goal on 40’ minutes and Stefanos Liavas has
certainly entered the running for goal of the season. A half-cleared
Severino cross from the left fell into the path of Liavas on the edge
of the penalty-area – in a slightly decentralised position, to the
right – the Lions number 7 finished with aplomb in the top left-hand
corner, leaving Chronopoulos with no chance.
The
Lions however would not go into the break with their lead intact as
Oostendorp got in-between two markers to head home an Al-Hilfi
free-kick from the right touchline.
The
Stallions returned following the break with a renewed energy as Kader
Toure set off on a counter-attack and played Alexander Canak an
inviting pass across the face of goal. Canak, took one-touch too many
and the retreating Lions defence swept the ball away from his feet.
In
arguably the Stallions best spell of play, Bankstown City hit on the
counter-attack and found what turned out to be their match-winner. A
searching Shane Webb long-ball was not dealt with by the Stallions
central defensive pairing of Oostendorp and Andrea Merenda. Salameh
was in position to steal the ball and play a square ball into the path
of Akil; the Lions striker beat Chronopoulos with a powerful
low-driven effort into the bottom left-hand corner.
Marconi responded with a set-piece down the other end, Andrew Merenda
latched onto a corner from the left, though the Italian import’s
effort was well parried by Zlatko Joseski.
“I
am very disappointed as we only played for about 10’ minutes in the
first-half and during our best period of play in the second, we
conceded," Stallions coach Lee Sterrey said after the match.
“Unfortunately, this was a big opportunity to give the top-three a
shaking, though we have failed to do so tonight.
Match Stats
Bankstown City 2
(Stefanos
Liavas 40’, Hussein Akil 53’)
Marconi Stallions 1
(Wade Oostendorp 44’)
Bankstown City Lions:
1.Zlatko Joseski; 3.Shane Webb, 4.Brett Studman, 5.Richard Luksic (C),
6.Peter Tsekenis, 7.Stefanos Liavas, 8.George Nohra, 11.Phillip Makrys
(14.Suad Ameti 74’), 15.Salameh Hussein, 82.Daniel Severino (99.Chris
Godoy-Bascur 85’), 29.Hussein Akil (19.Greg Owens 88’)
Subs Not Used:
20.Andrew Bazi, 13.Mathew Pressello
Yellow Cards:
Salameh Hussein 63’, 90’+3’, Phillip Makrys 72’, George Nohra 79’,
Chris Godoy-Bascur 90’+3’
Red Cards:
Salameh Hussein 90’+3’
Marconi Stallions:
22.James
Chronopoulos;
2.Wade Oostendorp,
30.Andrea Merenda, 6.Vuko Tomasevic,
23.Christopher Nunes (14.Daniel
Ott 83’),
8.Alexander Canak,
7.Kader Toure,
10.Ali Abbas Al-Hilfi, 15.Tim
McGowan,
17.Vamara Diarra (13.Ben Vidaic 71’), 26.Nahuel Arrarte (C)
Substitutes Not Used:
4.Umut Tokdogan, 20. Nikoden Majic
Yellow Cards:
Vamara Diarra 50’, Kader Toure 70’
-with Soccer NSW
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