Sharks and United 58 share the points
Goal-less draw as Sharks and United 58 share the points
25 March , 2023 By Football NSW Match highlights here - https://youtu.be/WfpGfCMqV_Y
The Sutherland Sharks held Sydney United 58 to a goal-less 0-0 draw on a drizzly Saturday autumn evening at Seymour Shaw as both teams shared the spoils.
Sharks’ stand-in skipper Chris Lindsay marshalled his troops in no uncertain terms early on with the visitors employing the high press up the pitch although unable to fashion a scoring opportunity before a Mitch Stamatellis header in the ninth minute slipped over the bar at the other end.
In a indication of what was to come, it became a midfield arm wrestle without either able to master the ascendency.
United 58 managed to notch up several blocked shots on the quarter-hour that required desperate defending from the home side in what was an entertaining encounter.
The first-half was reminiscent of both teams’ season to date, the midfield battle, defence and build up play were all excellent, but the final ball option was sadly lacking.
Stamatellis came close again late on with a stinging long-range effort from a corner falling to him outside the box but missing narrowly wide of the framework.
But with neither keeper worked to any extent in the opening half, it remained deadlocked at the break.
Several half-chances were created almost immediately in the second half as each side had their moments, but the first strike remained elusive.
Chris Payne and Tariq Maia replaced Patrick Antelmi and Glen Trifiro respectively for United 58 whilst Jordan Roberts came on against his former club, for Louis Khoury, both coaches ringing in the changes in an attempt to change the outcome of the match.
Nathan Grimaldi headed over from another Sharks corner but still no clear cut opportunities presented themselves in a spirited and eagerly contested football match.
Cristian Gonzalez replied with a teasing free-kick into the area met by United 58 skipper Adrian Vlastelica whose diving header slipped past the post in what was the Reds’ best opening of the match in the 70th minute.
Frustration, nerves and desperation were evident but was there to be a cool-headed moment that would lead to the goal that would, most likely, settle the tie was the question being asked in the stands.
Sharks substitute striker Hamish Lamberton worked on an opening but his long range effort was saved by Danijel Nizic in what was the United 58 keeper’s real first save of the match.
A flurry of late changes ensued in an attempt to dictate the outcome of this highly tactical and entertaining encounter came to nought as the score remained 0-0 at the final whistle leaving two frustrated coaches to comment.
“We were strong in all areas of the game tonight but didn’t work their keeper enough,” stated United 58 Assistant Coach Jason Trifiro after the match.
“We competed well, and the match was very technical and make no mistake, Sutherland are a strong side and difficult to beat.
“I felt we had out moments without controlling the game totally, but we’ve kept a clean sheet and that’s always pleasing.
“We brought Aga (Andrea Agamemnonos) on at half-time for a couple of reasons, including precautionary for (Jason) Madonis, who took a couple of heavy knocks, and he has been training hard and looked sharp when he came on.
“We cannot complain with the commitment the guys showed tonight but although a draw was perhaps a fair result, it is frustrating.”
Damir Prodanovic must have thought it was Groundhog Day as once more his side did everything but find the net.
“We are trying to build something here and I feel that is showing and if we keep playing this way, the goals will come,” he said.
“Yes. It is a little frustrating, but we know we are on the right track and if we continue to do the things we are doing, the results we are after will come.
“I again cannot fault the work rate of this side, they gave everything, left nothing in the tank and we kept another clean sheet against a good side.”
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 0
Sydney United 58 0
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Saturday 25th March 2023
Referee: Sam Kelly
Assistants: Alessandro Llana and Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Aaron Bloch
Sutherland Sharks: 1. Marko Bulic, 2 Takahide Umebachi, 4. Mitch Stamatellis, 5. Jesse Photi (9. Hamish Lamberton 80’), 6. Brodie Clarkson, 8. Alexander Brown, 11. Fumoto Kamada (32. Levi Sciuriaga 80’), 14. Chris Lindsay, 15. Nathan Grimaldi, 21. Luke Sauer (91. Jonty Busch 76’), 33. Louis Khoury (3. Jordan Roberts 65’)
Subs not used: 19. Evan Ball, 22. Jacob Cremen-Cowan
Yellow Cards: Jonty Busch 80’
Red Cards:
Sydney United 58 : 1. Danijel Nizic, 2. Cristian Gonzalez (12. Hiyori Kawaguchi 75’), 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 7. Taisei Kaneko, 8. Jason Madonis (14. Andrea Agamemnonos 46’), 9. Patrick Antelmi (6. Chris Payne, 63’), 11. Yianni Perkatis (5. Anthony Tomelic 70’), 16. Ante Bakmez, 17. Matthew Bilic, 18. Glen Trifiro (15. Tariq Maia 63’)
Subs not used: 20. Luke Cukar
Yellow Cards: Matthew Bilic 90+1’
Red Cards:
Player Ratings
3 – Mitch Stamatellis (SS)
2 –Nathan Grimaldi (SS)
1 – Adrian Vlastelica (SU)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
