Sharks trump Wanderers
Sharks trump Wanderers
Match highlights - https://fb.watch/jQrD5HKkmv/
9 April , 2023 By Football NSW
In the final match of Round 10 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition, it was the Sutherland Sharks who took home the points with a 1-0 victory over the Western Sydney Wanderers in a tough affair on Easter Sunday at the Wanderers Football Park.
The Sharks had Alexander Brown to thank as he scored the winner that came late in the first half to secure a vital three points for the visitors.
The Wanderers had a positive opening to the match forcing turnovers high up the pitch and firing off several shots.
In the 10th minute, persistent pressing from the hosts allowed Alexander Badolato to curl one from the left edge of the box, but it went straight at Sharks goalkeeper Marko Bulic.
The hosts went close again eleven minutes later as Daniel Wilmering’s effort from a central free-kick cannoned back off the crossbar.
Western Sydney continued to threaten and had a great chance to score midway through the half.
Ariath Piol made a burst down the right to get a one-on-one with Bulic, however, the keeper pulled off a crucial save with his feet to keep the home side at bay.
This latest opportunity prompted a response from the Sharks with Louis Khoury drawing a couple of saves from Lawrence Caruso in the Wanderers goal.
Twenty-five minutes in, Khoury’s strike from the edge of the box required Caruso to bat the ball away.
Two minutes later, following a quickly taken free-kick, Khoury had another shot, this time from closer range in forcing Caruso into a sharp save down to his left.
With just two minutes to play in the first half, Sutherland snatched the lead courtesy of a well-worked move.
Mitchell Stamatellis switched the ball to the left for Fumoto Kamada, the winger skipping to the by-line and cutting it back for Brown who steered it into the bottom right corner.
The Wanderers almost equalised on the stroke of halftime as Jarrod Carluccio nodded a left-sided cross wide from point-blank range.
Despite creating plenty of chances in the first period, Western Sydney found themselves a goal down as they went into the halftime break.
Sutherland had a chance to extend their lead straight after the break with Kamada and Brown combining once more, but the latter’s shot rolled to Caruso.
The visitors had another close effort on the hour mark as a good tackle from Jesse Photi allowed him to run in on goal, however, Caruso repelled from a narrow angle.
The Sharks went forward again with 67 minutes played as the ball rolled to Khoury on the edge of the box whose fierce strike was held onto by Caruso.
Western Sydney had a shot of their own a couple of minutes later, with Zachary Sapsford’s free-kick was parried away by Bulic.
In the 77th minute, the Wanderers almost equalised when substitute George Antonis rolled one just past the left post.
The Sharks resumed their attacking impetus after this with Photi and Brodie Clarkson both seeing efforts superbly saved by Caruso before the game ticked into the final ten minutes.
Sutherland then managed the rest of the game well to run out with a narrow 1-0 victory, a win that took pressure off the Shire side as they took home maximum points.
Post-match Sharks’ coach Damir Prodanovic was delighted with the win that pushed them away from the teams at the bottom of the table.
“I was very happy with the boys and credit goes to them [Western Sydney] as well – it was a good game of football,” he said.
“I thought we dominated the majority of the game. I thought we were effective with our football.
“Defensively it was a superb performance and it was a must-win for us.”
Wanderers’ coach Andrew Christiansen was far less impressed with what his team showed, demanding more from his team in the coming weeks with the team sitting in 14th position.
“I’m getting sick of losing. I’m sure the boys are feeling it too and we need to figure our issues out,” he said.
“It’s scoring goals – it’s at the front end and at the back now, but we’ll work hard to try and figure it out.”
Match Stats
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 0
Sutherland Sharks FC 1 (Alexander Brown 43’)
Sunday 9 April 2023
Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Matt Staples and Amirhossein Hosnani
Fourth Official: Ayad Naji
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 1. Lawrence Caruso, 3. Liam Bonetig, 6. Frans Deli, 7. Jarrod Carluccio (C), 8. Alessandro Lopane (14. George Antonis 63’), 10. Alexander Badolato (13. Marcus Younis 63’), 11. Zachary Sapsford (27. Farah Koko 80’), 12. Edmond Lupancu, 19. Daniel Wilmering, 22. Jesse Cameron, 77. Ariath Piol (9. Nathanael Blair 63’)
Substitutes: 1. Jack Warshawsky (GK), 26. Yannis Frerck
Yellow Cards: George Antonis 90’, Jarrod Carluccio 90+3’
Red Cards: Nil
Sutherland Sharks FC: 1. Marko Bulic (GK), 2. Takahide Umebachi, 4. Mitchell Stamatellis (C), 5. Jesse Photi (9. Hamish Lamberton 85’), 6. Brodie Clarkson, 8. Alexander Brown, 11. Fumoto Kamada, 14. Chris Lindsay, 15. Nathan Grimaldi, 21. Luke Sauer, 33. Louis Khoury (91. Jonty Busch 87’)
Substitutes: 3. Jordan Roberts, 7. Connor Rose, 19. Evan Ball, 22. Jacob Cremen-Cowan (GK)
Yellow Cards: Marko Bulic 27’, Nathan Grimaldi 56’, Luke Sauer 88’, Jonty Busch 90’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Nathan Grimaldi (SS)
2 – Lawrence Caruso (WSW)
1 – Mitchell Stamatellis (SS)
By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_