Sharks have the 3 points snatched in a comeback victory for APIA

APIA produced a gut wrenching come-from-behind victory in the Match of the Round at Lambert Park, prevailing 3-2 to grab a vital three points on a rain soaked Sunday evening in Sydney’s Inner West.

Sutherland Sharks began the match positively, taking a couple of warning shots and looking calm and composed in possession.

APIA began to work themselves into the match with some crisp passing moves, but Sutherland stayed competitive, with the football played from both sides quick, incisive and exciting.

Rory Jordan went close to opening the scoring with a drive and strong strike from range, with APIA looking to find an opener from outside the box on multiple occasions early on.

This trend continued, as Josh Symons spotted goalkeeper Nenad Vekic off his line and attempted an audacious effort from just inside the opposition half, which precariously floated over the crossbar.

Sutherland had a long range effort of their own threaten, with Jay McGowan making good connection from a right-footed drive, with the match continuing to be highly competitive and highly exciting.

APIA were then presented a good opportunity on an attacking transition, with a good pass from Jordan finding Jack Stewart in behind.

Moving into the box, the winger dummied a shot to send his marker to the floor, but then dallied in a one on one with the goalkeeper, and couldn’t convert the opening goal.

A minute later, Stewart struck a low driven effort from the edge of the box just past the far post, with APIA’s consistent chance creation – no matter the state of the game – continuing to impress.

APIA had another opportunity to strike just before halftime, with a crisp one-two between Jordan and Luigi Ditroia allowing the former in behind, who swiftly cut inside but then couldn’t gain any purchase on his strike.

However, it was Sutherland who found an upset opening goal, which was created by a strong drive from Mitchell Stamatellis from the backline.

Passing multiple players inside the box, the central-defender then squared the ball to McGowan, whose shot was deemed to be blocked by the arm of Edward Caspers.

Stamatellis stepped up from the spot and cooly rolled the ball down the centre of the net, with Sutherland striking first.

Moving into stoppage time, Sutherland stunningly found a chaotic second goal.

Receiving the ball from a throw-in on the left, Levi Sciuriaga impressively held off Josh Symons before escaping in behind.

The forward attacked the byline assertively, before cutting the ball back across goal, with Michael Kouta unable to clear.

With the ball set on the goalline, McGowan converted to give Sutherland a much-needed second goal, making a second-half comeback for APIA substantially more challenging.

However, APIA began their resurgence swiftly, with a 51st minute goal from Jack Armson bringing them right back into the match.

A good ball in behind from Jack Stewart found Ditroia down the left channel, who successfully took on his opponent before squaring the ball back across goal.

It didn’t find Armson in the intended space, but from an acute angle, the sharp attacking midfielder made it work, as he blasted his strike into the back of the net.

APIA continued to threaten as they searched for their elusive equalising goal, with a set-piece header from Michael Kouta being the highlight of their chances in the first 20 minutes of the second half.

In the 67th minute, APIA found their goal, with Armson again the hero from close range.

After a sustained period of pressure, a clever square pass from Sean Symons found Jordan free in the box.

The winger shot forced a strong stop from Nenad Vekic, but the rebound fell the way of Armson, who fizzed the ball into the bottom-right corner, away from the now redundant goalkeeper, providing a crucial equaliser for the home side.

In the 79th minute, Sutherland were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead once more, with a corner causing chaos in APIA’s box.

An inswinging delivery found the head of Stamatellis, forcing a strong reaction save from Bouzanis, before the follow up was blocked by a wall of APIA defenders.

Sutherland had a third chance from close quarters, but couldn’t find the target, setting up a grandstand finish to this nail-biting Match of the Round.

Just as it seemed the game was trailing out as a draw, APIA found a dramatic goal just three minutes from the end of the 90, securing a highly necessary three points in their chase for the top of the ladder.

A pass through the centre from Stewart indirectly found Armson, who instantaneously chipped the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper Vekic.

With the goalmouth gaping, the now hat-trick hero converted vigorously, securing a miraculous comeback from APIA Leichhardt.

Coach Franco Parisi was proud of the performance of his side

“Scorewise, a game of two halves – Sutherland won 2-0 in the first half, APIA won 3-0 in the second half, so if we focus on the second half, that’s a clean sheet, three goals and we end up with three points.

“The last five minutes of the first-half slipped away for various reasons, so we’ll look at that as a group and we’ve got a few days to back up with Central Coast Mariners on Wednesday, so the focus shifts to that.

“We’re happy with tonight – great attitude – this is a side who has a mentality of winning, a mentality of not giving up and a mentality of playing football until we get sexy goals, and we did that tonight so we’re very happy with that.”

Match Stats

APIA Leichhardt FC 3 (Armson 51’, 68’, 87’)

Sutherland Sharks FC 2 (Stamatellis 45+2’, McGowan 45+3’)

Sunday 7 July, 2024

Lambert Park

Referee: Sam Kelly

Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Alessandro Llana

Fourth Official: Reece Edwards

APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 4. Josh Symons, 7. Jack Stewart (23. Dakota Askew 88’), 11. Rory Jordan (30. Alex Denmead 76’), 14. Jack Armson (8. Nick Sullivan 88’), 16. Sean Symons, 18. Adrian Ucchino (C) (2. Seiya Kambayashi 63’), 19. Luigi Ditroia (17. Jordan Segreto 63’), 21. Michael Kouta, 22. Edward Caspers, 41. Nicholas Azzone

Substitutes Not Used: 27. Evan Davis

Yellow Cards: Kouta 30’

Red Cards: None

Sutherland Sharks FC: 1. Nenad Vekic, 2. Kotaro Katsuta, 4. Mitchell Stamatellis, 5. Takahide Umebachi, 8. Mohamed Ahmed (6. Samuel Gulisano 72’), 11. Jay McGowan, 15. Matthew Moric (10. Mason Fernandez 90’), 22. Jacob Garner, 23. Lachlan Macdonald (3. Jordan Roberts 90’), 27. Matthew Jackson, 77. Levi Sciuriaga (9. Andrew Vlahadamis 72’)

Substitutes Not Used: 14. Chris Lindsay, 99. Jacob Cremen-Cowan

Yellow Cards: Moric 23’, Stamatellis 61’

Red Cards: None

Player ratings:

3 – Jack Armson (APIA)

2 – Edward Caspers (APIA)

1 – Mitchell Stamatellis (SS)

By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)