Match report below:
Rockdale Ilinden have picked up a crucial 2-1 win over a strong APIA Leichhardt side at the Ilinden Sports Centre to keep their lead at the top of the ladder at six points as their pursuit for that elusive 2024 NPL Men’s NSW Premiership continues.
After a tense opening five minutes, it was Rockdale who created the first opportunity of the match, where a clipped ball from Isaac Danzo found the foot of Alec Urosevski, who layed the ball off to Lochlan Constable.
The winger was able to strike in the air from close range, but shot straight at Anthony Bouzanis, who made a thankful save to prevent an early Rockdale opener.
The 10 minutes that followed was highly intense and physical, as both sides continued to look to cement their authority on this match, without creating any significant chances.
However, in the 19th minute, APIA created their first significant chance of the match.
After a strong tackle from Maksim Kasalovic just outside APIA’s box, Adrian Ucchino fed Jack Armson in a central pocket, who promptly played a pin-point pass in behind to Ben Gibson.
The striker took a touch forwards to engage in a 1v1 with the onrushing goalkeeper Nicholas Sorras, but Gibson left-footed effort ricocheted off the crossbar.
Rockdale responded with a chance in the 27th minute, with a clipped ball off a rebounded freekick from Roberto Speranza again finding Urosevski in the box, who set the ball perfectly for Dean Pelekanos.
The midfielder was able to place a shot at goal, but couldn’t find the target from another good position for Rockdale.
Seven minutes later, an Armson shot from just outside the box forced a quick save from Sorras, with the match remaining invigoratingly even at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.
Towards the end of the first 45, APIA were beginning to dominate, forcing Rockdale into their half and creating a few half-chances.
In the 44th minute, APIA created another good chance, with a diagonal, forwards pass from Jack Stewart on the right finding Ben Gibson inside.
The striker cleverly flicked the ball on to the path of the onrushing Jack Armson, who found himself in a one on one with Sorras.
However, Armson couldn’t find his way around the goalkeeper, and the sides went into the sheds with the scores level.
But that deadlock didn’t last long into the second stanza, as APIA opened the scoring with a clinical Jack Stewart penalty after another strong ten minutes to open the second half.
After cutting inside from the right, Stewart released a perfect pass in behind to Rory Jordan, who was taken down just inside the box.
From the spot, Stewart found the back of the net with a calm strike to the left, giving APIA the all-important first goal in this Match of the Round.
A minute late, the away side had two good opportunities to double their newly-found advantage after the ball fell to Kasalovic a few passes after Rockdale’s kickoff.
Kasalovic, after driving forwards, rolled the ball wide to Stewart just a touch too soon, and but the winger did well to get a meaningful shot off from an acute angle, forcing a save from Sorras.
Off the rebound, Armson was presented with a perfect rolling ball on the edge of the box, but skied his opportunity, with the game very much still on at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.
In the 66th minute, Sorras made another important save, denying Armson from range, with the home side struggling to create any meaningful opportunities in the first 20 minutes of the second half.
However, in the 75th minute, Rockdale had multiple shots off a freekick, with So Kataoka threatening from a wide position with the original effort, before a near-post, low shot from Urosevski forced an active save from Bouzanis.
A minute later, Rockdale found their leveller, with a fantastic ball from Isaac Danzo finding Urosevski in behind.
Rockdale’s captain and talisman strode forwards powerfully, comfortably beating Josh Symons in a race, and calmly converted past Bouzanis to set up an exhilarating end to the match.
The home side had suddenly taken control of the game, capitalising on the momentum of their equaliser, with the major chances over the next few minutes falling to Giorgio Speranza.
An attempted cross from Hunter Eliott turned into a perfect cross-field pass to the left-back, who took a touch before lining up a shot from inside the box.
A minute later, APIA almost found a goal of their own, with a good strike across goal from substitute Alex Denmead hitting the post.
Armson as once more presented with a rolling rebound at the edge of the box, but again struck over.
But in the 87th minute, it was Rockdale who scored the winner.
A Kataoka corner found Blake Ricciuto at the far post, who headered the ball back across goal, with Bai Antoniou challenging in the air.
Kataoka picked up the ball again, from inside the box, and promptly played Constable, who saw his effort blocked.
However, the ball fell to Daniel Collins, and the centre-back emphatically smashed the ball home, his first for the year, giving Rockdale a memorable, crucial three points.
Rockdale Ilinden Assistant Coach Nick Stavroulakis was delighted with getting the three precious points in keeping his team atop of the league ladder even though his team weren’t at their very best.
“In a type of game of this calibre, you’re looking at trying to make sure you nullify moments on their side and then picking up moments that are going to help you win the game.
“We weren’t at our best today, it wasn’t a ‘Rockdale esque’ performance, but we’re at the business end of the season, so for us it’s all about results at the moment and we did that today.
“We are now moving forward and preparing for Wednesday night’s Australia Cup Round of 32 game against the Newcastle Jets in what will be a big night for the club who have worked hard in getting to what is a prestigious Cup competition,” Stavroulakis ended.
While APIA coach Franco Parisi was still proud of his chargers who are hoping to break their winless streak in the league with a round 27 clash against the Wanderers following a five-game drought without a victory.
“I’m extremely happy with our team and our performance,” said APIA coach Franco Parisi.
“It’s our seventh game in 21 days, and we’ve had a brilliant football match – the result may lead others to think differently but for us it was brilliant, a real dominant performance.
“Maybe towards the end there were a couple of moments and maybe that’s something we can focus on, so we’ll keep going.
“Very proud of our boys and I think APIA played some sexy football today, worked really hard and made the game very exciting for everyone to watch.”
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden FC 2 (Urosevski 76’, Collins 87’)
APIA Leichhardt FC 1 (Stewart 57’)
Sunday 28 July, 2024
Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harris and Ethan Zvargulis
Fourth Official: Hayden Michlmayr
Rockdale Ilinden FC: 1. Nicholas Sorras, 2. Daniel Collins, 4. Roberto Speranza, 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alec Urosevski (C), 8. Dean Pelekanos (77. So Kataoka 64’), 10. Brendan Cholakian (22. Blake Ricciuto 59’), 11. Lochlan Constable (3. Lachlan Griffiths 90’), 15. Olayinka Sunmola (9. Bai Antoniou 64’), 23. Hunter Eliott
Substitutes Not Used: 17. Brae Ovens, 20. Ricardo Rizzo
Yellow Cards: Cholakian 42’, R. Speranza 56’, Pelekanos 63’, Ricciuto 90’, Ovens 90’
Red Cards: None
APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. Seiya Kambayashi, 4. Josh Symons, 7. Jack Stewart, 8. Maksim Kasalovic, 9. Ben Gibson (19. Luigi Ditroia 76’), 11. Rory Jordan (30. Alex Denmead 80’), 14. Jack Armson, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 18. Adrian Ucchino (C) (41. Nicholas Azzone 80’), 25. Dakota Askew
Substitutes Not Used: 6. Anthony Sparacino, 13. Jared Macerola, 27. Evan Davis
Yellow Cards: Kasalovic 42’, Ditroia 82’
Red Cards: None
Player ratings:
3 – Alec Urosevski (RI)
2 – Nicholas Sorras (RI)
1 – Jack Stewart (AL)