What a day yesterday. Both our first grade and under 20’s won their semi finals to book a place in this weekend’s grand finals. A tremendous effort. First grade match report is below.
A trio of substitutes worked at treat as 2024 NPL Men’s NSW Premiers Rockdale Ilinden secured its spot in next Saturday’s Grand Final at CommBank Stadium thanks to a come from behind 3-1 victory over a gallant Sydney United 58 outfit at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
The hosts were the better of the two as their free flowing football was obvious from the get go but were stung when a flurry of missed opening opportunities saw Aiden Milicevic open the scoring for United 58.
The second half saw Ilinden do the damage as Lochie Constable levelled the scores before a sweetly struck effort from substitute Dean Pelekanos and a stoppage time curler via another substitute Brae Ovens secured the trip to CommBank Stadium next Saturday.
In a fixture that always creates talking points, Liam McGing was given his marching orders for the second time this year at Ilinden on the stroke of full-time however the standard of team-mate Oliver Kalac and the fightback from Rockdale cannot be underestimated in what was a pulsating affair.
The biggest talking point pre kick-off was that Ilinden talisman and skipper Alec Urosevski started on the bench for the home side nursing a slight injury but was ready to rally forth should the need arise, leaving stalwart Brayden Sorge to lead out Rockdale wearing the Captain’s armband whilst Adrian Vlastelica, resplendent in the visitors all white kit, led out United 58.
Ilinden were on the attack from the outset forcing Oliver Kalac into a big save from Brendan Cholakian inside two minutes, United 58 having defeated APIA Leichhardt FC midweek for the right to meet Rockdale, perhaps suffering from heavy legs early on.
Blake Ricciuto fired narrowly over moments later as the home side applied the pressure on a warm but very blustery afternoon with Kalac needing to be sharp to deny the same player on ten minutes when the ball took a wicked bounce off the pitch the ‘keeper was able to palm over the bar.
Daniel Collins had a shout for a penalty waived away when played in by Giorgio Speranza with Kalac again called into action and another fine effort from Cholakian in what was one-way traffic with the visitors seemingly unable to mount a meaningful attack of their own before So Kataoka forced yet another save out of the ‘keeper.
Ilinden were playing delightful one-touch football but the inability to find the net, aligned to catching Kalac in fine form, could prove costly in the latter stages.
United 58 are too good a team to keep quiet throughout but with opportunities at a premium, they needed to strike accurately and decisively if they were to progress and showed midway through the half they were not there to simply make up the numbers albeit not working Nick Sorras between the Rockdale sticks. In fairness to both, the wind was causing havoc with anything played off the floor which also required a mid-half drinks break due to the temperature.
Tariq Maia fired over from the edge of the area in the 29th minute, when play resumed, after great work down the right from Bailey Rule but it was Milicevic who put the visitors ahead on the half-hour with a clean strike giving Sorras no chance, the squandered opportunities and terrific work of Kalac at the other end coming back to haunt Rockdale.
Kalac, outstanding for United 58, blocked another header on the line from a corner that he knew little about in a crowded area that kept his side in front and Matthew Hatch could have doubled the lead but sent his shot across the face. From being unable to get out of their own half during the opening 25 minutes, United 58 turned it around and looked dangerous every time they ventured forward.
Stephan De Robillard wheeled away believing he had netted a second when the ball crept through the hands of Sorras in the 39th minute but the gloveman was able to react quickly enough to stop the ball on the line. United 58 had weathered the storm and were turning the tables on their hosts and looking the more likely to strike again.
Yinka Sunmola finally got the better of Kalac in stoppage time but saw the effort rebound back into play off the upright leaving United 58 to head into halftime one goal to the good but all to play for on the resumption.
Milicevic broke, after Cholakian had another appeal for a penalty waived away at the other end, to sting the hands of Sorras when showing his pace to get up field with the majority of Ilinden players pushing up in support of the attack, a situation brought about by United 58’s lead. It was a risky but necessary tactic.
Urosevski, not fully fit, was risked in the 69’ minute when replacing Sorge in a last ditch attempt to wrest back control of this winner takes all match and it proved a masterstroke as he helped restore parity three minutes later when alert enough to provide an inch perfect ball for Constable to find the net.
Play became understandably nervy from both when a cool head was required in the centre of the pitch and, particularly, in the respective backlines. Would it be a wonder strike, a calamitous error or the dreaded penalties that would decide the outcome was on everyone’s lips.
The answer was Dean Pelakanos who finished off more great work from fellow substitutes Urosevski and Bai Antoniou to break United 58 hearts to put Rockdale ahead for the first time in the match.
Cholakian was then toppled by Vlastelica and in the ensuing fracas it was McGing who received his marching orders with a straight Red to make United 58’s difficult task almost an impossibility after a hard fought match.
The result was put beyond doubt when Brae Ovens curled a sensational shot into the top corner with almost his first touch of the ball after coming on off the bench late into stoppage time.
It was enough to see Rockdale Ilinden through to the Grand Final at CommBank Stadium where they’ll be in numbers as their fans hope to see the Premiers chase the Championship trophy.
It’s been a huge year for the club who not only took out the NPL Men’s NSW Premiership, but also were finalists at the Waratah Cup, as well as reaching the Australia Cup Round of 32 and the club also secured an Under 20’s Grand Final berth.
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden 3 (Lachie Constable72’, Dean Pelekanos 88’, Brae Ovens 90+6)
Sydney United 58 1 (Aiden Milicevic 30’)
Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
Sunday 1st Sept, 2024
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistants: Matthew Harris and Alexis
Fourth Official:
Rockdale Ilinden: 1. Nicholas Sorras, 2. Daniel Collins, 3. Lachie Griffiths (8. Dean Pelekanos 57’), 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo, 10. Brendan Cholakian, 11. Lachie Constable, 14. Brayden Sorge (7. Alec Urosevski 69’), 15. Yinka Sunmola (23. Hunter Elliott 69’), 22. Blake Ricciuto, 77. So Kataoka (9. Bai Antoniou 57’)
Subs not used: 17. Brae Ovens, 20. Ricardo Rizzo
Yellow Cards: Isaac Danzo 78’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney Utd 58: 1. Oliver Kalac, 3. Bailey Rule (14. Liam Mcging 90’), 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic, 9. Patrick Antelmi, 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 11. Matthew Hatch, 15. Tariq Maia, 19 Aiden Milicevic (13. Alessandro Lacalandra 83), 21. Dejan Bakrdanikoski, 22. Stephan De Robillard (7. Mason Wells 71’)
Subs not used: 2. Christian Gonzalez, 6. Adam Cervas, 58. Ryan Warner
Yellow Cards: Aiden Milicevic 13’, Anthony Tomelic 16’
Red Cards: Liam McGing 90+2
Player Ratings
3 – Brendan Cholakian (RI)
2 – Blake Ricciuto (RI)
1 – Oliver Kalac (SU58)