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Manly and United 58 share points in tight affair

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Manly United and Sydney United 58 were unable to be separated in a 1-1 draw on Friday night at Cromer Park. 

In a game of few chances, Manly took the lead in the first half through Blake Bamgbose before Stephan De Robillard restored parity after halftime.

Manly made a positive start to the match and got a shot off within two minutes.

Saxon Hillyer made room for an effort from outside the area, but the ball cleared the crossbar.

The side threatened again six minutes later when Peter Kekeris’ left-sided free-kick found Rocco Pelle, however, the midfielder nodded wide.

Manly went even closer in the 16th minute as Kieren Paull took on a left-footed strike from the edge of the box that flew just over the bar.

United 58 had a chance 21 minutes in. Carlos De Oliveira found space on the left and fired a curler that Manly goalkeeper Levi Kaye held comfortably.

The hosts took the lead just after the half-hour mark.

Bamgbose latched onto a ball over the top and raced in on goal from halfway before he poked a shot past Oliver Kalac in the United 58 goal.

De Oliveira remained a threat for United 58 and almost equalised for the team in the 38th minute.

A left-sided corner was played along the ground to the attacker, whose consequent curling striker barely bounced past the right post.

Bamgbose could have had a brace on the stroke of halftime, but he scuffed it wide from inside the box.

The home side took their lead into the break after a confident first-half performance.

United 58 conjured up an opportunity nine minutes after halftime.

Tariq Maia lined up a first-time shot from outside the box that Kaye held onto.

The visitors carried on their pressure and went forward on the hour mark.

Patrick Antelmi battled to get control of a right-sided cross, and the ball deflected towards the goal, but Kaye palmed it away to safety.

The side restored parity three minutes later.

Matthew Hatch drove the ball back from the left to the edge of the box for De Robillard who bent a superb strike into the top right corner off the post.

In the 74th minute, Kekeris sought to get Manly back in front when he shifted the ball inside from the left, seeing his shot dip narrowly over.

In the 89th minute, Manly substitute Jack Mason forced Kalac into a sharp save when he arrowed a low shot from the right of the box.

Neither side was able to snatch a winner in the end as they had to settle for a point each.

On a positive note, the hosts did stop United 58’s surge towards the top after the visitors secured four successive victories only to be thwarted by the Northern Beaches outfit.

Match Stats

Manly United FC 1 (Blake Bamgbose 32’)

Sydney United 58 FC 1 (Stephan De Robillard 63’)

Friday 10 May 2024

Cromer Park, Cromer

Referee: Adrian Arndt

Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki and Isaac Riggs

Fourth Official: Luke Chapman

Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Kieren Paull, 3. Zac Sfiligoi (45. Bilal Belkadi 63’), 4. Jesse Piriz, 6. Saxon Hillyer (34. Jack Mason 79’), 7. Peter Kekeris, 19. Alen Aganovic, 22. Blake Bamgbose (8. Joseph Fox 79’), 25. Rocco Pelle, 29. William Faulder (10. Harry McCarthy 68’), 39. Stefano Rossello

Substitutes Not Used: 14. Stefan Visscher, 31. Jay Coates

Yellow Cards: Blake Bamgbose 53’, Jesse Piriz 90+6’

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Oliver Kalac, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic, 8. Shunta Nakamura, 9. Patrick Antelmi, 10. Carlos De Oliveira (52. Ali El-Sabeh 75’), 11. Matthew Hatch, 14. Liam McGing, 15. Tariq Maia, 21. Dejan Bakrdanikoski, 22. Stephan De Robillard (13. Alessandro Lacalandra 66’)

Substitutes Not Used: 2. Cristian Gonzalez, 7. Jorda Ivancic, 17. Mathew Nikolovski, 29. Joshua Attard

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings: 

3 – Peter Kekeris (MU)

2 – Matthew Hatch (SU58)

1 – Blake Bamgbose (MU)

Report by Tim Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_

Antelmi brace guides United 58 to spirited victory over Wanderers

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A quickfire double from Sydney United 58’s top goal scorer Patrick Antelmi was enough to lead his side to a 3-2 victory over the league-leading Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday Afternoon at the Sydney United Sports Centre.

Antelmi’s brace gave the hosts a two-gaol buffer heading into the break, shortly before Stephen De Robillard extended it to three.

Another brace from Adam Bugarija gave the Wanderers a glimmer of hope at the end but it was too little to late as the valiant United 58 defence held on for the win as the Wanderers loss has seen several teams challenging for the Premiership now.

The opening stages of the game were tightly contested but as both sides began to find their footing in the game it was United 58 who slowly seized control.

Aidan Milicevic had the first real chance of the game after he cut in on his left and tried to pick out the bottom corner from just outside the box, but his chance was calmly defused by the in-form Taiga Harper.

The chances kept coming for United 58 and this time it was Patrick Antelmi who replicated Milicevic’s chance and forced an even better save out of Harper. An open Liam Hatch jumped onto the follow-up but his chance sailed over the bar

Tempers threatened to boil in the 23rd minute after a nasty collision between Ryley Hollingdale and Bailey Rule saw Stephen Lucas issue his first two cards of the afternoon.

After a tense period of the game, it was the hosts who struck first with Antelmi sensationally beating Harper with a close-range free-kick in the 27th minute.

Western Sydney found itself with a chance to answer back instantaneously as a United 58 corner was quickly defused and re-distributed to an oncoming Marcus Younis.

The pacey winger bolted forward with four of his teammates outnumbering the two remaining men in the United 58 defensive line, however a late pass from Younis and a mishandled cross from Nathanael Blair saw the chance come to an unceremonious end.

The Wanderers were made to pay moments later after a sloppy pass in the middle of the park was intercepted by Shunta Nakamura, as he played the ball through to Antelmi who calmly took slotted his chance to double his side’s lead.

With Western Sydney reeling from Antelmi’s brace, Alex Badolato attempted to get his side back in the contest, but his threatening long-range strike was easy pickings for Oliver Kalac.

In what was a relatively dominant half for the hosts, they went into the halftime break with a two-goal lead and all of the momentum.

Both sides went blow for blow to start the second half, with Badolato’s close-range volley just going wide of the target whilst Nakamura forced a brilliant save out of Harper on the other end.

Harper was continually called into action by the United 58 attack throughout the early stages of the second half, but two impressive saves denied both Antelmi and Stephen De Robillard from extending the lead to three.

Western Sydney came within inches of firing back after a rifling effort from Hammond saw Kalac tip it onto the crossbar shortly before the chance was defused by a foul in favour of the hosts.

The visitors were made to pay just moments later as Nakamura claimed his second assist of the afternoon, playing De Robillard through on goal where he fired his chance into the roof of the net.

Andrew Christiansen was quick to react and brought Bugarija into the contest off the bench, a change that turned the course of the match.

The substitute found the back of the net with what was seemingly his first touch after a brilliant setup from Hammond cutting in on the left, leaving Bugarija with a near-open target.

Bugarija came agonisingly close to a quick brace as his goal-bound half-volley clipped the top of the bar.

With Western Sydney starting to gather some crucial momentum, United 58 was dealt a massive blow as Adrian Vlastelica was shown a straight red card for a last man challenge on Younis.

With United 58 being reduced to ten men it was Kalac who stepped up in a big way, making two massive saves in the dying minutes of the game to keep the Wanderers at bay for the time being.

The Wanderers turned up the intensity in the final moments of the game, with Bugarija’s sensational effort giving the visitors a second goal and with two minutes to play the result was certainly up grabs.

The last chance of the game fell to Hammond who sent his effort into the side netting, much to the relief of the United 58 defence.

Speaking after his side’s victory, United 58 coach Zeljko Kalac didn’t hide his pride and joy in the performance.

“Fantastic performance, especially in the first half we turned it into an NPL match with really good football,” he said.

“Second half we dropped off with the red card, we were defending for our lives at the end but that’s apart of football, I’m really proud of this team, this group of players, their effort every week is getting better and better.

“To see the crowd come back and support a team like this, it’s fantastic.”

Meanwhile, Wanderers coach Andrew Christiansen saw the positives in what was a spirited showing from his side.

“Good performance, bad result, it’s obviously two losses in a row which we never want and we’re top of the table, we want to stay up there so I’m disappointed with that,” he said.

“Pleased with the performance overall, we probably lost that game rather than them winning it, a few mistakes from us cost us but that’s why these boys are Wanderers Academy, they’re going to learn from the mistakes and build from it.

“It’s a hostile environment and it’s a new experience for a lot of those boys, I thought they dealt with it tremendously.”

Match Stats

Sydney United 58 FC 3 (Antelmi 27’, 33’, De Robillard 63’)

Western Sydney Wanderers FC 2 (Bugarija 68’, 90+2’)

Sunday May 5th, 2024

Sydney United Sports Centre

Referee: Stephen Lucas

Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki and Arinath Gobinath

Fourth Official: Liam Smith

Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Oliver Kalac, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic, 8. Shunta Nakamura, 9. Patrick Antelmi (13. Alessandro Lacalandra 75’), 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 11. Matthew Hatch (7. Jordan Ivancic 84’), 14. Liam McGing, 15. Tariq Maia (21. Dejan Bakrdanikoski 75’) 19. Aidan Milicevic (22. Stephen De Robillard 45’)

Substitutes Not Used: 2. Cristian Gonzalez, 17. Mathew Nikolovski,

Yellow Cards: Rule 23’, O. Kalac 79’, De Oliveira 80’, Z. Kalac 90+2’

Red Cards: Vlastelica 71’

Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 1. Taiga Harper, 4. Doni Grdic, 6. Dylan Scicluna, 7. Marcus Younis, 9. Nathanael Blair, 10. Alexander Badolato, 13. Aydan Hammond, 14. Zachary Sapsford, 16. Roman Culin (3. Anthony Pantazopoulos 65’) 22. Jesse Cameron (11. Adam Bugarija 65’), 25. Ryley Hollingdale

Substitutes not used: 20. Lucas Sinnott, 23. Marcus Fernandez, 77. Phillip Gigliotti, 99. Ryan Devine

Yellow Cards: Hammond 23’, Culina 25’, Grdic 86’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings:

3 – Patrick Antelmi (SU)

2 – Shunta Nakamura (SU)

1 – Adam Bugarija (WSW)

-By Dom Criniti

Shunta Nakamura: Sydney United 58’s shining Samurai

By

Shunta Nakamura has enjoyed a scintillating first campaign with Sydney United 58, emerging as the side’s most important player over the first half of 2024.

The midfielder joined United 58 from Mt Druitt Town Rangers in the offseason, after being a bright spark in what was a disappointing campaign for his former club.

“I knew Sydney United was a big club,” said Nakamura on the move.

“I had no hesitation in signing for the team.”

Nakamura went straight into what was an intense pre-season under new coach – and Socceroos legend – Zeljko Kalac – which formed a vital part of the club’s form so far this season.

“I ran a lot during the pre-season,” stated Nakamura.

“It was harder than the J-League pre-season.

“But I think it has improved the fitness of the team.”

All of Nakamura’s goals have come in the last nine matches as an attacking midfielder, which was a position change for the midfielder after their defeat to Sydney Olympic.

Since then, Nakamura has scored six times and has shown his quality with a range of finishes highlighting his tidy, well-rounded and incisive skillset.

“I started the season playing on the right wing and then moved to the number 10 role in the game after the loss to Sydney Olympic,” said Nakamura on his position change.

United 58 have enjoyed a fantastic campaign thus far, sitting in fifth spot, just three points off second place and seven away from top spot.

They are currently on a winning streak of three matches, which began with a stunning 6-0 dismantling of APIA Leichhardt, then a strong win over finals rivals Marconi Stallions before comprehensively defeating Sydney FC last weekend.

“It’s important for us to play 100% every week,” said Nakamura on the season thus far.

“Hopefully we can finish in a good position.”

Finally, the exciting attacking midfielder spoke about his future ambitions, which corresponded with looking to continue his exceptional form with United 58 over the remainder of the campaign.

“I need to become a better player to stay in Australia for a long time,” he said.

“I want to become a better player and play at a higher level.

“I believe in myself.”

-By Jack George

Sydney United 58 continues its positive run

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Sydney United 58 are one of the in-form teams of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition following a 2-0 win over Sydney FC at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Friday evening.

The Sky Blues will lament their finishing touch in the game. They had plenty of chances but were repelled by the visitors defence. Zachary De Jesus was given his marching orders after his red card in the 74th minute.

Sydney United 58 FC won their third game on the spin with a professional performance in this encounter. Shunta Nakamura made it 1-0 in the  8th minute then Aidan Milicevic doubled the delight in the 72nd minute to confirm the points.

The hosts held much of the ball in the first few minutes but Sydney United 58 FC almost caught them on the counter.

The visitors made it 1-0 in the 8th minute. Japanese ace Shunta Nakamura took his first touch well then thrashed it home for the visitors.

Sydney FC tried to respond through Marin France. He roamed down the wing before cutting inside and shooting straight at Sydney United 58 FC keeper Oliver Kalac.

The visitors continued to be a threat to add a second goal to their tally. Aidan Milicevic unfurled a strike which Sydney FC keeper Adam Pavlesic tipped over.

Milicevic turned provider for Sydney United 58 FC in their next move. He found sharpshooter Patrick Antelmi to hit the side netting.

Nakamura wanted to double his delight on the counter. He strode forward then curled one straight at Pavlesic in the 29th minute.

The Sky Blues had the final chance of the first half. Jacob Brazete strode forward then whipped it wide of the right post.

Both teams settled straight back into their shape after the break. Sydney FC held much of the ball but couldn’t find a finishing touch.

Sydney United 58 FC almost struck on the counter again. Antelmi was found in stride but he sent it over the bar in the 56th minute.

The Sky Blues kept pressing for an equalizer. Meliwethu Nkomo fizzed in a superb cross which France nodded over.

The visitors should’ve had a second. Nakamura threaded it through for Tariq Maia who was denied by a leg save from Pavlesic.

Sydney United 58 FC punished the hosts again for 2-0. United 58 club skipper Adrian Vlastelica sent in a diagonal ball which Milicevic brought down well and chipped home in the 72nd minute.

The challenge became much harder for Sydney FC in the 74th minute as De Jesus was sent off for a dangerous challenge which left the Sky Blues with 10 men.

Antelmi went close to making it three for the visitors. He was played through then thrashed an effort over the bar.

Two Sydney United 58 FC substitutes in Alessandro Lacalandra and Stephan De Robillard linked up but it was swept away.

It wasn’t Sydney FC’s night. Substitute Ayouk Mow pinched the ball, rounded the keeper but a last ditch challenge denied him.

Speaking post match, Sydney FC coach Jimmy Van Weeren reflected on the performance from his side.

“I thought they were ahead of us for the first 15 then we dominated the game for the rest of the game and the second goal killed the game.

“On a football level, it was a good performance but now we need to go to the next stage and finish chances.

“The aim for us to be competitive and promote players like we did this week into the first team and I think we can do both.” said Van Weeren.

While for victorious Sydney United 58 FC coach Zeljko Kala, he was delighted with three points in what has been a busy week for the side.

“It is a super week with three wins during this period.

“There are some tired bodies but they showed great commitment tonight.

“We had chances to be further ahead with chances but we got the win and we knew it wasn’t going to be a pretty game.” said Kalac.

Match Stats

Sydney FC 0

Sydney United 58 FC 2 (Nakamura ‘8 Milicevic ‘72)

Friday 26 April 2024

Ilinden Sports Centre

Referee: Kurt Ams

Assistant Referees: Hayden Michlmayr & Matthew Harris

Fourth Official: Ethan Zvargulis

Sydney FC: 3. Tyler Williams, 5. Meliwethu Nkomo, 8. Lachlan Middleton (6. Dylan Rose ’70), 9. Bailey Callaghan, 11. Marin France, 13. Jacob Brazete (17. Ayouk Mow ’59), 14. Jared Middleton, 18. Matthew Scarcella (22. Will Kennedy ’70), 20. Adam Pavlesic, 24. Wataru Kamijo (10. Tiago Quintal ’59), 36. Zachary De Jesus

Unused subs: 2. Noah Mathie, 40. Alexander Zaverdinos

Yellow cards: Nkomo ’39 De Jesus ‘60

Red cards: De Jesus ‘74

Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Oliver Kalac, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic, 7. Jordan Ivancic (2. Cristian Gonzales ’70), 8. Shunta Nakamura, 9. Patrick Antelmi (13. Alessandro Lacalandra ’84), 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 14. Liam Mcging, 15. Tariq Maia (21. Dejan Bakdanikoski ‘88, 19. Aidan Milicevic (22. Stephen De Robillard ’84)

Unused subs: 6. Adam Zervas,17. Matthew Nikolovski

Yellow cards: Gonzales ‘92

Red cards: nil

Player Ratings:

3: Aidan Milicevic (SU58)

2: Shunta Nakamura (SU58)

1: Adrian Vlastelica (SU58)

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)

Scenes as Sydney United 58 break Stallions hearts with magic comeback

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Sydney United 58 managed a sensational comeback to take three points from a hard-fought local derby against the Marconi Stallions at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.

The physical battle saw the Stallions open scoring in the 28th minute through James Temelkovski then follow up with another in the 44th minute through Cameron Windust.

Sydney United 58 took hold of the second half with goals from Aidan Milicevic and Patrick Antelmi to equalise, because securing the lead through Carlos de Oliveira in the 92nd minute.

It was a relatively slow start to the match as both sides settled in.

The first chance of the match came from the hosts in the 5th minute as de Oliveira took at shot at the target, however it stuck to the palms of Marconi custodian James Hilton.

A ball from Domenic Costanzo met Hiroshima Aoyama in the area in the 15th minute, however he wasn’t able to get a shot off as United 58s defence kept it out of play.

Sydney United 58 responded quickly as Bailey Rule crossed into the area, but Milicevic’s header passed over the crossbar.

Costanzo took a chance from afar for the visitors in the 17th minute, but his shot was off target.

Matthew Hatch’s speedy forward run saw him looking dangerous in the 20th minute, however his effort was thwarted by Hilton.

Brandon Vella jumped on an opportunity to intercept in the 28th minute, blazing forward before passing it off to Franco Maya.

Maya used some quick footwork to get in position to let off a shot, sending the ball past Oliver Kalac in goals, with Temelkovski guiding it over the line at the finish.

A hand ball from United 58 in the 44th minute gave Marconi an opportunity from the right edge of the 18-yard box before the break.

Maya sent the ball into the area and a deflection saw it pop up in front of Windust, who simply nodded it over the line.

A free kick from Milicevic found Anthony Tomelic in first-half injury time, but he guided his header outside the sticks leaving the visitors with a two-goal advantage heading into the half-time break.

A free kick early in the second stanza saw the hosts with a chance to get back in the match but Antelmi sent his effort over the crossbar.

A strike from Antelmi from range in the 56th minute brought Hilton into action again as the hosts continued to show their hunger for a goal.

The sustained pressure paid off for United 58 in the 60th minute as they made their way onto the scoreboard.

Hatch received the ball from the left flank and crossed it to Milicevic in the area, who finished it off from in front of the goal.

The goal certainly buoyed the home side as the pace of the match picked up and the crowd grew louder.

The hosts managed the equaliser in the 80th minute through Antelmi, bringing even more life to the fiery derby.

Substitute Alessandro Lacalandra sent a ball into the area, which was kept out by Nathan Millgate.

Shunta Nakamura retrieved the ball and passed to Antelmi in front of goal, who fired it in to finish from close range.

Antelmi was back in action in the 92nd minute, holding the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box before tapping to off to De Oliveira, who fired past a diving Hilton to take the lead for the hosts.

Captain Marko Jesic had the last chance to net an equaliser in injury time from a well-positioned free kick, however his effort skewed just wide of the goal.

Sydney United 58 coach Zeljko Kalac was pleased his side was able to work their way to a victory after a rocky first half.

“In the first half we continued from how we trained on Friday – rubbish,” he said.

“In the first half, it was just so transitional, every time we got the ball we lost it, then we were always chasing so we couldn’t play our style of football.

“All I said to them at half time was ‘this is not us, we need to go out there and show who we are, lift our game by 10 or 20 per cent and we’ll score five goals against this team’.

“We didn’t quite score five, we scored three, but I’ll take that.

“We started retaining the ball, putting together three or four passes and they just couldn’t deal with that.”

Match Stats

Sydney United 58 3 (Milicevic 60’, Antelmi 80’, de Oliveira 92’)

Marconi Stallions 2 (Temelkovski 28’, Windust 45’)

Sunday 21 April 2024

Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park

Referee: Adrian Arndt

Assistant Referees: Aaron Bloch and Joel Crawford

Fourth Official: Hayden Langholz

Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Oliver Kalac, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic (21. Dejan Bakrdanikosksi 73’), 8. Shunta Nakamura, 9. Patrick Antelmi, 10. Carlos de Oliveira, 11. Matthew Hatch (7. Jordan Ivancic 73’) 14. Liam McGing, 19. Aidan Milcevic, 22. Stephan de Robillard (13. Alessandro Lacalandra 73’)

Substitutes Not Used: 2. Cristian Gonzalez, 6. Adam Zervas, 17. Mathew Nikolovski

Yellow Cards: Nakamura 22’, de Oliveira 31’, McGing 37’, Vlastelica 42’, Milicevic 89’

Red Cards: Nil

Marconi Stallions: 1. James Hilton, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Cameron Windust, 6. Domenic Constanzo (17. Milislav Popovic 81’), 7. Franco Maya, 8. Daniel Bouman (25. Jonathan Soares 81’, 14. Dylan Susovic 86’), 9. James Temelkovski (21. Jakov Malbasa 81’), 10. Mario Jesic, 11. Hirokai Aoyama, 18. George Daniel, 23. Brandon Vella

Substitutes Not Used: 24. Mackenzie Syron, 26. Matthew Martignago

Yellow Cards: Maya 45’, Bouman 60’, Windust 86’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Aidan Milicevic (SU)

2 – Patrick Antelmi (SU)

1 – Brandon Vella (MS)

-By Madeline Riley