Sydney United FC vs Wanderers NPL 05/05/2024 3:00PM

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Sydney United vs Western Sydney Wanderers

VS
Date: 05/05/24
Competition: NPL NSW Men
Location: Edensor Park
Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre

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SU58 line-up: 1. Oliver Kalac (gk), 3. Bailey Rule 4. Adrian Vlastelica 5. Anthony Tomelic 8. Shunta Nakamura, 9. Patrick Antelmi, 10. Carlos De Oliveria 11. Matt Hatch 14. Liam McGing, 15. Tariq Maia, 19. Aidan Milicevic

Subs: 2. Cristian Gonzalez 7. Jordan Ivancic 13. Alessandro Lacalandra 17. Mathew Nikolovski (gk), 21. Dejan Bakranikoski 22. Stephan De Robillard

Wanderers line-up: 1. Taiga Harper, 4. Doni Grdic, 6. Dylan Scicluna, 7. Marcus Younis, 9. Nathanael Blair, 10. Alex Badolato 13. Aydan Hammond, 14. Zac Sapsford (c), 16. Roman Culina 22. Jesse Cameron, 25. Ryley Hollingdale

Subs: 3.Anthony Pantazopoulos, 11. Adam Bugarija, 20. Lucas Sinnott (gk), 23. Marcus Fernandez, 77. Phillip Gigliotti, 99. Ryan Devine.

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Lost 3-2.

SU got out to a 3-0 lead, had a red card. Bugarija pulled back two late but a last second strike from Hammond hit the side netting.

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WANDERERS SUFFER A LOSS AGAINST SYDNEY UNITED

The Wanderers suffered a 3-2 loss against an in-form Sydney United at Sydney United Sports Centre in Edensor Park. Adam Bugarija scoring both goals for the Wanderers.

7 changes were made to the squad as Dylan Scicluna, Marcus Younis, Nathanael Blair, Alex Badolato, Aydan Hammond, and Zac Sapsford returned into the squad after the A-League season was over and Ryley Hollingdale returned to the squad as well. They replaced Awan Lual, Marcus Fernandez, Edmun Haddad, Namory Conde, Dimo Dimo and Anthony Barbic who returned to the Under 20’s squad and also Alex Bonetig who apparently is injured.

The Wanderers looked to have an opportunity to score in the 10th minute with Jesse Cameron setting up pass for Aydan Hammond to break Sydney United’s defence. Hammond managed to get Liam McGing to defend him which allowed Hammond to get a pass to Zac Sapsford. Sapsford should have taken a shot at goal, but he decided to try and pass it to Nathanael Blair. However, Sapsford tried a pass to Blair that would allow Sydney United to intercept the pass and clear the ball away from their own half of the field.

Sydney United would get their first decent chance to score in the 12th minute with Japanese midfielder Shunta Nakamura getting a cross to striker Patrick Antelmi. Antelmi would fire a shot that would go over the Wanderers defence and had Taiga Harper diving to do a magnificent save to deny Antlemi’s shot going into the back of the net. However, Matthew Hatch would sprint to get the ball and fire another quick shot. But, Hatch’s chance would sail over the cross bar.

A controversial call was made in the 19th minute by Stephen Lucas as Nathanael Blair stepped onto the box, he was held by Liam McGing and Blair falling down to get a penalty. Stephen Lucas didn’t award the Wanderers with the penalty as Blair was covering the ball in between his legs while still down but Sydney United would eventually get possession of the ball. A ludicrous call made my Lucas.

Things were getting out of hand in the 21st minute as you could see tensions were boiling between the two clubs. Aydan Hammond managed to get a pass for Nathanael Blair that could see the Wanderers commence a counterattack. However, Bailey Rule’s tackle attempt on Blair saw him hit Blair and no contact even on the ball at all. This caused both teams to push and shove each other back and forth. Afterwards, Stephen Lucas would only give Bailey Rule a yellow card to Rule and a yellow card to Aydan Hammond for pushing and shoving some Sydney United players. His controversial second call for the day as Rule should have been given a red.

Sydney United were on the board in the 26th minute as Roman Culina tried a tackle on Patrick Antelmi but he didn’t get the ball. Stephen Lucas gave Sydney United a free kick just inches outside the penalty box area.  Antelmi stepped up to take the free kick with his attempt going over the wall and Taiga Harper diving low while the ball went high and into the back of the net. Antelmi would run to the corner were the RBB would be standing and cheering in front of them.

The Wanderers had a counterattack chance in the 30th minute as Tariq Maia was juggling the ball, Zac Sapsford took possession of the ball off him and commence the counterattack. The Wanderers had 5 players running towards United’s end of the field with only two Sydney United to defend. Younis sprinted with the ball and would eventually pass to his right to Blair, tried a cross back into the penalty box area but Blair’s cross was an awful one as the ball would go out for a goal kick. It was a massive waste of a chance for the Wanderers.

Sydney United would get their second goal of the day after an error from Roman Culina. Culina was defended heavily by Patrick Antelmi. Culina would try and pass it back to Grdic but the pass didn’t not have much momentum for Grdic as Shunta Nakamura intercept and commence the sprint towards Taiga Harper. Nakamura would get the ball back to Antelmi with Harper only in front of him. Harper would try and stop Antelmi’s attempt but he smashed it into the back of the

The Wanderers were the first out of the two squads to try and score in the second half as Ryley Hollingdale lobbed the ball to his left to Jesse Cameron as Cameron got himself just inside the box, he would try a cross into penalty box but his cross was headed away by Liam McGing. McGing’s header would only have the ball going towards Alex Badolato who would try a quick fire shot at goal. But, his attempt was just wide.

Sydney United almost got their third goal in the 48th minute as Shunta Nakamura was dribbling pass a handful of some Wanderers players, he would take a shot at goal which was stopped by Taiga Harper. However, Harper didn’t have the ball in his hands as it would spill ahead of him. Patrick Antelmi would sprint towards the ball to put pressure on Taiga Harper but would eventually the ball to deny Antelmi on having an attempt to score.

The Wanderers had a chance to score in the 58th minute was Marcus Younis getting a cross for Zac Sapsford. However, Sapsford couldn’t head the ball into the back of the net as Sydney United watched the ball go out for a goal kick awarded to them. Minutes later. Nathanael Blair managed to get a pass to Ayden Hammond who was unmarked by Sydney United. Hammond fired a shot that saw his attempt go pass Oliver Kalac but only to be denied by the crossbar.

Sydney United would get their third goal in the 63rd minute as Shunta Nakamura would have the ball inside Wanderers own half of the field and no one defending him. He would get a pass to Stephen De Robillard who timed his run and beat Dylan Scicluna and hit it into the back of the net.

It was at this stage, Sydney United decided to play a ‘park the bus’ and ‘time wasting’ tactic despite the Wanderers trying as many opportunities as possible to score. However, the Wanderers would eventually see themselves on the board in the 67th minute as Aydan Hammond did a fantastic job of getting a pass to substitute Adam Bugarija who would take a shot at goal with Oliver Kalac having no chance to dive and stop it as he watched it go into the back of the net. It was a great goal as the former Sydney United player himself would get his 8th goal of the season.

The Wanderers almost scored two minutes later as Alex Badolato was pouncing towards Sydney United and trying to get a break from their defence line Sydney United would get the ball off him, but it would bounce towards Adam Bugarija. Bugarija tried a shot at goal but his attempt was too high despite it just touching the cross bar.

Sydney United would be down to 10 men in the 70th minute as Sydney United’s captain Adrian Vlastellica had done a challenge on Marcus Younis for the ball, it appears he had stomped towards Younis as well. Sapsford pointed this out to Stephen Lucas and sideline ref Patrick Teleki. Teleki approached Lucas about the incident which saw Lucas giving the Sydney United captain a straight red card.

With Sydney United down a player, the Wanderers would throw as much as possible to try and score. Dylan Scicluna had an opportunity in the 72nd minute as Marcus Younis tried a cross into the penalty area but only for Matthew Hatch to clear the ball but it would roll towards Scicluna. Sclcluna fired a shot that was wide.

In the 82nd minute, Anthony Pantazopoulos would try a cross for Nathanael Blair would who head the ball into the back of the net. But, it was saved by Oliver Kalac. Alex Badolato tried an attempt in the 86th minute but it would also be saved by Oliver Kalac and in the 88th minute, a cross by Jesse Cameron would see the ball going to Adam Bugarija that would be saved by Kalac again.

Another controversial call was made by Stephen Lucas in the 89th minute as Zac Sapsford received the ball from Marcus Younis as Dejan Bakrdanikoski challenged Sapsford for the ball which saw Sapsford fall in the penalty box. Lucas said no foul despite the ball rolling out for a corner kick.

Bugarija would get his second goal just minutes into injury time as Liam McGing tried to clear the ball away from goals, Adam Bugarija managed to get the ball and fire it quickly into the net. It was a superb goal which gets him his 9th for the season.

The Wanderers only had a few minutes to try and get another and walk away with 1 point. Ayden Hammond tried as he did a solo run, he would fire a shot, but it would hit the side of the nets.

Eventually, Stephen Lucas would blow the whistle for full time 2 minutes later. Sydney United would win 3-2 as the Wanderers suffered back-to-back losses.

The loss will hurt the Wanderers as they had 7 point lead a few weeks ago and now only have a 1-point lead with 30 points. Rockdale are on 29 points in 2nd, Marconi are on 3rd with
28 but 5th place APIA Leichardt could get back to 3rd place if they beat Sydney FC tonight (They are currently leading 5-0 against Sydney FC with only 35 minutes into the game) and Sydney United are now 4th with 26 points. The Wanderers will need to get back to their winning form otherwise they’ll slide down the ladder.

The next game for the Wanderers NPL squad will be against Labinot Haliti’s Sydney Olympic on Saturday 11th May at Wanderers Football Park. Kick off is scheduled at 7pm.

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