August 19, 2024
2024 NPL NSW MENS 1 ROUND 29
WOLLONGONG WOLVES v NWS SPIRIT
SCORELESS STALEMATE AT MCLENNAN PARK
Despite a plethora of scoring opportunities for both teams, the outcome of the match was a point shared between the Wollongong Wolves and NWS Spirit, with a clean sheet to each team. The Wolves were searching for the three points in the hunt for finals football so two points lost could be crucial. However, the team has a glimmer of hope, needing to win against Manly in the final round and hope that Sydney United 58 lose to St. George City. This result today was the Wolves’ sixty-seventh 0-0 draw in their history with the most recent one being in in the 2023 Round 15. In addition, the Wolves have had a chequered history against Spirit with defeats in two cup games, and in two league games. With one win being a frustrating effort, this draw is also added to the list.
The match began with Spirit kicking with the Wolves running toward the eastern end. Spirit had the ball upfield very quickly and won a throw in on the left side. An early errant Wolves pass saw Michael Konestabo attempting to set up Richard Darko, but it ended in vain.
The Wolves had the initial opportunity when in the seventh minute, Sebastian Hernandez played in Takumi Ofuka with an effort that was kept out by the Spirit goalkeeper, Christopher Marques with a fine save. A little later, a Chris McStay corner came in and from close vicinity, Samuel Riak, back in the line-up after a week away, tried to pounce as Marques spilled the ball.
Not to be outdone, Takeru Sugita, fresh from a hat trick in the previous match, looked to add to his tally when his hostile shot was ultimately taken by the safe hands of the Wolves custodian, Vedran Janjetovic. Yagoub Mustafa did well to hold up the ball in defence with Jacob Chidiac sniping. A few minutes later, Chidiac, with a free header, dispatched his diving effort wide of the right post. Darko, who was a thorn in the Wolves’ side, set up him up for the offensive manoeuvre.
Mustafa made a groundbreaking run, leaving several players in his wake, but was blocked when he tried to set up his supports. He showed a clean pair of heals in a few forays out pacing his opposition during the proceedings, but the outcome was not what he desired as no goals were forthcoming.
A few minutes short of the half hour, Simon Nicholas went the closest of any player to scoring. With the goal at his mercy, he shot from the left of the goal frame. The ball eluded Riak and Janjetovic who was positioned at the near post. However, Darcy Madden stuck out his right leg to save a a probable goal if not for his intervention. At the outset of this, Riak had headed out a Darko cross. The ball was then collected by Chidiac, and he passed to his left for Nicholas. The second shot by Frankie Ljucovic flew over the bar.
Konestabo set up the dangerous Darko, who produced a dynamic shot that was turned away for a corner kick by Janjetovic. Lachlan Scott, back this week, played in Ofuka into the box, but he could change the score board. From close range, Jake Trew, fresh from a goal in the previous round, hit the ball straight at Marques from close range. Trew was later brought down in the box with shouts ringing out for a penalty, but these calls went ignored. Just, before the half time break, a Darko free kick was headed away by McStay.
At half time honours were even though the Wolves had the greater occupied territory, with Spirit going closest to a goal.
Four minutes after play resuming, McStay took it into his stride to pull off a great shot that stung the hands of Marques. Ofuka, eluded a host of players but was blocked at his precise time of his shooting. Mustafa hit one from distance, with his robust shot causing Marques some consternation. But try as they might, the game breaker did not eventuate.
Buesnell closed down Darko and after the latter’s corner kick was taken by Janjetovic, Hernandez shot high. The Wolves were mounting pressure on the Spirit goal for long periods of time and an Alex Masciovecchio cross was headed away by Ljucovic. Masciovecchio moved the ball to his left foot before despatching a rocket from the right side towards the goal. Alas, Marques was able to thwart.
A McStay corner caused a bit of a flurry in the box in the eighty-first minute. The Spirit could not get the ball away from the danger zone with a host of players vying for the ball. Madden went for it and the ball subsequently bounced off Riak and flew into the air to where Hernandez was standing on the goal area line. He intently hooked the ball towards the Spirit domain. However, it traversed to the keeper and the Wolves were no better off.
Buesnell blocked Darko and dispossessed him a little later to ward of the danger. The Spirit were not to be dismissed, and they attempted to pinch it late. Ljucovic from the edge of the box. Created a chance that unfortunately for his team and himself travelled over the cross bar.
Six corner kicks were achieved by the Wolves and unlike previous games, no goals were produced. Banri Kanaizumi, as well as his sterling defensive play and combination with Buesnell, is not getting much space by the opposition as they are aware of his capability in the air for these set pieces.
The home side could lament their omission of a cutting edge that could have won the game and set them up for next week. Unfortunately, this was not to be.
Central defender Banri Kanaizumi – ‘Yes it was frustrating, we have had enough chances to win the last few games and today we could not score. We needed the three points and draw cost us a lot, it was not enough.. I was alright and got a clean sheet which is my job. It is hard score to score as I don’t get much space at set pieces. We have our big boys so we should score from set pieces The guys, (Buesnell and Janjetovic), are excellent, they keep concentrating and we got a clean sheet.’
WOLLONGONG WOLVES …………0
NSW SPIRIT…….……………………0
@ Sir Ian McLennan Park, Kembla Grange.
SUNDAY 18th August
3.00 p.m. kick off.
WOLLONGONG WOLVES
Coach: David Carney
- Vedran Janjetovic (GK), 2. Harrison Buesnell, 3. Darcy Madden (Damon Gray 87’) 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Samuel Riak 9. Jake Trew (25. Alex Masciovecchio 59’’), 7. Takumi Ofuka 58’10. Yagoub Mustafa 11. Sebastien Hernandez 24. Lachlan Scott (Capt.), 88. Christopher McStay.
Substitutes Not Used: Andre Takami,13. Oliver Yates, 15. Dax Kelly, 29. Ben Giason.
Yellow Cards: Sebastian Hernandez 90+3
Red Cards: nil
NWS SPIRIT
- Christopher Marques (GK), 3. Kyle Shaw, 4. Jarred Mckinley, 5. Frankie Ljucovic 7. Richie Darko 8. Grant Cornwell (Capt.), 10. Michael Konestabo (20. Jared Lum 79’), 13. Simon Nicholas, 15. Takeru Sugita (19. Jesse Michel75’)’), 16. Ante Bakmaz, (Zachary Ciaci 36’), 17. Jacob Chidiac (35. Lincoln Gilmour 83’).
Substitutes not used: 21. Jayden Tran, 31. Joel Wade
Yellow Cards: Michael Konestabo 56’
Red Cards: nil
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harris and Amirhossein Hosnani
Fourth Official: Reece Edwards
By Malcolm Rowney
