August 5, 2024
2024 NSW NPL MENS 1 ROUND 27
WOLLONGONG WOLVES v ROCKDALE ILINDEN
WOLVES CONCEDE EARLY AND LATE GOALS TO LOSE TO THE TOP TEAM
The Wollongong Wolves, despite outplaying the top of the table team, Rockdale Ilinden in much of the second half, have suffered a disheartening 1-2 defeat after giving away early and late goals. Gilt-edged chances later fell to both Sebastian Hernandez and Yagoub Mustafa to win the match, when they were one on one with Rockdale goalkeeper, Nick Sorras. However, neither could convert. The Wolves got even closer when Chris McStay’s rocket looked likely to turn the scoreboard over, but the ball whacked into the cross bar.  Rockdale out stayed the opposition scoring in the last minute of four added on when Blake Ricciuto converted his opportunity.
Both teams were vying for the three points. The Wolves needed these to qualify for the finals and Rockdale was chasing the Premiership with Marconi getting closer and needed to keep them at arm’s length. Three Wolves players, Banri Kanaizumi, Chris McStay and Alex Masciovecchio were playing against their former club.
Rockdale kicked off with the Wolves facing the southern end. The ball was soon sent forward intending for Rockdale’s Giorgio Speranza to collect, but instead, it sailed over his head over the sideline. Bai Antoniou was released down the left only for Harrison Buesnel to intervene.
Scant time later Rockdale got into the lead when, So Kataoka headed in from a close vicinity. An Urosevski long throw from the left went into the centre of the goal area line. A few players vied for the ball with a nary a touch, except for Kataoka, who flicked his header goalwards in just the second minute. Not a good start for the Wolves.
The home team needed to respond quickly, and Sebastian Hernandez burst forward down the right. Nothing emanated though but a Chris McStay set piece was headed over by Buesnell soon after. A few minutes later, Buesnel cleared after Ricciuto plied the ball up field.
Urosevski was tackled by Mustafa in the box and a shout for a penalty was forthcoming. It fell on deaf ears. A minute later, Urosevski, scorer of twenty-seven goals this season, looked to add to his tally with a free header in the twelfth minute. Lochlan Constable had put the ball in, but Urosevski’s effort went high. He later sent a cross in from the left with Kataoka going for it, but the Wolves’ custodian Vedran Janjetovic smothered the chance. Dylan Ryan had a header that traversed over the cross bar
Takumi Ofuka, who was causing Rockdale trouble throughout the match on the left with his tricky feet and sudden changes of direction, made an enterprising run into the box from the left. He cut the ball back to McStay but as he shaped to shoot, he was tackled simultaneously. Buesnell headed away as Urosevski lurked.
On twenty minutes, Samuel Riak passed to Ofuka on the touch line. He in turn laid it off to McStay who placed to Scott who was next to him. The ball was pushed out to Ofuka who had continued his run, then sprinted into the box. At the by line, he lifted the ball back to Scott, who turned his header towards goal. The ball ran to McStay at the far post, and he tapped the ball home as a desperate Sorras slid in. This was his second goal in successive matches.
Rockdale went to redress the situation but Buesnell timely tackle on Dean Pelekanos saw off the danger and at the other end, Hernandez was ready to pull the trigger only for Daniel Collins to enact a last ditched tackle. Janjetovic plucked the ball from Urosevski’s feet. The Wolves were fashioning more chances as the match wore on. Scott headed over as did McStay and at the half time break, it was all even on the scoreboard.
Rockdale were quick off the blocks in the second half as Urosevski lashed a shot from distance that Janjetovic held. Buesnel got the ball before Urosevski and throughout the match was keeping Urosevski at bay with good positioning, strong tackling and timely interceptions.
On fifty-six minutes a McStay corner kick from the right was narrowly headed wide by Darcy Madden. A few minutes earlier, Pelekanos hit his chance skywards.
Near the hour mark, Hernandez showed a clean pair of heals and had only Sorras to beat. The goalkeeper came off his line and Hernandez struck the ball straight at him.   A few crosses from Trew failed to elicit any joy and on seventy-minutes Hernandez flashed his effort wide after a long run. It was in the seventy fifth minute when McStay’s free kick was denied by the cross bar.
Urosevski tried to set up Pelekanos, but they were not on the same wavelength and the chance went begging.
Mustafa found himself in space after a good pass from Alex Masciovecchio. Â He charged toward the Rockdale goal. As he got nearer with the crowd cheering him on, Sorras left his line. Close to the goal, Mustafa shot with the ball cannoning off Sorras.
However, Rockdale came back with the winner in added time. A Kataoka free kick on the left was whipped in. Ricciuto got his head to the ball from close range. Janjetovic tried desperately to save but could not repel the ball.
The Wolves have now slipped to seventh place while Rockdale continue in the top position. The final three games will be crucial.
Defensive lynch pin Harrison Buesnel -‘we definitely came out and played well in the second half and lacked concentration at the end right at the end and at the beginning. Two soft goals let us down. He (Urosevski) is a big player, so I was concentrating to try and keep him quiet. He was reasonably quiet…  We were pretty good. It was a tough way to lose.… We need to win all off them.’
MATCH STATISTICS
WOLLONGONG WOLVES ……..……..1             Â
Chris McStay 20’
ROCKDALE ILINDEN …………………2
So Kataoka 2’ Blake Ricciutto 90+2
@WIN STDIUM, WOLLONGONG.
SUNDAYÂ 4th AUGUST
3.00 p.m. kick off.
WOLLONGONG WOLVES
Coach: David Carney
- Vedran Janjetovic GK, 2. Harrison Buesnel,4. Dylan Ryan (3. Darcy Madden 28’) 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Samuel Riak, 7. Takumi Ofuka 8. Andre Takami (9. Jake Trew 64’), 10. Yagoub Mustafa 11. Sebastian Hernandez (Alex Masciovecchio 87’) 73’)
- Lachlan Scott (Capt.) 88. Christopher McStay.
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Oliver Yates 27. Damon Gray 29. Ben Giason
Yellow Cards: Samuel 35’, Lachlan Scott 72’, David Carney 90+5
Red Cards: Nil
ROCKDALE ILINDEN
Coach: Nick Stavroulakis
- Ricardo Rizzo, 3. Lachlan Griffiths,2. Daniel Collins (4. Roberto Speranza 64’) 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alex Urosevski (C) 8. Dean Pelekanos, 9. Bai Antoniou (15. Olayinka Sunmola 64’), 11. Lochlan Constable, 22. Blake Ricciuto, 23. Hunter Elliott (19. Jason Cakovski 87’) 77. So Kataoka
Subs. not used: 17. Bre Ovens, 20. Ricardo Rizzo
Yellow Cards – Daniel Collins 60’
Red Cards: nil
Referee: Kelly Jones
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Matthew Harris
Fourth Official -Mayson Griffiths
By Malcolm Rowney
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