Monday 22 May 2017

Sydney Olympic 3-1 Sutherland Sharks

Once again as with last week, the top 4 were all playing each other meaning points would be dropped by the teams above us. Unlike with last week where we couldn’t capitalise on the situation, on Sunday we did take advantage to pick up a massive 3 points at home to the Sutherland Sharks.

The first-half as a whole was fairly ordinary from a Sydney Olympic point of view, we looked a little tentative throughout. As was expected though against a fairly poor Sutherland team we controlled most of the possession and we were rarely troubled in defence for most of the time. We were looking clunky in attack as whenever we got into any advanced positions a poor final touch, pass or cross would de-rail the move and at times we looked poor in the front third. Sutherland made a few forays towards our goal but their attacks mostly amounted to nothing until 10 minutes before half-time, when one of their players delivered a low non-threatening cross which appeared to be scooped up by Paul Henderson, only for it to be kicked out of his hands, the ensuing scramble saw the ball poked home by Sutherland to give them the lead, all the while Sydney Olympic Supporters called for a foul on the goalkeeper, calls which fell on deaf ears. Once again we found ourselves behind at home. On the stroke of half-time we had a chance to level the scores, but the chance went missing and we went to the half-time break trailing 1-0.

If in the first-half we looked a little lethargic and even incompetent at times, the second-half was an entirely different story. In the space of 10 minutes we had scored 3 goals and could have scored a few more while at the same time making a mockery of our inability to score this season. The first goal came after a run into the box by Sebastian Malfara where he was brought down inside the box. Yu Kuboki stepped up and put the penalty away. The second goal came after a nice run from substitute Nikita Andricopoulos, who then delivered a nice cross into Radovan Pavicevic who finished off expertly. The third goal came after some good pressing and winning back of the football, which resulted in Jinya An finishing off well to make it 3 goals in double quick time. We should have had our 4th goal minutes later but the shot struck the post. We created several more chances throughout the rest of the second-half, but we could not add to our 3 goals, settling for a 3-1 win.

We spoke in previous weeks about being a “Jekyll and Hyde” team from week to week, we seemed to get that all in the one match on Sunday. The team from the first-half to the second-half looked unrecognisable.

So in the end it was a good result considering the likes of; Yianni Spyrakis, Peter Makrillos, Paul Katsetis, Niko Tsattalios, Jake de Marigny (who hasn’t played at all this season) and the departed Max Burgess who has signed for Portuguese 2nd Division outfit, C.F. Uniao were all missing.

A special mention for Tass Mourdoukoutas who looked like an experienced campaigner and was all class at the back in his first start in the League, Hagi Gligor who did not stop running all game and Jason Madonis and Will Angel who never stopped trying down the flanks all day.

In terms of the Club Championship, the U20’s lost 2-0 and the U18’s lost 2-1.

This Wednesday Night we will find out who we will face for a spot in the FFA Cup proper. Either an interesting Derby against the Bankstown Berries or Dulwich Hill.

Our next match is in the League and it is another huge game at home against the Bonnyrigg White Eagles, on Sunday Afternoon, May 28, at Belmore Sports Ground, Kick-Off is at 3pm.

Get out there and support Sydney Olympic.

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