Albion Park White Eagles crashed out of this season’s Westfield FFA Cup on Wednesday night in a 5-0 defeat to NPL NSW side Blacktown Spartans. The scoreline does little to reflect how competitive this cup tie was for the first 55 minutes, though, with the Illawarra Premier League side more than holding their own against the semi-professionals from Sydney’s western suburbs.

The White Eagles went in at half time just a goal down, and had just missed a golden opportunity to equalise when they conceded the second just before the hour mark. Three classy goals in three minutes then sealed the match for the Spartans, who progress on into Round 5.

With a number of players out injured and others unavailable, it was the White Eagles who fielded a weaker than usual line-up for the cup tie, while the visitors ran out with virtually the same squad as they have used in their NPL league games this season. The Spartans were here to do a job, but the White Eagles were not about to give in easily.

The game was played at a frenetic pace from the whistle, with Shohei Okuno and Kotaro Higashi looking lively for the White Eagles, while Amaury Gauthier and Shu Sasaki, the scorer of the winner against the Wollongong Wolves a few weeks ago, keeping the White Eagles defence on its toes.

It was Sasaki who set up Gauthier for the Spartans’ first chance after ten minutes, but the striker saw his shot thump against the post with Bryce Daenell in goal beaten. Minutes later, Sasaki again set up Anthony Proia out left, but this time Daenell got a hand to the ball to keep the shot out.

The opening goal was not long in coming, though. In the 19^th minute, Proia’s shot was not taken cleanly by Daenell, the ball popping out into the path of Dullak, who had a simple tap-in to give Blacktown the lead.

But the White Eagles responded well and had chances of their own before the break. First Higashi cut the ball back from the byline for Okuno, but his shot didn’t trouble Saliadarre in the Spartans goal. Then it was Darren Jones playing provider for Okuno, but this time his right foot shot flew just wide of the upright. And then Jones himself had a go from 40 yards out, forcing a last ditch save from Saliadarre as the ball drifted goalwards at the last minute. And just before the break, Grant Wilson, up from defence for a corner, rose highest but steered his header just wide.

With everything to play at the start of the second half, the White Eagles appeared to have settled into this tie and were looking to open their account. Okuna’s speed of reaction caught a defender in possession and suddenly he was in the penalty area with only the keeper to beat, but somehow Saliadarre got a hand on the ball to keep the home side out.

The Spartans broke quickly and within seconds it was 2-0. Gauthier raced clear on a 30m run, riding the tackles, and slotted home past a helpless Daenell.

With victory in sight, the NPL side showed their class with three quick fire goals in as many minutes to knock the stuffing out of the White Eagles.

First Tomohiro Hyam raced down the left flank before turning the ball into the area where Sasaki lunged at the ball and just made contact to force the ball home for the Spartans’ third.

A minute later saw a solo effort from Gauthier as he jinked right and left before setting up a curling shot into the far corner giving Daenell no chance.

And then in the 67^th minute, Nakaruma picked the ball up inside his own half, took one touch to beat the defender and unleashed a shot that once again was out of Daenell’s reach.

It was an extraordinary few minutes that basically settled the match. And from a battling, bruising fast-paced cup-tie that could have gone either way, it was suddenly game over. There were tired legs on both sides and the pace of the game finally dropped.

When Okuno fired a final effort across the face of the goal in the 90^th minute, it was the final roll of the dice for the home side and they were not even to get the consolation goal they richly deserved.

This was a gutsy performance from Albion Park and great experience for some of their young players, taking on the first choice squad of an NPL NSW side. If they’d put away a couple of those chances either side of half time, this could have been a very different result. But Blacktown Spartans certainly showed their class when they needed to in front of goal and thoroughly deserved to progress to the next round of the Cup.

 

Albion Park White Eagles – 0

Blacktown Spartans – 5 (Dullak 19’, Gauthier 57’ 65’, Sasaki 64’, Nakaruma 67’)

Wednesday 13 April 2016

Crehan Park

Referee: Jerry Bittas

Assistant referees: Adam Naylor, Angela Gray

Albion Park White Eagles: Daenell, Cario, Best, Wilson (Ross Prandalos 68’), Dafkovski, Peter Prandalos, Patterson, Del Turco, Jones (Domine 62’), Djukic, Okuno, Higashi (Wray 64’) (subs not used: Crapis, Hutton)

Blacktown Spartans: Saliadarre, Mutch, Dukic (Morton 52’), Perkatis, Sasaki, Proia (Crighton62’) Nakaruma, Whiteside, Tomohiro Hyam, Dullak (Ott 45’), Gauthier (subs not used: Tosi, Nascimben)

 

Report by Simon Duffin

Photo Courtesy of Pedro Garcia (Spartans v Wolves 2 April 2016)