An expectant crowd was on hand for the local derby of the Lions. Wollongong United came into the clash in 3rd position after a resounding 3-0 win over Albion Park White Eagles on Anzac Day. While the visitors sat a point outside the top 5 after their stirring 3-2 win also against the White Eagles.

Cringila started the match with a spell of decent possession but forfeited the first chance of the match in the 5th minute. Daisuke Yazawa was played through on goal, the crowd gasped as he went to strike the ball but a last-ditch interception from Josiah Sherwin kept the Japanese attacker at bay.

The chance was followed by United gaining near full control of the match with Cringila finding it hard to push out of their half. In the 23rd minute, a lofted pass from Shinchi Takeuchi bypassed the United backline for Milan Atlagic to run onto. The forward attempted to blast it past Sam Nastic but the United number 1 pushed it over the bar. A crucial save but Atlagic would have been disappointed not to have done better with just the keeper to beat.

The home side resumed control but struggled to make any notable chances with Willy Savor’s team defending astutely. A tame first half drew to a close with the score locked at nil all.

United was assertive from the restart and in the 48th minute they took the lead. A silky sequence of passing found Zac Mclaren on the left of the 18-yard box, he faked to go around his defender but instead played a deft pass to Yazawa who placed the ball into the bottom right. A brilliant move which left the Cringila players seemingly motionless.

Cringila had a couple of chances to equalise, starting from the 54th minute when Sho Katayama sent a free kick just wide of the left post before a corner found its way to Takao Teramoto who was not able to steer his shot on target.

In the 21st minute, Yazawa nearly bagged his second goal of the match. The United number 3 got on the end of a cut back from Klime Sekutkoski. The lethal Yazawa looked to tuck it into the near post but Alexander Boullosa managed to get a touch on the ball to deflect it out for a corner. Yazawa left with his hands on his head in the Cringila goal.

In the 33rd minute, Cringila had another opportunity to draw level when Ibrahim Cesay played Rodney Lewin through on goal. The wideman had a clear path to goal but a slight hesitation allowed the United defenders to cover and push him away from goal. Lewin finally managed to get an attempt away but it trickled across the ‘keeper and out for a goal kick.

With 10 minutes remaining, United nearly put the game to bed when Yazawa floated a ball into Sekutkoski on the inside right of the Cringila box. The attacker who had been lively since his second half introduction opted to volley the ball but could not manage to direct it past Boullosa.

In the burning embers of the match, the home side managed to slow down the play as Cringila searched for the leveller. It was never to come with the match finishing 1-0 to Wollongong United - the same scoreline when these sides meet at Macedonia Park last season.

After the match, United boss Oliver Vrtkovski admitted his side were flat in what he described as a “sombre win”. Vrtkovski did draw positives from his side’s third clean sheet of the season, “We have a few young guns playing… so with some changes, it’s very important we’re getting clean sheets and results.” The win keeps United in 3rd position with a game in hand. They visit Memorial Park next Sunday to play Corrimal Rangers who are two points off the bottom of the table.

As for Cringila, the narrow defeat sees them drop to 9th after their nearest rivals all picked up points. Wally Savor’s side is in for a big week as they return to Macedonia Park on Wednesday night to face Kemblawarra Fury before hosting Picton Rangers at Crehan Park on Friday night.

 

Wollongong United - 1 (Yuzawa 48’)

Cringila Lions - 0

 

Sunday the 30th of April at Macedonia Park, Berkeley

 

Wollongong United - Sam Nastic, Maty Brennan, Benjamin Brooks, Kai Miyakawa, Shivan Swamy, Milan Zoric, Mac Mclaren, Billy Tsovolas, Daisuke Yuzawa, Taka Noji and Bradley Acev

Subs - Klime Sekutkoski (on for Noji), Joel Craig (on for Mclaren), Karouna Michael, Angelo Hajittofi and Zac Mazevski (on for Acev)

Coach - Oliver Vrtkovski

 

Cringila Lions - Alexander Boullosa, Nathan Macgraw, Aleksander Todoroski, Josiah Sherwen, Todd Sparks, Shinchi Takeuchi, Alexander Brbevski, Takao Teramoto, Sho Katayama, Ibrahim Cesay and Milan Atlagic

Subs - Rodney Lewin (on for Brbevski), Jacob Martin, Daniel Ramirez, Daniel Trpevski and Nicholas Purdevski

Coach - Wally Savor

 

Referee - Bobby Mazevski

Assistant Referees - Max Vercoe and Jacob Kenta

 

Report by Dylan Arvela on Twitter @dylanarvela