PCYC hosted Illawarra Mercury Round 16 action as second-placed Wollongong Olympic hosted fellow heavyweights Wollongong United. Unlike the reverse fixture - a blowout 4-0 win for Olympic - the match itself was cagey through-and-through; neither side giving up much at the back. Shun Tokuno hit a trademark free-kick into the upright after 9 minutes, Daisuke Yuzawa going close from a narrow angle just before the break, slicing over the bar after a great solo run. The second half likewise provided little, Yusuke Ueda striking the upright with a neat shot the best of the slim pickings in front of goal.

Tokuno's free kick just before the 10 minute mark was an ominous omen for the visitors - dipping the dead ball over the wall from 20 yards, a fingertip save from goalkeeper Sam Nastic deflecting the ball onto his near post, before it few across goal and out of harm on the opposite side.

That was the only action for the opening half hour; Fordham then almost bursting onto the scene with a powerful drive from 30 yards flying inches wide of the upright.

Almost against the run of play, United's midfielder Kazuto Kushida had a great shot awkwardly saved by Olympic keeper Hayden Durose off a deep corner, as Kushida was left unmarked and allowed a free shot at the gloveman from 15 yards. Yuzawa also went close shortly after - running the by-line himself and cutting back onto his deadly left foot, somehow slicing over the crossbar from 10 yards.

The second half provided much of the same - a handful of half-chances missed by Olympic and United scrapping to a chance on the counter every so often.

John Martinoski found Ueda in the area with a neat dinked pass, with the talisman rolling his shot across goal, past Nastic, and into the base of the far upright, in the closest chance that either side would get.

Vaughan Patterson broke through the left fringe of United's defence, however chose to pass to Ueda instead of shooting himself, with Ueda caught in possession by a retreating backline.

Ueda was again in the thick of the action - cutting back for the great run of Kijoro Hori, only for the defender to scuff his shot into the ground from 10 yards, bobbling up kindly for Nastic as a huge turn of fortune.

United defender Maty Brennan had to be on hand to throw himself in front of a close-range effort from Jack Balmforth, United having been caught out of position with a quick free kick.

As the game drew to a close, Fordham had another shot from range, keeper Nastic bobbling the save and claiming it just before Martinoski arrived on the scene.

Into stoppage time and United had their chances to grab a late winner; Kushida saw a hooping volley from 20 yards sail just wide of the far post, before a flurry of consecutive shots into a crowded box from Kushida and Martinoski were scrambled away from danger.

Given that the respective central defensive pairings were Ben Brooks-Mark Every and Jack Keating-Jake Duczynski, it should come as little surprise that little was afforded at either end. United were covering the threat of Ueda up front fairly well, as a make-shift frontline for the Lions was struggling to generate many chances.

The draw for Olympic sees them remain second - only two points ahead of Albion Park after their win, and a point behind Bulli who are yet to play. Olympic head to Crehan Park for Round 17 - Saturday 2:30pm kickoff July 14th against Cringila.

United retain fourth place, Port Kembla reducing the margin to three points after their win. They still sit four points behind Albion Park in their chase to climb the ladder. United will host Fernhill for Round 17 - Saturday 2:30pm kickoff at Macedonia Park July 14th.

 

Saturday 7th July - PCYC

Wollongong Olympic - 0

Wollongong United - 0

 

Wollongong Olympic - Hayden DUROSE, Kojiro HORI, Jake DUCZYNSKI, Jack KEATING, Shun TOKUNO, Vaughan PATTERSON, Brendan FORDHAM, Lukas STERGIOU, Jack BALMFORTH, John MARTINOSKI, Yusuke UEDA

Subs - Christian PRETTO, Luke FOSTER (on for STERGIOU 72'), Christian CABO, EKOUE D'ALMIEDA

Wollongong United - Sam NASTIC, Kenta AZECHI, Maty BRENNAN, Ben BROOKS, Mark EVERY, Matt GORDON, Dominic HUDAP, Kazuto KUSHIDA, Hayden MORTON, Sam MUNRO, Daisuke YUZAWA

Subs - Ben WUNSCH, Zac NICHOLAS (on for AZECHI 75'), Jackson BROOKS, Sam ADNUM, Jake WEBSTER

 

Referee - Peter ILCEVSKI

Assistants - Ryan O'SULLIVAN, Jarrod MCDEAN

 

Report by David ATHERTON - Twitter @daveatho5
Photo by Dana Guthrie