Wollongong United secured an important three points against Port Kembla at Macedonia Park in a 3-1 victory. United opened the scoring late in the first half after a ball lofted in by Shane Murray found James O’Rourke who headed across the keeper and into the far corner. This advantage was doubled just past the hour mark by William Tsovolos who tapped home after a corner caused a scramble in the box. In the 69th minute, Shane Murray missed the opportunity to put United into a three-goal lead seeing his penalty saved by Cris Fuentez. Luke Boersma pulled a goal back for the visitors with ten minutes to play converting a penalty of this own. With five minutes to go super-sub Stevan Ilic scored to seal the win for Wollongong United.

Wollongong United went into the game looking to leapfrog their opponents and went for it from the off. Within two minutes an opportunistic long pass from Sam Nastic prompted a cross in from the right-hand side which Matthew McNab was unable to get on the end of. This was followed up by a long-range strike from Naoki Ogawa which didn’t trouble the keeper. A couple of minutes later, United had another opportunity to open the scoring when Hikaru Kawasakiya made inroads down the left-hand side and played a ball into Zac McLaren who found Shane Murray free in a central position on the edge of the box. His shot was tame and an easy save for Cris Fuentez. Within a few seconds of this save, Port Kembla’s Sandy Lowcock found himself with the best opportunity so far - going face-to-face with Sam Nastic. The striker tried to round the keeper but Nastic made himself big preventing Lowcock’s eighth goal of the season.

Lowcock’s chance inspired a more controlled spell for the visitors. In the 22nd minute, some slow build-up resulted in Lowcock firing a shot which deflected into the path of Fabian Iacovelli who was unable to challenge Sam Nastic shooting straight at him. Within a minute, Lowcock was involved again making a lung-bursting run down the left-hand side but once again Nastic was able to cut out any danger. Port’s pressure continued an in the 33rd minute they were awarded a freekick in a central position 25 meters from goal. Luke Boersma struck the ball, but it fell into the palms of Nastic. Three minutes later, Port Kembla would be left to rue their missed chances as James O’Rourke opened the scoring for the hosts. A freekick from near the halfway line made its way to the back post where O’Rourke headed the ball back across the goal and into the bottom corner.

With Port Kembla deflated, United assumed control and created a series of chances the first of which came just two minutes after the opener. O’Rourke nearly has his second as a ball in from the right-hand side found him free again at the back post, but his effort was cleared off the line this time. In the 40th minute, William Tsovolos got on the end of a lofted pass from the left-hand side from Matt Gordon, but he clipped his effort over the bar. This was the last chance of the half.

Wollongong United started the game well, creating chances and moving the ball quickly but Sandy Lowcock pulled Port Kembla back into the game and had the best chance of the half for his side going through one-on-one with Sam Nastic. Port Kembla needed to get control in the midfield area and test Nastic’s glove-work in the second half.

The second period started the way the first finished with United in control. Just four minutes in, Naoki Ogawa showed great determination to burst past his marker on the right-hand side and hook a ball towards the far post for Matthew McNab who was unable to get a foot to it. A minute later, United threatened again. An inspired run from halfway from Kane Wright meant he found himself on the edge of the box. He looked up and played in Hikaru Kawasakiya who side-footed his effort over the crossbar from the left-hand side of the box.

In the 54th minute, Port Kembla created their first chance of the half as Lowcock was given a ball to chase but Nastic was quickly off his line. In the 60th minute, Port’s Fabian Iacovelli went through one-on-one with Nastic but again the keeper prevailed smothering the ball. A minute later, Wollongong United doubled their lead. A corner in from the left-hand side dropped to William Tsovolos who stabbed it into the net.

Port responded in the 66th minute and nearly found themselves back in the game. A high ball in found Nastic in no-mans-land meaning the ball fell to William Mobbs who headed over the bar despite facing an open net. Two minutes later, Wollongong United were awarded a penalty after Zac McLaren was brought down in the box. Shane Murray stepped up and prompted a magnificent save from Cris Fuentez who got a strong hand to the shot to his right-hand side.

With Port Kembla pushing to get back into the game, space in behind was left for United’s dynamic attack to exploit. In the 72nd minute, some quick passing found Naoki Ogawa bearing down on goal. His shot was saved by Fuentez who got down to his right-hand side well. Ten minutes from fulltime, Port were given a lifeline. The away side were awarded a penalty after Lowcock was obstructed in the box. Luke Boersma leathered the ball into the top corner, leaving no chance for Nastic. This meant it could be a potentially nervy end for the hosts as dropping points could mean dropping out of the top five. However, with five minutes to play, Stevan Ilic came off the bench to great effect scoring a goal to restore the host's two-goal buffer. Zac McLaren found Ilic centrally who had the simple task of passing the ball into an empty net. The game ended with not long after.

Wollongong United were in control for large spells of the game with Zac McLaren and Shane Murray being standouts in midfield areas. Sam Nastic also played a crucial role - bailing out his defenders on many occasions. United coach Oli Vrtkovski spoke highly of his side’s performance stating ‘We executed our game plan to a tee’. He also spoke of the disappointment in conceding a penalty saying ‘we’re just disappointed we conceded with the penalty, it’s a little unlike us’. This game was also the debut for 17-year-old Anthony Krsteski who came on in a right-wing position.

United will travel to face Cringila in round ten. The Lions are still winless after nine games and will be dreading facing a United side who move up to second just two points behind leaders Wollongong Olympic. A result for both Wollongong sides next week could set up a blockbuster round 11 fixture which could have a defining impact in the race for the title.

Port Kembla’s third defeat this season sees them drop into fourth position meaning they are just two points clear of sixth. They failed to really put United under significant pressure consistently which meant that they were never really in a position to put an imprint on the game. Port will host Wollongong Olympic and will be looking for a result which will send them within a point of their opponents next Saturday.

 

Saturday 18 May 2019 at Macedonia Park, Berkeley

Wollongong United - 3 (O’Rourke 36’, Tsovolos 61’, Ilic 85’)

Port Kembla - 1 (Boersma 80’)

 

Wollongong United: Sam NASTIC, Matt GORDON, Hikaru KAWASAKIYA, Jake LEIGHTON, Zac MCLAREN, Matthew MCNAB, Shane MURRAY, James O’ROURKE, William TSOVOLOS, Kane WRIGHT, Naoki OGAWA

Substitutes: David ILIC (MCNAB), Stevan ILIC (OGAWA), Anthony KRSTEVSKI (KAWASAKIYA), Jake BAILEY, Zak BEDELOVSKI

 

Port Kembla: Cristofer FUENTEZ, William MOBBS, Nathan BELSITO, Karouna MICHAEL, Nobuaki MOCHIZUKI, Luke BOERSMA, Mitchell Di Pietro, Bradley ACEV, Joshua CRAPIS, Sandy LOWCOCK, Fabian IACOVELLI

Substitutes: Carlo STELLA, Jayden SALUCCI (IACOVELLI), Nuno PIRES (CRAPIS), Antonio MUSUMECI, Jacob MCDAYA

 

Referee: Steve BOZIC

Assistant Referees: Reece EDWARDS and Benjamin KEMP

 

Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_

Photo courtesy of Dana Guthrie