A strong second half showing from league-leading Wollongong Olympic helped the side to a 3-0 win over Albion Park White Eagles in a Round 14 Illawarra Mercury Premier League clash at Terry Reserve on Saturday afternoon. Olympic came out firing in the second period, with super sub Julian Minutillo picking up a brace before a Yusuke Ueda goal secured the result with just over ten minutes left to play.

Albion Park entered the match hoping to gain some revenge for a 3-0 loss to Olympic back in Round 3 but neither side stepped up to grab the game by the horns in the opening exchanges, with both sides lacking a strong final ball into the box early in the encounter.

However, Wollongong Olympic soon found their stride and the side came dangerously close to opening the scoring in the 22^nd minute after an Ikumi Saito cross from the left flank found the head of Yusuke Ueda. Ueda managed to direct a powerful header at goal, but his effort was denied thanks to a fantastic reaction save from Albion Park gloveman Brad Jardine, who was able to deflect the shot over the crossbar and keep the scores level.

With both sides seeking a vital three points in the title race, neither side was able to create many meaningful chances, although Albion Park came close to pulling ahead in the 43^rd minute after a Chris Nathaniel cross from the left-hand side of the field found Oliver Carrasco in the box. However, Carrasco was unable to hit the ball correctly, with his shot instead falling towards Shannon Fielding on the edge of the Olympic box. Fielding snatched at his chance, with the ball blazing over the crossbar and out of play, ensuring that both sides entered the half-time break on level terms.

Searching for a result that could create some significant breathing room at the top of the table, Wollongong Olympic opted to swap Jamie Wakeling for Julian Minutillo at the half-time break and almost instantly the switch paid dividends, with the visitors opening the scoring two minutes into the second half.

A quick break through the middle of the park allowed Olympic’s Joey Lavalle to push the ball out to Minutillo on the right-hand flank. Despite being under significant pressure from the White Eagles backline, Minutillo showed great skill to twist himself with the ball and slot an effort past a diving Brad Jardine and into the bottom left corner of the net, opening the scoring and putting Minutillo on the scoresheet with his very first touch.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 62^nd minute thanks again to Minutillo, who found himself on the end of an Ikumi Saito cross from the left-hand side, with the substitute able to deftly nod the ball in at the near post and send Wollongong Olympic two goals up.

Seeking a goal to pull themselves back into the match, Albion Park came close to nabbing their first goal of the match four minutes later after the side was awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position on the left-hand side of the park. Cameron Morgan stepped up and fired a curling effort around the Olympic wall but was denied by a great diving save from Olympic shot-stopper Hayden Durose, who managed to tip the ball around the post and maintain Olympic’s two goal lead.

Despite an increase in attacking pressure from Albion Park, the visitors were not finished with their goalscoring escapades and the side added their third goal of the match in the 79^th minute after a quick through ball from the Olympic midfield found an unmarked John Martinoski down the right-hand side of the park. Martinoski – who just managed to remain onside to receive the ball – quickly burst directly towards the goal, drawing a pair of Albion Park defenders who attempted to shut a potential shot down. However, Martinoski opted to instead slide the ball out to Yusuke Ueda, who simply tapped the ball past Jardine and into the back of the net to hand Olympic a convincing lead.

Despite the deficit, Albion Park refused to give up and the side came agonizingly close to pulling a goal back three minutes later after a deep cross from Cameron Morgan found the head of new White Eagles signing Hristijan Tanoski in the Olympic box. However, Tanoski was denied a goal on his Albion Park debut thanks to a wonderful save from Olympic custodian Hayden Durose, who managed to push the ball away and maintain the side’s clean sheet.

Albion Park had one final chance to pull a goal back in the 85^th minute after Cameron Morgan was brought down in the box by Mark Every. Morgan stepped up to take the spot-kick for the hosts and fired a powerful effort towards the left-hand side of the goal, only for his penalty to be denied by a strong save from Hayden Durose. Durose was immediately called back into action as Morgan followed up on the save, but again the Olympic keeper prevailed, making a great reflex save to deny Morgan’s shot and ensure that Wollongong Olympic held on to the clean sheet and a vital 3-0 win.

The win means Wollongong Olympic now sit five points clear at the top of the ladder, with fellow title rivals Corrimal Rangers dropping points in a 0-0 draw with Wollongong Untied on Saturday. George Antoniou’s side now have a chance to put one hand on the title when they host Corrimal Rangers next Saturday at PCYC, with a win for Olympic potentially sending the side eight points clear of second if results fall their way.

Meanwhile Albion Park remain in third place despite the loss, but Paul Carter’s side now only sits one point ahead of fourth-placed Tarrawanna after the Blueys beat Fernhill 5-0 on Saturday. Albion Park will attempt to return to the winners circle next Sunday when they travel to JJ Kelly Park to take on a Coniston side who returned to the winner’s circle on Saturday thanks to a 1-0 win over Cringila Lions.

Saturday 22 June 2019 at Terry Reserve, Albion Park

Albion Park White Eagles – 0

Wollongong Olympic – 3 (Minutillo 47’, 62’, Ueda 79’)

Albion Park White Eagles: Brad JARDINE, Valentino MERXHUSHI, Shannon FIELDING, Kyle SENIOR, Chris NATHANIEL, Blake MCGINN, Robert DELBANCO, Oliver CARRASCO, Naomichi ARAKI, Cameron MORGAN, Joel BEATTIE

Subs: Yuki UNO (NATHANIEL 85’), Eiki FUKUSHIGE, Cody WALLER (MERXHUSHI 65’), Hristijan TANOSKI (CARRASCO 51’), Jacob HUFTON

Wollongong Olympic: Hayden DUROSE, Kojiro HORI, Jack KEATING, Mark EVERY, Ikumi SAITO, James KERR, Brendan FORDHAM, Joey LAVALLE, Jamie WAKELING, John MARTINOSKI, Yusuke UEDA

Subs: Vaughan PATTERSON (KERR 58’), Jack BALMFORTH, Julian MINUTILLO (WAKELING 45’), Peter PRANDALOS (EVERY 89’), Harrison MATIAS

Referee – Greg REID

Assistant Referees – Caleb BLANCH and Mason SHIMWELL

Report by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

Photo: Kiah Hufton