Picture: Football NSW
An overcast day on Sunday at Edensor Park saw Sydney United 58 take on Parramatta FC in a contrast of styles, with a bizarre first minute goal by Ante Tomic settling the score in United’s favour.
Tomic sent over a free-kick inside the first sixty seconds that evaded everyone and found its way into the back of the net.
If United 58 had any pre-game nerves they were settled early as Parramatta succumbed to the early sucker punch.
With a further 89 minutes left in the match Parramatta slowly worked the ball around the pitch while frustrating the Reds, who were probing for an opening of their own.
It made for somewhat of a stalemate in the middle of the park, neither side really creating any clear cut efforts on goal.
A quick one-two between Marco Sama and Blade Richards should have seen parity restored as the United defence was split wide open, however another tame effort straight at the ‘keeper saw the excellent opportunity squandered.
The Reds were finding it difficult to get into their customary free-flowing brand of football and more than the occasional pass was going astray, although this had as much to do with the quick closing down by Parramatta.
Chris Triantis tried his luck from distance in the 31’ minute as United slowly found their shooting boots.
Robert Mileski attempted a cheeky chip from the angle of the box in the 36’ minute that landed on the roof of the net but had Luke Turnbull back-peddling rapidly, before Marty Clowes picked up a caution for a foul on Matthew Bilic.
Parramatta wouldn’t lie down and kept their shape in pressing for the equaliser.
Stjepan Paric had his shot deflected over the bar from a Tomic corner in the 51’ minute as United laid siege to the visitors’ penalty box but couldn’t find the finishing touch.
The response from Parramatta was swift when Clowes headed over from a right wing cross by Roberto Speranza followed almost immediately by a tremendous reaction save by Pasfield from a Sama thunderbolt in the 54’ minute.
Mark Rudan made a double substitution for the home side bringing on Mitchell Stamatellis and Panni Nikas for Chris Zuvela and Ante Tomic respectively in the 58th minute as United sought to gain the upper hand in midfield.
For all the United endeavour, Parramatta were still in the game only one goal down but that should have changed when Triantis was through but put his curling shot wide of the framework in the 75th minute.
United 58 coach Mark Rudan said after the match: “It was a scrappy performance but in a few weeks’ time no-one will remember that and recall the three points.
“In this competition you need to roll your sleeves up and sometimes you cannot produce the football you want to and win ugly because the opposition don’t allow you to.
“From that perspective it was very good from us as it showed we can play that type of game if we need to and come away with a win.
“Everyone knows, going forward, we have a lot of quality players and we can play the right way. We’ll continue on now and look to our next match which is here on Wednesday night against the same opposition in the Westfield FFA Cup.
“Confidence is sky high within the squad and we’ve got players coming back from long term injury and today we needed to roll the sleeves up and back ourselves to get the points and that is a positive sign.”
