The wonderful thing about cup competitions is that they are a great leveller so this season’s Waratah Cup final at Valentine Sports Park tomorrow gives south west Sydney’s own Sydney United 58 FC the chance to atone for a relatively mediocre season, writes MARK STAVROULAKIS in his preview of the clash.
United take on Blacktown City, who won last year’s final and are currently on top of the ladder in NPL NSW Men’s 1.
Before last weekend’s win against Parramatta FC, Sydney United 58 FC had lost four matches in a row.
A win, no matter how they did it, was the perfect tonic heading into this match.
Blacktown City meanwhile drew their blockbuster top-of-the-table clash with APIA Leichhardt Tigers on Saturday night, but the most ardent Blacktown City fan wouldn’t admit they deserved even a point from that match.
In fact were it not for Nenad Vekic, they could well have gone down by plenty after a second half display by APIA that saw them throw the kitchen sink and its contents at their opponents.
Blacktown City needed extra time to make it to this final to defend their title.
Travis Major opened the scoring early against Sydney Olympic, but Harris Gaitatzis’ goal on the half hour drew the score level.
It remained 1-1 until the end of 90′ minutes, and so to extra time they went. Conor Evans’ goal in the fifth minute of extra time turned out to be the winner.
The Reds had a similarly slender win in their semi-final epic against Rockdale City Suns.
Both sides finished with 10 men and United 58 came away 3-2 winners.
Chris Triantis gave United 58 the lead, but when Theo Kofinas was sent off for a second bookable offence Marko Jesic’s resultant free kick deflected in to level the score.
Jesic scored again to give the Suns a 2-1 lead heading into the interval, but when their goalkeeper David Bradasevic was sent off on the hour mark, the pendulum swung again United’s way.
Triantis’ second of the game made it 2-2, and when stand-in skipper Stjepan Paric found the back of the net 10 minutes from time, Edensor Park was sent into raptures.
The Reds will be seeking revenge after they were embarrassed 6-1 by a ruthless, rampant Blacktown City in round 12 of Men’s 1.
WARATAH CUP FINAL
Blacktown City FC v Sydney United 58 FC
Sunday, July 5
Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood
Kick off: 3pm
