Zebras hold Saints in fiery draw

By Chris Hearn

Photo: Mark Avellino

Moreland Zebras has held St Albans Saints to a 0-0 draw at CB Smith Reserve on Saturday.

Both sides created enough chances to win the match, particularly the visitors who controlled the contest after Daniel Petrov’s 39th minute red card.

Nicholas Scerri was also given his marching orders, albeit in second half stoppage time.

It was an even contest in the early stages, St Albans winger Trent Waterson proved to be a constant thorn in the side of left-back Johnny Crivelli, getting in a number of dangerous crosses.

A deep, curling ball to the back post beat four defenders to find Scerri unmarked, but the forward could not get the required purchase on the header.

An innocuous looking tussle off the ball ended Petrov’s match, as he was sent off after a punch into Nicholas Sarbin’s back.

The referee did not see the incident, but was advised after a consultation with his linesman. 

The sending off sprung Moreland into life.  

James Papadimitriou was played down the inside right channel by Joshua Sabidussi, and the attacker cut inside St Albans veteran Barry Devlin but his shot was miscued. 

He mirrored the effort after the break, going past Devlin easily before firing a shot straight at goalkeeper Stuart Webster.

The visitors rallied in the final 30 minutes, creating a host of chances mainly through set pieces.

Moreland was under steady pressure, particularly in the final 10 minutes when the side could not make an effective exit from the defensive half.

Tedros Yabio looked certain to score, but his volley from point-blank range was matched by Moreland ‘keeper, Nikola Kostadinovski.

St Albans’ numerical supremacy was cut in stoppage time, as Scerri’s crude lunge on Simon Symeoy gave the referee a relatively easy decision in brandishing the red.

MATCH DETAILS

Moreland Zebras drew 0-0 with St Albans Saints at CB Smith Reserve

Moreland Zebras: 1. Nikola KOSTADINOVSKI , 3. Johnny CRIVELLI (15. William NUTTAL 70’), 24. Joshua SABIDUSSI (23. Joshua BERRIOS 85’), 5. Daniel PETROV, 8. Joshua McMONAGLE-IHASZ, 6. Adam CENTOFANTI (22. Ryan MURRAY 90+4;), 10. Danny CHARALAMBOUS, 11. Baggio YOUSIF, 14. James PAPADIMITRIOU, 16. Mile MEDJEDOVIC

Unused substitutes: 13. Lucas RUFFINO, 21. Alex STOJANOVSKI

Yellow cards: Johnny Crivelli 74’, William Nuttal 90’

Red cards: Daniel Petrov 39’

St. Albans: 1. Stuart WEBSTER, 2. Ryan MCGUFFIE, 3. Yaw OTOU-ACHEAMPONG, 4. Nicholas SARBIN, 5. Tedros YABIO, 7. Trent WATERSON, 8. Ross HARVEY, 9. Barry DEVLIN, 11. Nicholas SCERRI, 18. Ben SHAPER, 23. Daniel SWEENEY (15. Konrad DOBRASZKEIWICZ 75’)

Subs: 12.  Matko BUDIMIR, 13. Anthony BORAS, 19. George NICESKI, 22. Dilen IBRAHIM, 10. Tomislav TRBUHOVIC

Yellow cards: Yaw Otou-Acheampong 13’, Ross Harvey 30’, Nicholas Sarbin 37’, Ben Shaper 89’

Red cards: Nicholas Scerri 90’




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