UNITED SET PIECES BRING PORT UNSTUCK

Wollongong United recovered from their shock defeat to South Coast United last weekend to record a 3-0 win over Port Kembla at Wetherall Park. Kenta Azechi gave United a one-goal lead at the break before Nathan Elasi scored his 14th of the season and an own goal rounded out the result.

 

The match was overshadowed by the events of the preceding week with the passing of Port Kembla player Justin Cario last Saturday. Kick off was pushed back by half an hour to allow for a number of heartfelt tributes for the 20-year-old including a eulogy from close friend Kyle Senior, the parading of Cario’s 2017 Grand Final jersey and a minutes applause.

 

Once the match kicked off,  the visitors had the better of the opening 20 minutes. The closest they came in that period was a scrambled shot from Ben Brooks after the windy conditions led to Brad Jardine misreading a free kick into the area.

 

Port Kembla's only half decent chance of the opening half was a speculative effort in the 30th minute. The ball popped up in front of Makoto Ishihara 25 metres from goal and his lashed attempt flew high and wide of Sam Nastic’s goal.

 

Wollongong United had another chance from a set piece in the 37th minute and this time they were able to make it count. Kazuto Kushida swung in a free kick from the left wing and it was met by his fellow countrymen Azechi who nodded the ball into the top right corner.

 

Ben Brooks had another opportunity to score his first goal of the season five minutes into the second half. Again, the chance came from a Kushida free kick which was flicked through to Brooks who tumbled the ball onto the left post from a couple of metres out before the ball was cleared.

 

United scored twice in the space of 11 minutes to seal off the result starting with a goal in the 65th minute where they played a short free kick on the right of the box before playing the ball across the area for a poaching Elasi to tap in. The third goal came via a corner which found substitute Matt McNab at the far post whose shot deflected in at the near post with Carlo Stella perhaps, unfortunately, being attributed with an own goal.

 

Noel Spencer brought Ben Zucco and Josh Crapis into the final period of the match which saw the home side create a few half chances. The first coming in the 78th minute more in part to a defensive mix up where substitute goalkeeper Ben Wunsch headed the ball to Naruyuki Kato 35 metres from goal but the attacker rushed his shot and lollied it wide of the empty net.

 

Wunsch would pull off a couple of solid saves in the final stages to keep his sheet clean. This included a close-range block in the 89th minute before diving save off a 91st-minute free kick from Zucco which was followed up by Crapis whose shot from range swung over the top right corner.

 

The win keeps United in the hunt for a top-three finish as they sit three points behind the Albion Park White Eagles who they play in the final round at Macedonia Park. A win by two goals or more will see United secure third spot and a second chance in the first week of the finals.

 

After acknowledging the moving scenes prematch, United coach Jeff Allport was delighted to see his side get into a position to snatch third place on the last day of the season.

 

“After a difficult season with a lot of ups and downs we’ve given ourselves a shot [of finishing third], so it’s what we do with that opportunity,’’ he said.

 

Allport will welcome back Mark Every and Hayden Morton from suspension for the crunch clash against Albion Park, however, he may be without a number of first teamers with Matt Gordon, Sam Nastic and Kazuto Kushida all being forced from the field through injury.

 

As for Port Kembla, the result means they will finish the season in fifth regardless of how their final round match away to Cringila plays out. Coach Spencer admitted it was one of the most difficult weeks of his footballing career but he was proud of the way his side were able to stay strong in trying circumstances.

 

“Result-wise, it was irrelevant to the whole context of today, it was just about going out there and getting through 90 minutes mentally and physically. Full credit to our boys for getting through all three matches. The result [in First Grade] wasn’t great but at the end of the day we are just here to celebrate a fantastic young man in Justin Cario,” he said.

 

Sunday 19 August 2018 @ Wetherall Park

 

Port Kembla - 0

 

Wollongong United - 3 (AZECHI 37’, ELASI 65’, STELLA OG 76’)

 

Port Kembla - Brad JARDINE, Brooklyn FRKOVIC, William MOBBS, Nathan BELSITO, Carlo STELLA, Jason PEREZ, Fabian IACOVELLI, Antonio MUSEMUCI, Makoto ISHIHARA, Naruyuki KATO, Nobi MOCHIZUKI

 

Subs - Bailey FLEMING, Josh CRAPIS (on for IACOVELLI), Jayden SALUCCI, Ben ZUCCO (on for PEREZ), Justin MITREVSKI

 

Coach - Noel SPENCER

 

Wollongong United - Sam NASTIC, Matt BRENNAN, Ben BROOKS, Jackson BROOKS, Matt GORDON, Matt GORDON, Sam MUNRO, Kazuto KUSHIDA, Jake LEIGHTON, Kenta AZECHI, Nathan ELASI, Daisuke YUZAWA

 

Subs - Dominic HUDAP (on for GORDON), Matt MCNAB (on for AZECHI), Alvin CECCOLI, Zac MCLAREN, Ben WUNSCH (on for NASTIC)

 

Coach - Jeff ALLPORT

 

Referee - Andrew NAYLOR

 

Assistant Referees - Damien DENNELLY, Jack MARKHAM

 

Report by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela

 

Photo by Kiah Hufton




Comments

Comment Guidelines: The SportsTG Network is made up of players, families and passionate sports followers like you who have a strong opinion about sport. That's great - we want you to have your say and share your thoughts with the world. However, we have a few rules that you must follow to keep it fun for all. Please don't be rude, abusive, swear or vilify others. Apart from some pretty serious sport sanctions, we also can ban you and report you if things get out of hand. So play fair and have fun, and thanks for your contribution.