Bankstown City storms into third spot with Marconi scalp

Bankstown City has stormed into third-spot on the TeleChoice Premier League ladder following a fine display at home against Marconi Stallions on Sunday.

Played at a fast pace throughout the encounter, both sides fought ‘tooth and nail’ from start to finish as a Stefanos Liavas screamer and Hussein Akil’s well-taken finish early in the second-half secured the home-side the win. The Stallions drew level late in the first-half courtesy of a Wade Oostendorp header, though the brightest chances were created by Bankstown City who rightly deserved the points on a bitterly cold afternoon at Jensen Park.

Peter Tsekenis welcomed back Phillip Makrys to the starting line-up after a long-spell on the sidelines through injury, and the central midfielder looked comfortable alongside his long-time midfield partner George Nohra. The Lions were also on a high following a tremendous come-from-behind win against Sutherland Sharks last weekend, along with a 2-1 defeat of Sydney United in the Tiger Turf Cup in midweek.

The visitors created the first chance of note in the opening minute of the match as an Ali Al-Hilfi free-kick from the left-flank was met by a left-footed Vamara Diarra half-volley on the turn; the ball finished inches wide of the mark.

Bankstown City responded moments later as a Shane Webb cross from the byline was partially dealt with by Stallions goalkeeper James Chronopoulos. Hussein Salameh’s follow-up from close-range finished well over the crossbar.

On 18’ minutes Hussein Akil cleverly beat his marker on the left-flank as he cut inside to hit a fierce drive goalwards; the effort failed to force Chronopoulos into a save.

New Bankstown signing Daniel Severino nearly picked out Peter Tsekenis at the back post with a curling free-kick effort from deep in the half, the Lions player/coach only just failed to get his boot to the ball with a lunging effort.

The home-side squandered a golden chance on 27’ minutes as Shane Webb played a tantalising through ball past the Stallions defence. With Akil in a clear offside position, the Lions player shrewdly allowed teammate Hussein Salameh to latch onto the ball and head goalwards; Salameh’s effort from the edge of the penalty-area, with only Chronopoulos ahead of him, finished well over the cross bar.

Akil then created a fine goalscoring opportunity for himself with some exquisite movement on the edge of the penalty-area. Akil craftily controlled a Severino pass on his chest before touching the ball past a defender, his effort on goal failed to force a save from the goalkeeper with the effort finishing well-wide of the mark.

Severino was provider again on 38’ minutes as his free-kick from the left touch-line picked out George Nohra at the back post. The Lions midfielder hit a first-time volley on goal, though was denied by an exceptional reflex save by Chronopoulos; the Stallions defence cleared the ball to safety.

Bankstown City deservedly found their goal on 40’ minutes and Stefanos Liavas has certainly entered the running for goal of the season. A half-cleared Severino cross from the left fell into the path of Liavas on the edge of the penalty-area – in a slightly decentralised position, to the right – the Lions number 7 finished with aplomb in the top left-hand corner, leaving Chronopoulos with no chance.

Despite their dominance, the Lions would not go into the break with their lead intact as Oostendorp got in-between two markers to head home an Al-Hilfi free-kick from the right touchline.

The Stallions returned following the break with a renewed energy as Kader Toure set off on a counter-attack and played Alexander Canak an inviting pass across the face of goal. Canak, took one-touch too many and the retreating Lions defence swept the ball away from his feet.

In arguably the Stallions best spell of play, Bankstown City hit on the counter-attack and found what turned out to be their match-winner. A searching Shane Webb long-ball was not dealt with by the Stallions central defensive pairing of Oostendorp and Andrea Merenda. Salameh was in position to steal the ball and play a square ball into the path of Akil; the Lions striker beat Chronopoulos with a powerful low-driven effort into the bottom left-hand corner.

Marconi responded with a set-piece down the other end, Andrew Merenda latched onto a corner from the left, though the Italian import’s effort was well parried by Zlatko Joseski.

Merenda was again involved for the Stallions on 65’ minutes as his free-kick from 25-metres finished inches wide of Joseski’s upright with the shot-stopper routed to the spot.

As both sides exchanged forward-forays, the Stallions best chance of the half went begging on 76’ minutes when Toure cut a low-pass from the byline into the path of Tim McGowan; the youngster hit a powerful effort from point-blank range too centrally, as Joseski stayed on his feet to palm away to safety.

Bankstown City substitute Suad Ameti should have wrapped up proceedings 8’ minutes from time as a lack of communication between Merenda and captain Nahuel Arrarte saw the speedy midfielder snatch the ball to go through one-on-one with Chronopoulos. Ameti’s powerful effort seemed destined for the back of the net, though Chronopoulos, at full stretch, diverted the ball away for a corner.

The Lions administered proceedings in the final minutes of play though the win was tarnished by Hussein Salameh’s second yellow card deep in injury-time. The Lions will be without their front-man for next weekend’s away match at West Sydney Berries.

At the conclusion of the match Lions boss Peter Tsekenis expressed his content at the final result:

“We did really well tonight, and are coming off a very good moment of form.

“I thought we created a number of chances throughout the match and we deserved the win.”

Bankstown City’s season has been plagued by a long-list of injuries though the return of these players in recent weeks has added consistency:

“The return of these players has helped us definitely,” added Tsekenis.

“Along with a couple of our new signings too, we have been able to find the consistency that has been lacking previously.”

Marconi Stallions boss Lee Sterrey was less impressed with his side’s showing:

“We were poor tonight; we gave away a slack first goal, and an unforgivable second where two senior defenders failed to communicate which gave them the win.

“I am very disappointed as we only played for about 10’ minutes in the first-half and during our best period of play in the second, we conceded.

“Unfortunately, this was a big opportunity to give the top-three a shaking, though we have failed to do so tonight.

“Credit to Bankstown City though, they played to their strengths and didn’t allow us to play our own style of football,” Sterrey ended.

In the Grade 20 division, the visiting Marconi Stallions scored a late goal to leave Jensen Park with three-points. Both sides played extremely well in cold conditions, though the Stallions held off a late Lions surge to seal a 2-1 win.

Match Stats 

Bankstown City 2 (Stefanos Liavas 40’, Hussein Akil 53’)

Marconi Stallions 1 (Wade Oostendorp 44’)

Sunday, 14^th of June, 2009

Jensen Park, Sefton

Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones

Assistant Referees: Sarah Ho and Adam Coombes

Fourth Official: Matthew Samson

Crowd: 500 Approx.

Bankstown City Lions: 1.Zlatko Joseski; 3.Shane Webb, 4.Brett Studman, 5.Richard Luksic (C), 6.Peter Tsekenis, 7.Stefanos Liavas, 8.George Nohra, 11.Phillip Makrys (14.Suad Ameti 74’), 15.Salameh Hussein, 82.Daniel Severino (99.Chris Godoy-Bascur 85’), 29.Hussein Akil (19.Greg Owens 88’)

Subs Not Used: 20.Andrew Bazi, 13.Mathew Pressello

Yellow Cards: Salameh Hussein 63’, 90’+3’, Phillip Makrys 72’, George Nohra 79’, Chris Godoy-Bascur 90’+3’

Red Cards: Salameh Hussein 90’+3’

Marconi Stallions: 22.James Chronopoulos; 2.Wade Oostendorp, 30.Andrea Merenda, 6.Vuko Tomasevic, 23.Christopher Nunes (14.Daniel Ott 83’), 8.Alexander Canak, 7.Kader Toure, 10.Ali Abbas Al-Hilfi, 15.Tim McGowan, 17.Vamara Diarra (13.Ben Vidaic 71’), 26.Nahuel Arrarte (C)

Substitutes Not Used: 20.Cem Akili, 4.Umut Tokdogan

Yellow Cards: Vamara Diarra 50’, Kader Toure 70’

Red Cards: Nil

-By Joseph Carlucci

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