Bankstown City subdue Sutherland at Jensen

An injury-hit Bankstown City Lions kept their 100% home record intact with a spirited performance against Sutherland Sharks on Sunday evening at Jensen Park.

With no less than nine players unavailable for selection – including first-choice midfielders George Nohra, Phillip Makrys and Robbie Mileski – Peter Tsekenis’ re-invented formation overcame a sluggish start to secure a 4-2 win.

The star on the night was Lebanese import striker, a former Lebanon Olympic team International, Salameh Hussein, who ran riot in the front-third scoring two goals.

The visiting Sharks, after two consecutive 0-0 draws managed to find their first two goals of the season, though the loss of Chris Price for a second bookable offence made their bid to take something from the match impossible.

The encounter started at a fast pace, with the Lions’ Shane Webb showing his ability to hold a central midfield spot with confidence. Webb tried his luck from range with a fierce effort, though goalkeeper Nathan Denham saved confidently.

Despite the home-side dominating possession, Sutherland Sharks looked dangerous on the counter-attack and on 10’ minutes, the visitors made their mark on the match with an exceptionally well taken goal. Ben Spruce’s searching ball picked out Brad Boardman in the penalty-area; the striker cleverly headed the ball into the path of Panagiotis Nikas who blasted into the back of the net from close-range.

Bankstown City’s response was instant and, with some slack Sharks defending, almost delivered an equaliser. A Suad Ameti cross fell into the path of Salameh Hussein; Hussein quickly beat his marker before skewing his effort across the face of goal.

Jim Bakis, the Sharks most lively player throughout, tried his luck from distance with a well-hit snapshot effort; the ball finished wide of the mark.

The Sharks very nearly doubled their lead on 29’ minutes following a scramble inside the Bankstown City penalty-area. Neil Jablonski got his boot to a loose ball, and following a deflection, called upon Lions’ Andrew Bazi to produce a reflex save; diverting the ball onto the crossbar.

The scuffed chance proved costly for the Sharks as Bankstown City drew level moments later. A perfectly weighed free-kick from Suad Ameti on the right-flank picked out Ibrahim Haydar at the back post; the Lions’ player headed the ball back across goal and inside the far post, the ball having seemingly taken a deflection off George Souris’ right-arm.

Jim Bakis tried his luck, again from distance for the Sharks, though his pile-driver effort failed to hit the mark.

On 39’ minutes a swift Bankstown City counter-attack caught the Sharks defenders off guard. Ameti’s quick one-two with James Monie sent Shane Webb through on goal though the speedy midfielder was bundled over, leaving the referee with no choice but to award the penalty. Salameh Hussein stepped up to the spot, and coolly converted low to the goalkeeper’s right.

After the break, Bankstown City extended their lead with a contender for goal of the season. Another Bankstown City counter-attack played Salameh Hussein free on the left-flank; the 23 year-old striker from Lebanon showed his skill and speed, beating two men before playing a one-two with Ibrahim Haydar. Hussein collected the return ball and beat another defender before slotting the ball under the outstretched Nathan Denham.

On the hour, the Sharks task at hand became ever more difficult as Christopher Price picked up a second yellow card, leaving the Sharks with ten-men for the final 30’ minutes.

Despite the Lions’ possessional dominance, Sutherland did re-open the match with substitute Matthew Villazon pulling a goal back. A Michael Katz cross from the right found Villazon at the back post; the attacking midfielder rifled a fierce effort past Andrew Bazi from close-range.

In injury-time, Bankstown City substitute Hussein Akil added a fourth for Bankstown. Richard Luksic’s surging run created the space for Akil; the striker beat his marker to create a yard of space to beat Denham with a powerful effort.

Following the match, Bankstown City Lions’ boss Peter Tsekenis expressed his content for not only the result, but also the performance of his players:

“I am really happy to get the points, especially playing at home. Considering though that we have so many players out at the moment, the boys who have not had much game time previously stepped up and showed they are capable of doing the job.

“Last weekend (against Sydney United) we dominated much of the possession and created many chances. If you do not score though, you won’t win. Sydney United scored off the only real chance they created, so we were really disappointed with that result last week,” Tsekenis concluded.

Sutherland Sharks coach Robbie Stanton was understandably disappointed with the final result:

“Credit to Bankstown, they fought hard throughout the match and got the result,” said Stanton.

“We started well, and I was happy with the intensity early, though we did not continue.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have the depth that we would like to have, and this is something that will make it difficult for us this season.”

Match Stats

Bankstown City Lions 4 (George Souris (og) 33’, Hussein Salameh 39’ (penalty), 50’, Hussein Akil 90’+2’)

Sutherland Sharks 2 (Panagiotis Nikas 10’ Matthew Villazon 80’)

Sunday, 15^th March, 2009

Jensen Park, Sefton

Referee: James Lewis

Assistant Referees: Gareth Askham, Christian Mehl

Fourth Official: Tom Klein

Crowd: 500 Approx.

Bankstown City Lions: 20.Andrew Bazi; 2.Ibrahim Haydar, 3.Shane Webb, 4.Brett Studman, 5.Richard Luksic (C), 6.Peter Tsekenis, 7.Stefanos Liavas, 9.James Monie (23.Tallan Martin 93'), 18. Iain King (32. Shannon Burgan 93'), 15.Salameh Hussein (29.Hussein Akil 77'), 14.Suad Ameti,

Substitutes Not Used: 13.Matthew Pressello, 19.A. Hamka

Yellow Cards: Stefanos Liavas 28’

Red Cards: Nil

Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham, 2.George Souris (C), 4.Michael Robinson, 6.Chris Price, 7.Jimmy Bakis, 8.Nathan Ralph (17.Matt Villazon 73'), 9.Brad Boardman (10. Matt Hall 46'), 11.Ben Spruce (33.Ryan Emerton 79'), 12.Neil Jablonski, 15.Michael Katz, 23.Panagiotis Nikas

Substitutes Not Used: 17.Jordan Nikolovski, 20.Blake Powell

Yellow Cards: Chris Price 29’, 60’, Michael Robinson 39’, Michael Katz 45’+2’, Neil Jablonski 53’

Red Cards: Chris Price 60’

Player Ratings:

3 – Salameh Hussein (BCL)

2 – Shane Webb (BCL)

1 – Jim Bakis (SS)

-By Joseph Carlucci

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