Haydar wonder-goal seals Bankstown City Lions win

Bankstown City Lions kick-started their 2009 TeleChoice Premier League campaign with an all important 1-0 home win against Wollongong Community FC.

Following the disappointment of a poor League run in 2008, the Lions needed a good start to 2009, and Peter Tsekenis’ side did not fail to deliver at Jensen Park on Sunday evening; the 1-0 win was sealed by a wonderful piece of skill, and final finish, from wing-back Ibrahim Haydar.

Tsekenis and Assistant coach Peter Papoythis had to make do with the absences of key players Shane Webb and Brett Studman, meanwhile goalkeeper Zlatko Joseski won’t be back on the playing field before Round 5.

The visiting Wollongong side carried an element of the ‘unknown’ following the demise of Wollongong FC at the end of the last campaign. Despite the disrupted pre-season, Wollongong Community FC did not disappoint in this Round 1 fixture.

The home-side carved the opening chance of the match within the first 60’’ seconds, as striker Tallan Martin almost marked his return to Bankstown with a fine worked goal. Martin played an exquisite one-two with George Nohra before seeing his powerful effort toward goal parried by goalkeeper Alex Augusto down to his right.

Player/Coach Peter Tsekenis showed all his experience moments later as his perfectly timed tackle denied Ilija Prenzoski a certain one-on-one chance with Bankstown City shot-stopper Andrew Bazi.

Bazi, filling in for regular start Zlatko Joseski, was called upon in the 5’ minute when some slack marking provided Prenzoski with a one-on-one opportunity. The Lions’ goalkeeper was quick off his line and bravely thwarted the Wollongong striker.

Sydney FC National Youth League player Robert Mileski returned following the ‘Sky Blues’ successful Grand-Final match against Adelaide United last weekend to play a big part in the Lions’ performance. It was Mileski’s burst of speed on 15’ minutes following a precise one-two with James Monie that presented the Lions with their second clear-cut opportunity of the evening; a last ditch tackle by a Wollongong defender saw the ball deflect behind the goal-line.

Wollongong Community FC was happy to sit back and hit their opponents on the counter-attack, and it was their most experienced pairing of Balla Conde and Prenzoski leading the way. Prenzoski picked up a loose ball on the edge of the penalty-area after finding a yard of space; the striker’s venomous goal-bound drive was smothered by Bazi.

Despite holding the greater share of possession throughout the first-half, Bankstown City finished the first period on the back foot as Wollongong squandered an immense chance to open the scoring. Strike pairing Prenzoski and Samet Haynak made the most of another counter-attack started by Steve Hayes. Prenzoski’s final pass to Haynak presented the young striker with a good look at goal, though his poor final effort was ‘easy pickings’ for Bazi.

After the break, Prenzoski woke the Bankstown City defence with a cannon-like half-volley ricocheting off the outside of Andrew Bazi’s upright. Balla Conde then tried his luck from outside the penalty-area with a powerful drive that finished well over the crossbar.

In arguably the visitors best moment of the match, Bankstown City played the perfect counter-attack to find the opening goal. George Nohra and Phillip Makrys’ fine ball movement, complemented by a clever ‘dummy’ from playmaker Mileski, saw the ball fall to wing-back Ibrahim Haydar at the back post. Haydar cut the ball onto his right foot before curling a powerful effort underneath the crossbar.

Haydar very nearly doubled his personal tally late on in the half when, in an almost identical position to that of his goal, the Lions’ player blasted over from close-range.

Despite a late onslaught by Wollongong Community FC, Bankstown City ground out the 1-0 result to start the season with a win.

Coach Peter Tsekenis expressed his delight following the referee’s final whistle:

“Very happy to start the season with a win, especially playing at home. We were facing a side that is a bit of a surprise – we weren’t too sure about how far they have come with their disrupted preparations; they showed that they will still be a difficult side to beat this season.

“We had a few key players out, and also Robbie (Mileski) and Ibby (Haydar) didn’t complete pre-season with us due to their National Youth League commitments. On the whole, three really good points to start the season so I am happy,” Tsekenis concluded.

Wollongong Community FC coach Tony Pace was gallant in defeat, acknowledging the positive performance of his men:

“The boys did really well out their tonight, keeping in mind we played against a very strong side that have been together for a long time now.

“Our team didn’t have the pre-season we wanted and we are also made up of many young players; I started with four debutants tonight,” added Pace.

“Even so, we did dominate in certain periods of the match and this augurs well for our development.”

Match Stats

Bankstown City Lions 1 (Ibrahim Haydar 62’)

Wollongong Community FC 0

Sunday, 1^st March, 2009

Jensen Park, Sefton

Referee: Matthew Gillett

Assistant Referees: Nick Backo, David Goldsmith

Fourth Official: Andrew Best

Crowd: 500 Approx.

Bankstown City Lions: 20.Andrew Bazi; 2.Ibrahim Haydar, 13.Matthew Pressello, 5.Richard Luksic (C), 6.Peter Tsekenis, 7.Stefanos Liavas, 8.George Nohra, 9.James Monie (18. Iain King 75’), 10.Robert Mileski (15.Salameh Hussein 88’), 11.Phillip Makrys, 23.Tallan Martin (99.Chris Godoy-Bascurt 67’)

Substitutes not used: 80.Hussein Akil (gk), 14.Suad Ameti

Yellow Cards: Peter Tsekenis 60’, George Nohra 79’, Matthew Pressello 90’ + 4’

Red Cards: Nil

Wollongong Community FC: 1.Alex Augusto; 17.Josh Price (25.David Able 67’), 24.Jamie Pitt, 26.Jim Lawrence, 27.Christopher Nathaniel (39.Daniel Corter 75’), 30.Balla Conde (38.Steven Dimitrievski 71’), 33.Brendan Kearns, 34.Alfredo Estevas, 35.Steve Hayes (C), 36.Ilija Prenzoski, 37.Samet Haynak

Substitutes not used: 20.Matt Brandalise (gk)

Yellow Cards: Jamie Pitt 32’, Daniel Corter 90’ + 3’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings:

3 – George Nohra (BCL)

2 – Balla Conde (WCFC)

1 – Ibrahim Haydar (BCL)

-By Joseph Carlucci

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