Karbon seals point for Demons against Bankstown

The Gabbie Stadium encounter between Blacktown City Demons and Bankstown City finished in a 1-1 draw after goals from Chris Godoy-Bascurt and Paul Karbon allowed both sides to share the points.

Both teams were on the attack early on, however it was Bankstown who created the first chance of the game. Lions forward James Monie produced a solid shot from 10-metres out however Blacktown goalkeeper Matt Nemes was alert, producing a critical save. 

Bankstown controlled the match and it showed through some quick quality touches from George Nohra, Stefanos Liavas and James Monie in the middle of the park.

Blacktown’s defence was under extreme pressure and they could have been a goal down in the 11’ minute when James Monie found himself one-on-one again with Matt Nemes however, again, the Blacktown shot-stopper made another critical save keeping the game scoreless.

Blacktown’s ball movement was poor in the first-half, despite some great individual flare from Ben Ellis who made an exhilarating run down the right side beating several players.

Bankstown found their goal in the 24’ minute when a George Nohra free-kick was tapped in by Chris Godoy-Bascurt after Demons’ goalkeeper Matt Nemes failed to hold the ball.

Bankstown’s Tayfun Devrimol was causing problems in the midfield and he could have put his side two-up moments before half-time when he linked-up with fellow midfielder Godoy-Bascurt  who provided a sensational through ball to leave Devrimol one-on-one, however his shot missed to the left of goal.   

Bankstown’s dominance continued in the second-half with Devrimol again proving a nuisance for the Blacktown defence. Stefanos Liavas’ forward bursts also created problems for the Demons’ left-flank, though a second goal would not come.

Blacktown’s Akwasi Agyei and Jessie Pinto tried to link-up down the left side, however the side was outclassed by the likes Liavas and Devrimol in the midfield.

In the 54’ minute Blacktown could have equalised via a cross from Chris Bedzo from the right-flank. Matt Lewis received the ball in-front of goal, though rushed his shot leaving the ball to drift to the left of goal.

In the 61’ minute Bankstown’s Stefce Soleski nearly made it two when he went around goalkeeper Matt Nemes, though had his shot cleared off the line by a desperate Graeme Forbes lunge.

Bankstown was the better side on the day, however Blacktown was not going to give in, and it proved in the 89’ minute when defender Paul Karbon latched onto the ball and shot it in from a Daniel Wilkinson corner to give his side a late equaliser and a share of the spoils. 

Match Stats

Blacktown City Demons  1 (Paul Karbon 89’)

Bankstown Lions 1 (Chris Godoy-Bascurt 24’)

Venue: Gabbie Stadium

Referee: Khodr Yaghi

Crowd: 300 approx.

Blacktown City Demons: 20. Matt Nemes; 3. Paul Karbon, 4. Daniel Wilkinson, 5. Ryan Walsh, 8. Chris Bedzo, 9. Bruno Salas (6. Ken Chun 58’), 13. Ben Ellis (18. Jessie Pinto 39’), 16. Luke Austin, 17. Gavin Forbes, 19. Akwasi Agyei (10. Sean Rooney 79’), 27 Matt Lewis

Substitutes Not Used: 15. Nick Kalsey

Yellow Cards: 19. Akwasi Agyei 24’, Luke Austin 36’, Daniel Wilkinson 79’.

Red Cards: Nil

Bankstown City: 20. Andrew Bazi, 2. Ibrahim Haydar, 3. Shane Webb, 4. Brett Studman, 5. Richard Luksic, 7. Stefanos Liavas, 8. George Nohra, 9. James Monie (21. Hassen Akil 78’), 12. Stefce Soleski (29. Danny Slavevski 85’), 16. Tayfun Devrimol, 99. Chris Godoy-Bascurt

Substitutes Not Used: 17. Danny Grozdanovski, 14. Richard Tuntevski, 1. Dylan Mitchell  

Yellow Cards: 16. Tayfun Devrimol 26’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings:

3 – Tayfun Devrimol (BC)

2 – Stefanos Liavas (BC)

1 – Paul Karbon (BCD)

 -By Johnny Casni

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