For the second Sunday Afternoon in a row we were
welcomed by unseasonably hot conditions. There was a bit of relief this week
with the cloud cover and the temperature thankfully being a couple of degrees
lower. But certainly, they would have been trying conditions for the players
once again.
Nevertheless the players put in another good shift and another solid
performance to record our second win of the season, seeing off the Defending
Champions, Manly United.
We started the match off like a house on fire and dominated the early
proceedings. We came close to opening the scoring 10 minutes into the game,
only for that chance to crash against the woodwork. We wouldn’t have to wait
long after that to see a Sydney Olympic goal though, as only a minute or so
later some nice work by Tom Whiteside down the right flank saw him then put in
a decent cross, which was fumbled into the path of Alejandro Sanchez, who with
good reflexes put the rebound away and put us 1-0 up. We did not have to wait
long for goal number 2, as a minute later we were on the attack once again
through Max Burgess, who drove into the Manly penalty area and then delivered a
shot that rattled the crossbar. Fortunately, Jason Madonis was on hand to
collect the rebound and put the ball into the back of the net to give us a 2-0
lead. Just 5 minutes after this, we looked as though we had grabbed goal number
3 as we had the ball in the back of the net again, only for it to be ruled out
for offside this time.
Manly were never really in the first-half, they had a couple of half chances here
and there but in reality, they did not seriously look like troubling Paul
Henderson. Other than that, we were undoubtedly the dominant side throughout that
first-half and well worth our 2-0 lead going into the half-time break.
We started off the second-half very well, as we went forward looking for goal
number 3 and in the first 5 minutes of the second-half it was all Sydney
Olympic. So, it was worrying that with their first real chance of the game,
Manly managed to score, luckily for us it was ruled out for offside, but the
warning signs were there. Manly carved out another chance not long after this which
hit the crossbar. This 15/20-minute period was their best spell of the game and
it put us under a bit of pressure defensively. After this period, we seemed to
regain our composure and looked comfortable with the ball once again, without
creating too many clear-cut chances. But with around 10 minutes to go we opened
the door for Manly by conceding what looked like a soft penalty, which was duly
dispatched. All of a sudden, we were under pressure again as Manly sniffed an
equaliser. From a match that we should have been out of sight in at half-time
if we took our chances, it was now all hands to the pump to try and hold on to
the 2-1 lead, which fortunately we ended up doing as we did hold on for a 2-1
win.
So it was another good performance from the boys, as we were well deserved
winners, but there are plenty of things to work on and we can definitely improve.
For the Club Championship, the U18s lost 5-0 while the U20s lost 3-0, not great
results again for these teams and as we all know, relegation in NPL NSW happens
via the Club Championship, combined results of First Grade, 20s and 18s, so we
really need to pull our finger out here.
We now have a short turnaround with our next game being this Friday Afternoon,
March 30, against Hakoah Sydney City-East – which is obviously a Public Holiday
– Kick-Off is at 4pm at Belmore Sports Ground. Get down there and support the club.
Monday, 26 March 2018
Monday, 19 March 2018
APIA Leichhardt 2-0 Sydney Olympic
On an unseasonably stifling hot mid-March Sunday
afternoon, Sydney Olympic was not able to build on its opening round win,
succumbing to APIA Leichhardt at Lambert Park. The Achilles heel of the team over
the past few seasons was on show, as we once again struggled in front of goal,
missing several good chances, which ultimately cost us from getting something
out of the match.
As you would expect, it was a fairly cautious start to the match as both sides eased themselves into the contest in the face of hot conditions and looking to conserve as much energy as possible. Pretty soon though the contest came to life as inside the first 10 minutes we had a decent chance to open the scoring, but it was cleared off the line. APIA hit back and had a couple of half chances of their own, one of which was well saved by Paul Henderson. The first-half was a solid midfield battle, as each tried to get on top of the other, with the odd chance being created. We looked fairly comfortable throughout the first-half and it looked like we would head to the half-time break dead-locked. Unfortunately, a clumsy challenge inside the box late in the first-half, gave APIA the chance to open the scoring and they did just that. With the last kick of the first-half however, we had a chance to pull level but a great save from the APIA goalkeeper denied us the equaliser. We were 1-0 down at half-time.
On the resumption of play, we took control of the match and began to dominate possession and pretty soon we would create several goal-scoring opportunities. We were now pushing hard for an equaliser, which predictably left us exposed to APIA’s counter-attacks and they looked dangerous in doing so. We had 3 very good chances inside the first 20 minutes of the second-half, but we just could not put any of them away, due in large parts to some fine work from the APIA goalkeeper. As is usually the case, we would end up ruing those missed chances, as APIA broke away and they did manage to score, to put us 2-0 down with 20 minutes remaining. To the players credit they did not throw in the towel and Sydney Olympic kept pushing, trying to score and trying get back into the game. But it was to be one of those days where the ball just did not want to go in, and we went down 2-0.
Everyone is pissed off with the result and I don’t want to trivialise it with phrases like “that’s football”, but some days the ball just does not want to go in and the “p***ana” certainly didn’t want to on Sunday.
Overall though, we played well and if we can continue playing like that for the rest of the season, we will win more matches than we lose. The players just need to keep their heads up and focus on next week now.
Our next game is on this Sunday March 25, against the defending Champions, Manly United, which will be another tough assignment. Kick-Off is at 3pm at Belmore Sports Ground. Get down there and support the club.
As you would expect, it was a fairly cautious start to the match as both sides eased themselves into the contest in the face of hot conditions and looking to conserve as much energy as possible. Pretty soon though the contest came to life as inside the first 10 minutes we had a decent chance to open the scoring, but it was cleared off the line. APIA hit back and had a couple of half chances of their own, one of which was well saved by Paul Henderson. The first-half was a solid midfield battle, as each tried to get on top of the other, with the odd chance being created. We looked fairly comfortable throughout the first-half and it looked like we would head to the half-time break dead-locked. Unfortunately, a clumsy challenge inside the box late in the first-half, gave APIA the chance to open the scoring and they did just that. With the last kick of the first-half however, we had a chance to pull level but a great save from the APIA goalkeeper denied us the equaliser. We were 1-0 down at half-time.
On the resumption of play, we took control of the match and began to dominate possession and pretty soon we would create several goal-scoring opportunities. We were now pushing hard for an equaliser, which predictably left us exposed to APIA’s counter-attacks and they looked dangerous in doing so. We had 3 very good chances inside the first 20 minutes of the second-half, but we just could not put any of them away, due in large parts to some fine work from the APIA goalkeeper. As is usually the case, we would end up ruing those missed chances, as APIA broke away and they did manage to score, to put us 2-0 down with 20 minutes remaining. To the players credit they did not throw in the towel and Sydney Olympic kept pushing, trying to score and trying get back into the game. But it was to be one of those days where the ball just did not want to go in, and we went down 2-0.
Everyone is pissed off with the result and I don’t want to trivialise it with phrases like “that’s football”, but some days the ball just does not want to go in and the “p***ana” certainly didn’t want to on Sunday.
Overall though, we played well and if we can continue playing like that for the rest of the season, we will win more matches than we lose. The players just need to keep their heads up and focus on next week now.
Our next game is on this Sunday March 25, against the defending Champions, Manly United, which will be another tough assignment. Kick-Off is at 3pm at Belmore Sports Ground. Get down there and support the club.
Monday, 12 March 2018
Sydney Olympic 2-1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Sydney Olympic has continued its impressive
record in season openers, with a gritty 2-1 win over the Bonnyrigg White Eagles
on Sunday afternoon at Belmore Sports Ground. We have now won 7 of our past 8
Round 1 encounters, with the other one being a draw away to APIA Leichhardt in
2016.
Sydney Olympic started the match off brightly and dominated the first 15 minutes. We duly got our reward early on, as new recruit Alejandro Sanchez was put through on goal before he was brought down inside the box by the Bonnyrigg Goalkeeper. Jason Madonis stepped up to take the spot-kick and buried it to put us 1-0 up and we were looking good. We could have easily made it 2-0 during that first half, but for a brilliant point-blank double save from the Bonnyrigg Goalkeeper. After this period of dominance, we seemed to take our foot off the pedal slightly which allowed Bonnyrigg to get back in to the match. They had a series of good opportunities themselves to score and equalise, but Paul Henderson who was celebrating game 200 for the Club stood in their way, making a couple of good saves to keep the score at 1-0. Which was how the score remained at the half-time break.
The start to the second-half was in total contrast to how we started the first-half, we looked really slow, lacked spark and we were reduced to walking pace. Sure, the conditions would have played their part as it was quite warm on Sunday, but all it did was give Bonnyrigg the impetus to step up their game and step up they did. They dominated the first 20 or so minutes of the second-half, putting us under all sorts of pressure. Paul Henderson made a series of good saves, before Bonnyrigg finally got their equaliser from a corner. It was the conceding of this goal that seemed to wake us up and we started play with a bit more urgency. Both sides were looking for a winner, fortunately for us it would come for Sydney Olympic as Sanchez was once again put through on goal, but this time he avoided the challenge and clipped the ball over the advancing Bonnyrigg Goalkeeper, to put us back into the lead with around 10 minutes to go. There were some nervy moments late on but we managed to hold on for an important victory.
Overall it was a patchy performance from Sydney Olympic, but by the same token you do not want to be playing champagne football and reaching your peak performance in Round 1 of the competition. We got the victory and more importantly we got the 3 points, we now must and can definitely improve from here.
For the Club Championship our U18’s lost 1-0 and our U20’s also lost 1-0.
Next week we have a tough assignment against one of the competition favourites in APIA Leichhardt. It is on Sunday, March 18 at Lambert Park, Kick-Off is at 5.30pm. Get down there to support the boys.
Sydney Olympic started the match off brightly and dominated the first 15 minutes. We duly got our reward early on, as new recruit Alejandro Sanchez was put through on goal before he was brought down inside the box by the Bonnyrigg Goalkeeper. Jason Madonis stepped up to take the spot-kick and buried it to put us 1-0 up and we were looking good. We could have easily made it 2-0 during that first half, but for a brilliant point-blank double save from the Bonnyrigg Goalkeeper. After this period of dominance, we seemed to take our foot off the pedal slightly which allowed Bonnyrigg to get back in to the match. They had a series of good opportunities themselves to score and equalise, but Paul Henderson who was celebrating game 200 for the Club stood in their way, making a couple of good saves to keep the score at 1-0. Which was how the score remained at the half-time break.
The start to the second-half was in total contrast to how we started the first-half, we looked really slow, lacked spark and we were reduced to walking pace. Sure, the conditions would have played their part as it was quite warm on Sunday, but all it did was give Bonnyrigg the impetus to step up their game and step up they did. They dominated the first 20 or so minutes of the second-half, putting us under all sorts of pressure. Paul Henderson made a series of good saves, before Bonnyrigg finally got their equaliser from a corner. It was the conceding of this goal that seemed to wake us up and we started play with a bit more urgency. Both sides were looking for a winner, fortunately for us it would come for Sydney Olympic as Sanchez was once again put through on goal, but this time he avoided the challenge and clipped the ball over the advancing Bonnyrigg Goalkeeper, to put us back into the lead with around 10 minutes to go. There were some nervy moments late on but we managed to hold on for an important victory.
Overall it was a patchy performance from Sydney Olympic, but by the same token you do not want to be playing champagne football and reaching your peak performance in Round 1 of the competition. We got the victory and more importantly we got the 3 points, we now must and can definitely improve from here.
For the Club Championship our U18’s lost 1-0 and our U20’s also lost 1-0.
Next week we have a tough assignment against one of the competition favourites in APIA Leichhardt. It is on Sunday, March 18 at Lambert Park, Kick-Off is at 5.30pm. Get down there to support the boys.
Tuesday, 6 March 2018
Sydney Olympic – 2018 Kick-Off
As usual, it has been quite an eventual
off-season/pre-season for Sydney Olympic Football Club.
From beating the reigning National NPL Champions, Heidelberg United 4-2 down in Melbourne, to not winning another match for the rest of the pre-season. Which included losses to:
- Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3-0
- Sutherland Sharks 2-1
- Blacktown City 1-0
As well as a 1-1 draw in there against NPL 2 side, Mounties Wanderers.
As a result of maybe this or maybe some other issues, Gorka Etxeberria’s reign as Sydney Olympic coach is over. We can speculate all we want but what is done is done and we all must now move on.
The Club has moved swiftly to appoint a new coach, with that being Sydney Olympic Legend, Abbas Saad. We will have to wait and see what type of an effect this all has on the players.
At this current moment and to the best of my knowledge this is roughly what our First Grade squad is looking like heading into the season:
Paul Henderson, William Angel, Niko Tsattalios, Jake de Marigny, Jinya An, Jason Madonis, Hagi Gligor, Max Burgess, Darcy Burgess, Paul Katsetis, George Timotheou, Tom Whiteside, Radovan Pavicevic, Stephen Athanaseris, Rafa Jimenez, Nicola Kuleski, Riley Woodcock, Alex Sanchez, Callum Fitzpatrick, Luke Watson
It is up to the coaching staff and the players now to work together, to get the best out of each other and to have a successful season.
At the season launch, another Sydney Olympic Legend was added to the Clubs Hall of Fame, Peter Raskopoulos.
A former Socceroo, only 3 players have played more matches for the Club than “Rasko”. A long time Captain, he is synonymous with the Clubs golden period of the mid 1980’s where we played in 4-straight National Finals (’83 & ’85 Cup Finals and ’84 & ’86 Grand Finals) of course he was later Coach and CEO. A more than worthy addition.
So the start of the 2018 season is here and it all begins this Sunday, March 11, as we host the Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Belmore Sports Ground, Kick-Off is at 3pm. Get down to Belmore and support the Club and the players.
From beating the reigning National NPL Champions, Heidelberg United 4-2 down in Melbourne, to not winning another match for the rest of the pre-season. Which included losses to:
- Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3-0
- Sutherland Sharks 2-1
- Blacktown City 1-0
As well as a 1-1 draw in there against NPL 2 side, Mounties Wanderers.
As a result of maybe this or maybe some other issues, Gorka Etxeberria’s reign as Sydney Olympic coach is over. We can speculate all we want but what is done is done and we all must now move on.
The Club has moved swiftly to appoint a new coach, with that being Sydney Olympic Legend, Abbas Saad. We will have to wait and see what type of an effect this all has on the players.
At this current moment and to the best of my knowledge this is roughly what our First Grade squad is looking like heading into the season:
Paul Henderson, William Angel, Niko Tsattalios, Jake de Marigny, Jinya An, Jason Madonis, Hagi Gligor, Max Burgess, Darcy Burgess, Paul Katsetis, George Timotheou, Tom Whiteside, Radovan Pavicevic, Stephen Athanaseris, Rafa Jimenez, Nicola Kuleski, Riley Woodcock, Alex Sanchez, Callum Fitzpatrick, Luke Watson
It is up to the coaching staff and the players now to work together, to get the best out of each other and to have a successful season.
At the season launch, another Sydney Olympic Legend was added to the Clubs Hall of Fame, Peter Raskopoulos.
A former Socceroo, only 3 players have played more matches for the Club than “Rasko”. A long time Captain, he is synonymous with the Clubs golden period of the mid 1980’s where we played in 4-straight National Finals (’83 & ’85 Cup Finals and ’84 & ’86 Grand Finals) of course he was later Coach and CEO. A more than worthy addition.
So the start of the 2018 season is here and it all begins this Sunday, March 11, as we host the Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Belmore Sports Ground, Kick-Off is at 3pm. Get down to Belmore and support the Club and the players.
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