A Max Pengelly header at the death stole a point for Manly United as they drew 1-1 with Blacktown City in tricky conditions at Landen Stadium.
The inclement weather and windy conditions definitely affected the first half.
Blacktown kept possession in their final third for the opening minutes of the half. In the eighth minute came a strong opportunity for the hosts, as Adam Berry sent through a decent cross to the awaiting Grant Lynch, but his header went straight into the hands of Manly keeper Levi Kaye.
Mitchell Mallia produced another chance soon after with a brilliant strike from way out but it went just wide of the net.
Manly’s first real chance came from Lucas Meek, who outran his defenders at the quarter hour mark but the slippery conditions meant his cross was delivered straight to Blacktown’s Nick O’Brien and carried safely out.
Wind was definitely an issue for both sides, with many long balls and crosses into the box sent awry due to the conditions.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 38th minute as Jakob Cresnar delivered a solid ball to Mallia, who only just managed to get the ball across the line for his fifth goal of the season.
Mallia picked a late foul on Kaye, almost tackling him to the ground after following an overshot cross.
With Blacktown leading 1-0 heading into the sheds, the heavens then opened up on Landen Stadium, creating wet conditions for the players in the second half.
Manly seemed much more composed coming back from the break, but Blacktown’s defence was doing what it should and kept any attacks at bay.
Cresnar was doing plenty of work for Blacktown, with two early chances foiled by the slippery pitch. His cross in the 55th minute found no Blacktown shirts and his following one for Mallia went just too far in front.
Manly had a really good chance with 15 minutes to go but were scrappy in their attack, with Harry Van der Saag’s floater into the box sent over the bar by Alen Aganovic.
But it was in injury time with maybe a minute remaining that Manly finally stole a point off Blacktown. On their third corner in a row, Van der Saag delivered a ball straight to the head of substitute Max Pengelly to slot into the top of the goal and level the scores at 1-1.
Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden said it was a frustrating end to the game.
“We probably should have put the game to bed a bit earlier,” Crittenden said, “but that’s what happens when you don’t take your chances.”
“They didn’t really have a whole lot of chances and while they had possession, they didn’t really create a whole lot of chances at goal, so to cop that one, it’s a bit hard to take.”
Blacktown City FC 1 (Mitchell Mallia 38’)
Manly United FC 1 (Maxwell Pengelly 90+4)
Match Stats
Sunday 30th March 2025
Landen Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Eric Saba
Assistant Referees: Adam Maher and Hayden Michlmayr
Fourth Official: James Makris
Blacktown City FC: 1. Cayden Henderson, 3. Jarred McKinley, 5. Grant Lynch, 6. Adam Berry, 7. Travis Major (c), 8. Jak O’Brien (22. Jacob Maniti 83’), 14. Mitchell Mallia (10. Maksim Jez 70’), 16. Benjamin Berry, 17. Martin Fernandez (11. Danny Choi 64’), 18. Nicholas O’Brien, 23. Jakob Cresnar (24. Jackson Bandiera 64’)
Substitutes Not Used: 4. Lachlan Campbell, 20. Zac Bowling
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Aaron O’Driscoll, 6. Bilal Belkadi (39. Samuel Griffiths 76’), 9. Benjamin Koop (13. Taiga Kawano 64’), 11. Lucas Meek, 12. Rocco Pelle (24. Darcy Burgess 46’), 16. Ryan Devine (3. Matthew O’Donoghue 64’), 17. Farah Koko (14. Maxwell Pengelly 78’), 19. Alen Aganovic, 26. Harry Van der Saag, 28. Jasper Chipman
Substitutes Not Used: 18. Jay Coates
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Jakob Cresnar (Blacktown)
2 – Harry Van der Saag (MUFC)
1 – Nick O’Brien (Blacktown)
– By Katrina May (@katrinaa_mayy on Twitter) for Football NSW
