Manly United fell to a narrow defeat on Sunday afternoon at Edensor Park, with a first half strike from Mason Wells giving Sydney United 58 a 1-0 victory.
The hosts proved the stronger side in the contest from the first minute as they ensured their fourth straight league win and their first against Manly since 2023.
United 58 largely controlled proceedings in the opening half without producing many threatening goal-scoring opportunities. It took until the 34th minute for them to create their first major chance of the contest when Carlos De Oliveira’s expert pass into the box was touched on by Leroy Jennings towards Patrick Antelmi, who released a grounded shot that went just wide of the right post.
The home side eventually capitalised on their control by breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute after Jennings stole the ball inside Manly’s half and sent it towards fellow winger Wells, who then struck it sweetly on his weaker right foot into the top right corner.
The hosts came incredibly close to doubling their lead in the 54th minute after Aidan Milicevic unleashed an excellent long shot on his left that cannoned into the crossbar.
Manly responded a minute later with their first real chance of the game after Taiga Kawano struck the ball towards the bottom right, with United 58 goalkeeper Josip Orlovic diving well to tip it out.
The visitors nearly found a late equaliser in the 88th minute after a strike from Rocco Pelle smacked into teammate Benjamin Koop, who was mostly unaware of it and proved unable to deflect it goalward.
Sydney United 58 coach Ante Juric gave credit to Manly in what was a tough game, while expressing pleasure with the performance from his side.
“We are starting to play some nice football, starting to understand how we want to play…I am just happy with how we played, and we are getting stronger and stronger,” Juric told Football NSW.
When asked about their winning streak, Juric stated his obvious joy with the results, though reiterated it is the performance of the team that has impressed him.
“I am just more focused on their performance and today was a big sign of how we are progressing in possession and defence and the attitude of the team. I am super happy with that but obviously the wins are the icing on the cake.”
Sydney United 58 1 (Mason Wells 38’)
Manly United 0
Match Stats
Sunday 8 June
Sydney United Sports Centre
Referee: Jackson Mackie
Assistant Referees: Cameron Wright and Amirhossein Hosnani
Fourth Official: Thomas Dale
Sydney United 58: 31. Josip Orlovic, 3. Bailey Rule, 5. Anthony Tomelic, 9. Patrick Antelmi (37. Luke Zuvela 80’), 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 11. Matthew Hatch, 14. Liam McGing, 17. Michael Glassock, 19. Aidan Milicevic (8. Mario Shabow 68’), 23. Mason Wells (13. Alessandro Lacalandra 90+2’), 32. Leroy Jennings
Substitutes Not Used: 6. Thomas Makko, 16. Anthony Krilic, 20. Adrian-Jamie Bazina
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Manly United: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Aaron O’Driscoll, 3. Matthew O’Donoghue, 4. Jesse Piriz (17. Farah Koko 76’), 6. Bilal Belkadi (12. Rocco Pelle 76’), 8. Stefano Rossello, 11. Lucas Meek (9. Benjamin Koop 66’), 13. Taiga Kawano (7. Peter Kekeris 66’), 19. Alen Aganovic, 23. Darcy Burgess (10. Harry McCarthy 66’), 26. Harry Van Der Saag
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Anthony Carreras
Yellow Cards: Bilal Belkadi 75’, Rocco Pelle 78’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3: Carlos De Oliveira (SU58)
2: Leroy Jennings (SU58)
1: Aidan Milicevic (SU58)
-By Dimitri Kallos (Football NSW)
