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A slow start in the mid-table match-up between APIA Leichardt Tigers and Manly United FC looked set to justify the small crowd at Lambert Park until the match exploded into life with two volleys in a quick-fire 60 second bout.
The two sides traded blows almost simultaneously and the exhibition looked much like the ending scene of Rocky III as both outfits danced around for the opening 15 minutes before each unleashing their own venomous strikes.
The first was a super goal. Franco Parisi, just inside the area, hit his first time volley into far bottom corner with perfect precision. Pop bang lovely. The technique, in both the Samuel Messam cross and Parisi’s strike, though, was not to be emulated again by APIA in any area of the pitch during the remaining 75 minutes and it proved their downfall. But Manly showed they were not one for torture and the home side had no less than one minute to wait for their demise to begin.
From the kick-off Manly targeted the Tigers fragile right side defence, a zone that consistently offered the visitors a channel to launch attacks. This time Manly managed to breach the desperate cover defence and Adam Foti was offered a grand amount of space just six yards out. It was an offer he delightfully accepted as he controlled the ball before burying the finish.
APIA struggled to fight back and setting an organised defence and midfield needed to be the first priority. The large gaps between lines left Manly with plenty of space to counter and deprived APIA of any build-up on goal. The only attempted assaults on Kang Ho Le’s goal came from outside the area and ended on the hill behind.
It was encouragement for the away team but not as much as the APIA defence that tore like tissue. In particular it was Manly’s left side attack that poured the most damage on the home sides already rusty defensive machine and Joe Gibb’s eventual winner stemmed from that side of the field. Foti looked to benefit from his infield run but the ‘keeper was up to the task and stopped his effort for a brace. Unfortunately for the otherwise superb Jose Bello-Amigo, he palmed the save straight to Gibbs in the center of the area and the ex-Sydney FC player hit the net.
It left APIA dejected as they entered the sheds 2-1 down at the break. They couldn’t revive themselves and only managed to avoid further blushes thanks to the work of Bello-Amigo in goal. He denied Manly’s exceptional Korean striker with three minutes remaining to keep intact a small hope for the home side. Seung Soo Le had appeared to have rounded the keeper until a strong hand denied the shot on goal.
But it proved pointless when APIA’s last chance on goal flew over the crossbar. It was a fitting end, the effort replicating the numerous shots that had also failed to test the visiting 'keeper throughout the night.