Parramatta FC take points after first half goals

Parramatta FC Eagles and APIA Leichhardt Tigers played out a game that never really got out of first gear.

In the end, it was Parramatta that were the more determined and ran out winners thanks to two first half goals.

After the game Eagles coach Manny Spanoudakis was pleased with his side’s efforts.

“A lot of hard work has gone on here and I have to take my hat off to the boys since I came in as coach,” he said.

“I was pleased with their commitment and attitude from the first minute today and they continued playing and playing. Nothing fazes our players.”

Spanoudakis took over Parramatta FC Eagles when Brian Dene departed a few weeks ago. It is never easy to inherit a team mid season.

Nevertheless, the likable former Sydney Olympic and St George coach is relishing his time back in the NSW Premier League.

“It has been a couple of years since we had our good 2008 at Sydney Olympic and it’s certainly good to be back in the game.

“The people at the club have been fantastic to work with, the support staff has been fantastic, the players have been great and there are no definitely no complaints from me.”

In the 2nd minute an accurate cross from Almir Dizdaric of Parramatta on the right was found by Shayne Ardle dangerously positioned at the far post, but his header was knocked away by Jose Bello-Amigo.

Spectators then had to endure mediocrity until the 19th minute when Ben Jurman had an innocuous free-kick – or at least it seemed that way such was the distance from goal – but when it took a rough bounce, it went straight into the back of the net past a bewildered Bello-Amigo.

APIA Leichhardt really had trouble creating anything in the first half and never looked liked scoring until a lofty ball reached Robbie Younis in the box and, despite Evangelos Petratos’ best efforts, the APIA striker did manage to create some space and shoot though Anthony Costa was alert and turned the ball away for a corner.

Parramatta FC Eagles doubled the margin a few minutes later when a nice ball found Daniel Fogarty on the right who then charged into the box and fired in a shot that went straight through the hands of Bello-Amigo in between the posts.

In the second half APIA Leichhardt tried very hard to equalise. In the 58th minute a very nice Franco Parisi cross from the left reached Younis in the middle of the box but his header was only marginally off target.

A few minutes later Younis was at it again with a free-kick that was well saved by Costa diving to his right.

Parramatta’s reply arrived in the 69th minute when a corner ended up in the path of Anthony Grima who let fly with a thunderbolt of a volley that just missed the intended target.

Late in the game Chris James sent a free-kick just over the crossbar before John Kelso shot inches over with a powerful attempt in the last minute of play.

Despite a better second half from APIA Leichhardt, it still wasn’t enough as Parramatta FC Eagles showed resilience and determination well beyond their placement on the league ladder.

Afterwards, Manny Ziino, A.P.I.A. Leichhardt’s team manager, was honest in his appraisal of the game.

“It was a poor game from us,” he said. “The team is committed but the luck is not running our way currently.

“It was a better second half performance from us because in the first half a couple of lapses in concentration cost us two easy goals.

“A few changes were made during the second half just to freshen things up a little and there were definitely a few glimpses of hope, but unfortunately Parramatta dug their heels in and kept the scoreline to 2-0 and got the result,” he said.

PARRAMATTA FC EAGLES 2
A.P.I.A. LEICHHARDT 0
(Jurman 19’, Fogarty 43’)

PARRAMATTA FC EAGLES: 21. Anthony Costa, 2. Nicholas McInerney, 4. Daniel Fogarty (8. Bryan Soane 64’), 5. George Strogylos, 6. Tom Wilson, 7. Shayne Ardle, 17. Matthew Osman, 18. Almir Dizdaric (16. Jonathan Castano-Acero 74’), 20. Evangelos Petratos, 28. Ben Jurman, 33. Luke Grima (13. Fabien Iacovelli 83’)

A.P.I.A. LEICHHARDT TIGERS: 1. Jose Bello-Amigo, 2. Mark Byrnes, 3. John Kelso, 4. Cole Tinkler, 7. Stephen Kayes, 13. David D’Apuzzo, 15. Adam D’Apuzzo, 23. Chris James (16 Damir Prodanovic 82’), 11. Nicola Rizzo, 10. Franco Parisi (8. Anthony Hartshorn 72’), 9. Robbie Younis (5. Michael West 72’).