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Ten man Parramatta hold for much needed draw.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

A smaller crowd than their round one fixture saw Parramatta FC hold on for a nil all draw with Marconi Stallions, having gone down to ten men mid-way through the second half.

It took until the 26th for the game to show any signs of life. Parramatta striker Bruno Pivato turned on the ball in goal and released a shot on target that tested Andrew Mercuri. The Marconi 'keeper rose well, managing to tip the ball over the crossbar.

On the half hour mark Stallion's Nathan Elasi hit a firm shot on goal from the top left of the box that Matthew Nash was equal to.

Shortly after, Daniel Severino put the ball in the back of the net from a freekick. The sneaky play however wasn't even noticed by the referee who was busy booking Dom Trimboli for a yellow card with his back turned. The eventual freekick made Eagle's 'keeper Matthew Nash work, bending to the experienced shot-stopper's left but pushed away for a corner.

After the break Severino again went close from the deadball, this time in the 49th minute, hitting the far post with a curling effort.

A powerful long range effort from Akiyoshi Saito sailed inches over the crossbar, although it looked as if the rising Mercuri would have had it covered.

Briane Soane should have had the Eagles one nil up, making a decent individual run into the box however he screwed his eventual shot off-target.

Parramatta's hopes were scattered when midfielder Graziano Trimboli received a straight red card for a poor challenge on captain Nahuel Arrarte. Marconi immediately went on the front foot, looking to capitalise on the extra man.

It wasn't Severino's afternoon, who was again denied by Nash, this time with a spectacular one handed dive to his left in the 69th minute.

Kwabena Appiah-Kubi almost stole it for Parramatta late in the game. Under pressure in front of goal his shot dribbled just wide of the post, leaving the final result 0-0.

The result means a much needed point for the Eagles, their first of the season, and they now need to build on some good football played under pressure from Marconi. The Stallions, who many have tipped as the team to beat this year, now sit second on the ladder on seven points.