A debut goal and a first NSL start for Steve Fitzsimmons set up Powerıs John Buonavoglia for a morale-boosting two goals to earn them a win over the depleted Wolves by three (3) goals to one (1) at their Parramatta Stadium home.
On a mild night when it sprinkled before the game, drizzled during it, and sprinkled some more, 3,418 fans (including hundreds from the Illawarra) braved the elements as Power struggle for a crowd base. They were rewarded with an entertaining game that showed improvement for both teams over Round 1.
Coach David Mitchell fielded three changes from the team that battled so well against Spirit in the loss last week. The mix worked well in defence, especially whilst under siege for periods of the first half, giving Power a platform for a fine win.
Wollongong Wolves coach, and Aussie football legend, Ron Corry sought more verve and creativity from his troupe to continue the clubıs 18 matches without a loss.
In the first half, they pushed the ball around well knocking Power onto the back foot. He started Zeljko Babic, Darren McDonald, and Naum Sekulovski.
After we learned the second verse of the National Anthem, the game kicked off to an all action first 5ı.
Within the first minute diminutive Power striker Buonavoglia got inside the penalty area with intent, then David Huxley earned a Yellow Card for foolish shirt tug, and Stuart Young received a through ball from Sekulovski which he lobbed over an advancing Les Pogliacomi in the Parramatta gaol. Luckily for him, it went just wide of the goal.
Power struck back with a Joe Vrkic cross being met by a brave Buonavoglia header, which also was wide of the mark.
Parramattaıs best 1st half chance fell in the 12th min when Damien Brown knocked in a cross which was pushed back to Alex Tobin whose header slammed onto the cross bar.
The Wolves now started to look very dangerous, playing the ball around fast and furious, and it seemed only a matter of time before the resolute Power defence, ably led by Tobin and Vrkic, would crack. Sekulovski was terrorising the right side of the Power defence. An example was when he ran at the defence in the 30th min showing vision and nice skills, but to no avail.
Gradually as the half wore on however the Wollongong chances were not taken and Power made some of their own. The best chances were a Vrkic shot pushed aside for a corner and a David Cervinski cross that Young headed straight at Pogliacomi, only to see it pushed wide.
Fans cheered the teams retaking the field after the break, and I think we all expected Wolves to continue their assault on the Power defence.
Instead in the 48th min after the Wolves midfield totally mucked up an attack the ball was captured by Parramatta and debut player Fitzsimmons was on hand in the area to receive a cross and slot the ball home for the lead past an exposed Anastasiadis.
Parramatta were really pumped up by the gaol and made raid after raid into the Wolves half. Disaster struck for Wollongong. A 2nd yellow card (and a soft one at that) for Huxley reduced them to ten (10) and the Wolves game plan was shot to pieces.
Power was now on top. Brown hit the crossbar in the 58th min with a shot from 15m, Lubo Lapsansky hit one over, and Fitzsimmons almost got a brace in the 63rd min when his shot was parried. The rebound was hit by Lapsansky only to see Anastasiadis take it, drop it, and regather.
Wolves made two substitutions, and pushed forward. Alas, this just exposed them more and with Buonavoglia now receiving the ball from behind and at the feet the 73rd min goal was not a surprise.
Riding a tackle going into the box, he scored the Powerıs second goal with a finish reminiscent of his best Breakers days. When Elrich robbed the ball from the Wolves midfield and strode virtually unchallenged as the Wolves marked airı he had the calmness to push it sideways to an unmarked Buonavoglia whose side footed blast into the net killed the game off for Wollongong.
Wolves did get a consolation when in the 90th min Wollongong substitute Max Nicholson got into the penalty area and was fouled by Lapsansky. Young is a great penalty taker and this was no exception but it meant little as Power celebrated their victory and the three points.
David Mitchell said afterwards that he had been disappointed about last week and was happy that the team had moved the ball around quicker. He believed the team settled down after the first goal and handled the challenges of the game well. ³We have tried out 3 or 4 different systems in the preseason². He praised Fitzsimmons on his first start and said he knew that bringing him down from Brisbane was a goof move.
Ron Corry said that the sending off of Huxley from soft offences made it difficult but the loss may the best time for it to happen. ³We played better than last week², he said ³but there is too much individual play, but weıll come out of it²!
Parramatta was best served by Buonavoglia, Fitzsimmons, Vrkic, Tobin, and Lapsansky. Wollongong can thank Sekulovski, Reid, and Cervinski for their contributions.