A six-goal thriller ended in happiness for the Sydney Olympic FC first grade squad after beating APIA Leichhardt FC 4-2 at Lambert Park.
The match was a highlight reel from start to finish as both sides put in some incredible goal of the season contenders, including a stunning strike from Olympics Adam Parkhouse and from APIA’s Franco Parisi.
A rough game from both sides, some missed calls by the referee sent Olympic fans up in flames on the sidelines for most of the match.
The first goal for Sydney Olympic came early in the 11th minute of the match, with a failed clearance from an APIA defender landing straight to the chest of striker Charles Lokolingoy. Lokolingoy controlled it from his chest to bring it down to his right foot on a bounce, hitting it into the net.
Not shy to come out from his defensive line, Olympic centre-back Tom Whiteside made a few runs down the centre of the pitch to create some attacking opportunities.
Whiteside pushed far up the pitch in the 17th minute, drifting just outside the box. The centre back laid the ball off to an open Lokolingoy, who placed it on his right foot before slotting it in the net, bringing Olympic to a 2-0 lead.
Down but not out, APIA came back in a truly spectacular way. Only five minutes later, the ball dancing around Olympic’s 18-yard box, Franco Parisi put in a beautiful curling shot into the top left corner, narrowing the score line to 2-1.
APIA had another great opportunity to score in the first half, yet an incredible save by Olympic keeper Nicholas Sorras denied the equaliser.
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Second half saw both teams come in with intensity, with Olympic using Parkhouse, Ferreira and Madonis to create opportunities along the sides of the pitch.
A yellow card was handed out in the second half to APIA for a clear illegal foul on Fabio Ferreira. Outrage again by Olympic fans in the crowd with Ferreira being taken down intentionally by the last defender, with calls being made for a red card to be given.
In the 60th minute, Parkhouse scored his first goal of the match from a great run along the left side of the pitch. Taking it himself, Parkhouse smashed it across goal past the keeper, bringing Olympic one step closer to victory.
That goal wasn’t the last effort by Parkhouse, however, with an incredible goal of the season contender stunning the crowd in the 75th minute of the match. Bouncing in front of him from a header by Go, Parkhouse snatched a half-volley from outside the box which managed to dip over the keeper and into the net.
While the game came to a close past 90 minutes, APIA managed to snatch a consolation goal from a tired Olympic defence. Left wide open in Olympic’s own 18 yard box, Mitchell Gibbs managed to put a great goal past the keeper, finishing the match at 4-2.
Sydney Olympic will face Wollongong Wolves at Albert Butler Memorial Park in Wollongong next Sunday at 2:30pm.
