Parramatta Power pretty much threw 2 points away tonight against a ten-man Marconi, failing to nail them in the first half and allowing them back into the game for a 2-2 draw. With South Melbourne only 1 win behind they may rue this game if they miss the top 2 spot.
This Round 19 match which was deferred to midweek between R22 and R23 brought back the two Olyroos for Parramatta (Michael Beauchamp and Ahmad Elrich) and Marconi's quartet (Michael Turnbull, Alex Brosque, Michael Thwaite, and Nick Carle). In addition Simon Colosimo returned from suspension. Interstingly Power started with Sasho Petrovski on the bench (playing Peter Zorbas and pushing Fernando Rech up front in a 3-5-2 formation, and Marconi with Joe Spiteri on the bench.
Parramatta started with a smoother flowing game than that against the Wolves last weekend, and in the 3rd minute they won a corner on the right. Simon Colosimo weighted the ball well and directed straight to the head of the unmarked Ante Milicic at the far edge of the box. His firm header gave Michael Turnbull in the Marconi goal no chance.
Power continue to press but a 7th minute lazy speculator from Simon Colosimo was a tell-tale sign that they are not back to their early season best. Still they were playing some nice one touch stuff although not getting the result, while Marconi could hardly penetrate at all. The interchange between Andre Gumprecht and Ahmad Elrich down the right was creating havoc for Brendan Renaud, who was subbed. Lucas Pantellis and Peter Zorbas were also effective down the left.
At last in the 21st minute Brendan Renaud got up on the left and won a corner, but it was an easy take for Clint Bolton in the Power goal. In the 31st minute Rech got a snap header in from a Colosimo corner but it went agonisingly wide. Michael Thwaite made a rare foray to put a header over the bar five minutes later.
Generally though Parramatta was dominating general play without getting the last man in on goal. Marconi for their part were struggling but managed a free kick shot from Alex Brosque which went straight to the keeper, and Grant Last shot forcefully from 35m but it was held well. Parramatta could go in thinking that they would 'kick-on' in the 2nd half; and I was wondering how Marconi had beaten Brisbane last Sunday!
The answer came in the 46th minute when a quick long ball by Marconi out of defence caught the Power defence out and Brosque outpaced Alvin Ceccoli to slot the ball past Clint Bolton. 1-1
One minute later Brosque was away again but this time his shot was held high over his head by Bolton. In the 52nd minute Milicic managed to squeeze in Power's first 2nd half shot, whilst under pressure but it didn't trouble Turnbull. Rech tested the keeper with a 20m ground shot but he was down to it well. By the 60th minute Power were in dissarray and it had been all Marconi, however the sending off of Grant Last for offensive language took some wind from their sails.
Angelo Costanzo had enough space to get up on the left and getting into the area, shot wide. At last in the 64th minute the classy German Gumprecht slotted a pass through to Lucas Pantellis, whose shot was palmed away by Turnbull but straight into the midrift of a Power player, but he couldn't control it and it was cleared. In the 72rd Pantellis also got a cross in but it was just missed by Rech's header as he ran in.
In the 76th minute Parramatta at last found the net to to regain the lead. Peter Zorbas crossed into the area where Milicic under close attention pushed the ball back to Rech, whose shot bulged the net.
Three minutes later, just when Power looked to have regained the 1st half ascendancy Nick Carle swung a curling corner in for Spiteri to plant it into the net. Spiteri had been on for mere seconds after a straight substitution with Brosque.
Despite Power's best efforts they couldn't crack the nut again and they ended with a single point.
Marconi will be very glad they got the point, and with games in hand are still a good chance for the top 6. It is those games, 8 in 4 weeks, that may tell. Last night they didn't really play as a cohesive unit until half-time - presumably suffering from the self-enforced break. Defensively Michael Thwaite stood out and with Angelo Costanzo helped stifle the firepower of Parramatta - but with little in depth across the park it will be a hard road to the finals.