Seiya Stunner Late Provides APIA With Famous Day at Lambert
MATCH REPORT: APIA Leichhardt Men’s First Grade 4-3 Rockdale Ilinden – Sun 30 Mar 2025
For the football purists in us National Premier Leagues New South Wales fans, it was the perfect Sunday for football. Cloudy skies and cool conditions, wet and wild at times with rainfall as a Sunday 3pm kick off at a well-populated Lambert Park saw APIA Leichhardt Men’s First Grade looking to leapfrog opponents-on-the-day Rockdale Ilinden in the tight spots at the top end of the league table.
The 3rd v 4th clash kicked off with both sides battling fiercely for control, with a mix of physicality and technical brilliance making for an exhilarating opening period. APIA had the first real chance of the game, with Presley Ortiz finding himself in a dangerous position inside the box following an impressive dribble and delivery from Jordan Segreto. However, Ortiz’s effort went wide, keeping the scoreboard at default setting.
That changed in the 17th minute when the Marronazzuri struck first. Seiya Kambayashi delivered a pinpoint free kick from the left, and Jack Stewart met it with a perfectly timed glancing header that left Rockdale’s goalkeeper helpless as the ball nestled into the net. Lambert Park erupted as APIA took a deserved lead.
The goal injected further intensity into the game, with Rockdale responding with a couple of half-chances, only for APIA’s Oliver Kalac to remain untroubled in goal. APIA thought they had doubled their lead in the 29th minute when another sublime Kambayashi delivery found Josh Symons, who slotted the ball home. However, celebrations were cut short as the referee disallowed the goal for handball.
Rockdale had a promising spell just before halftime, with Moudi Najjar and Alec Urosevski linking up dangerously. Despite their pressure, APIA held firm and delivered a devastating blow just before the break. A beautifully curled pass from Sean Symons found Ortiz making a brilliant central run. With the Rockdale goalkeeper advancing, Ortiz calmly rounded him before passing the ball into the empty net, giving APIA a commanding 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
The visitors came out determined in the second half and pulled one back just three minutes in. A defensive mix-up allowed Isaac Danzo to slip a well-weighted through ball to Urosevski, who held off the challenge and finished clinically to halve the deficit.
Rockdale continued to push forward, and in the 58th minute, they found an equaliser. A well-delivered corner from Auglah was met by Urosevski at the far post, and he made no mistake, firing an unstoppable effort into the back of the net to make it 2-2.
Momentum was now with Rockdale, and in the 71st minute, Urosevski completed his hat trick with a brilliant solo effort. A well-placed lobbed pass found him charging towards goal, where he cut inside and unleashed a fierce strike past Kalac to give Rockdale a shocking 3-2 lead.
With time running out, APIA showed the heart of champions. In the 86th minute, the Symons brothers combined to bring APIA level. Sean’s perfectly weighted corner found Josh, who rifled home a stunning volley to make it 3-3, igniting the home supporters once again.
But APIA weren’t done yet. Deep into stoppage time, with the game hanging in the balance, they found the decisive goal. A well-timed ball from Joel Bertolissio sent Ortiz through, who skilfully took on his defender before finding Kambayashi at the edge of the box. The Japanese midfielder struck a venomous shot that zipped past Sorras and into the back of the net, sealing an unforgettable victory for APIA.
Head Coach Franco Parisi was understandably thrilled with his boys’ fighting spirit,
“Four sexy goals, three points, and some amazing work from our boys. The players coming off the bench had an impact, and the starters gave everything they possibly could. You can’t ask for much more.”
“We’ll assess a couple of things, but the effort, commitment, and ability to fight until the end was really impressive.”
APIA Leichhardt once again proved why they are a force to be reckoned with, displaying resilience, flair, and a never-say-die attitude. The thrilling victory keeps them firmly in the hunt for league honours, and with performances like this, the APIA faithful have every reason to believe in a special season ahead.
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MATCH INFORMATION
APIA Leichhardt Men’s First Grade – 4 (Stewart 17’, Ortiz 43’, J. Symons 86’, Kambayashi 90+2’)
Rockdale Ilinden Men’s First Grade – 3 (Urosevski 48’, 57’, 71’)
National Premier League Men’s New South Wales Round 8
Lambert Park, Marion St Leichhardt 2040
Sunday 30 March 2025
Join the Conversation: #APLvROC #NPLMNSW #ForzaAPIA
APIA Leichhardt Men’s First Grade: 80. Oliver KALAC (GK), 2. Seiya KAMBAYASHI, 4. Josh SYMONS, 7. Jack STEWART (30. Alex DENMEAD 80’), 8. Joel BERTOLISSIO, 9. Presley ORTIZ, 15. Themba MUATA-MARLOW, 16. Sean SYMONS (6. Anthony SPARACINO 86’), 17. Jordan SEGRETO (11. Rory JORDAN 80’), 18. Adrian UCCHINO (c) (29. Maksim KASALOVIC 83’), 22. Eddie CASPERS (99. Franco FARINELLA 83’)
COACHES – Franco PARISI, David D’APPUZO
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 1. Anthony BOUZANIS (GK)
CARDS – 1: (Yellow, 8. Joel BERTOLISSIO 20’)
Rockdale Ilinden Men’s First Grade: 1. Nicholas SORRAS (GK), 2. Hunter ELLIOTT (14. Brayden SORGE 83’), 4. James NIKOLOVSKI (99. Matthew KEREMELEVSKI 82’), 5. Giorgio SPERANZA, 6. Isaac DANZO, 7. Alec UROSEVSKI (c) (23. Oliver PUFLETT 82’), 9. Moudi NAJJAR (18. Jordan GRAOROSKI 68’), 10. Brendan CHOLAKIAN, 11. Lochlan CONSTABLE, 22. Blake RICCIUTO, 24. Ali AUGLAH (17. Brae OVENS 68’)
COACH – Paul DEE
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 20. Ronan MULGREW (GK)
CARDS – 2: (Yellow, 4. James NIKOLOVSKI 32’, 11. Lochlan CONSTABLE 77’)
Match Officials: CR. Jake ROSE, AR1. Matt STAPLES, AR2. Isaac RIGGS, FO. Thomas DALE
Article written by Jude “JayDee” Dolan
Images courtesy of Damian Briggs / Pitchside Media Solutions
