Aoci Double Helps Sink Souths
Souths Utd 1 (Johnson 36') Rochedale Rovers 3 (Aoci 32', 71; Nagata 54') HT 1-1
Played at Wakerley Park.
A brace from Kado Aoci and a Uryu Nagata header delivered a rare opening day victory for Rochedale Rovers in front of a bumper crowd at Wakerley Park on Saturday evening as Souths were welcomed back to the top flight. A frantic but scrappy opening saw United hit the back of the net first only to be denied by the assistant's flag as Souths looked to get their campaign off to a good start. The hosts were however fortunate to not go a man down on the half hour when former Socceroo Jon McKain, booked early in the piece, brought down Lewis Cameron as he burst through the United defence. He remonstrated with referee Martin Krenes who kept his cards in his pocked when a second yellow card looked a certainty. Ryan Stenhouse going close with the resulting free kick. The deadlock was broken shortly after McKain's reprieve when a mistake from former Rover Jose Mojica-Rodriguez allowed Seiji Shizuno to play a defence splitting pass for Aoci to run onto and the new Rovers striker opened his account with a solid run and decisive finish, smashing the ball high into the back of the net with United keeper Marko Radovanovic approached him. United levelled minutes after though when Rovers were split open and defender Samuel Johnson slotted home to the delight of the home crowd and gave Rochedale keeper David Chambers his first activity of the night with picking the ball out of the net. Minutes after the break, the visitors restored their lead. A curling free kick from Stenhouse was met at the far post by the head of defender Uryu Nagata who guided it past Radovanovic. The game was put beyond the hosts with 20 minutes left on the clock. Aoci again able to capitalise on good work from Shizuno who's killer pass beat the Souths back line and with Radovanovic rushing out of his box, the Rovers marksman tapped the ball past the United stopper and side footed the ball into an empty net. Aoci should have grabbed himself an opening day hat trick. Rovers substitute Tim Morgan made an incisive run at the United defence and guided a slide rule pass to an unmarked Aoci who's first time shot skipped off the crossbar. A tight offside call denied a late reply from the home side when Harun Omerovic slid the ball past the Rovers keeper with the crowd less than pleased at the assistant's decision. Overall, Rochdale deserved the points as they controlled the second half. Souths looked good at intervals, Centre backs McKain and Kres Bek look formidable and the former looks every inch the former professional that he was with confidence on the ball although lucky to see out the 90 minutes in this one. One to watch for them is right winger Chihiro Ezaki who was lively throughout.
Coaches Remarks:
Souths Utd coach Vedran Bercibegovic was understandably disappointed but understanding of being back in the premier division, saying "It's always difficult the first game, we didn't really know what to expect. I wanted us to work on quick breaks and the second ball. We'll analyse this and work on the things we need to work on and return next week."
Rochedale coach Scott MacNicol pleased with the points but wanted more from his attackers with chances going begging in the latter stages. "I thought it was tight in the first half. The second half opened up and I felt we controlled things. I don't want to sound disappointed but I want us to put games to bed and we had two or three chances to do that but some poor decision making saw them wasted. I thought our fitness was great and we didn't let them play in the second half."
FB Media Player of the Match: Seiji Shizuno (Rochedale Rovers).Shizuno was instrumental in Rovers midfield and created both of Aoci's goals with precision balls beyond the United defence.
Match Stats:
Overall Possession: 47% - 53%
Shots on target: 2 - 5
Shots off target: 4 - 5
Corners: 0 - 4
Free kicks: 14 - 19
Offsides: 5 - 4
Yellow cards: 3 - 2
Red cards: 0 - 0 Team line-ups
Souths Utd: Radovanovic (gk), Anderson, Bek, Ezaki, Hewitt, Johnson, McKain, Mojica-Rodriguez, Omerovic, Smith, Varma. Subs: Alexander, Goodwin, Laxton, Stojakovic, Radulovic. Rochedale Rovers: Chambers (gk), Aoci, Cameron, Davies, Fields, Nagata, Norris, Ross, Shizuno, Stenhouse, Tobin. Subs: Dounamis, Morgan, Faichnie, Harkin (rgk).
Referee: Martin Krenes
