Round 21 Review – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s

SEVEN HILLS, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 06:  Match action during the PlayStation® 4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Round 21 match between Blacktown City FC and APIA Leichhardt Tigers at Lilys Football Centre on August 6, 2017 in Seven Hills, Australia. @PlayStationAustralia  #PS4NPLNSW  (Photo by Jeremy Ng/jeremyngphotos.com for Football NSW)

APIA Leichhardt Tigers have one hand on the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Premiership after an incredible Round 21 win against Blacktown City FC.

APIA need to take home at least a point from their final round clash with Rockdale City Suns to secure an incredible title win.

The top five was all but decided after this weekend’s action with Wollongong all but eliminated from finals contention after their defeat to Rockdale this round, while Sydney United 58 also bowed out after defeat at the hands of Manly United.

Match of the Round was the epic clash between Blacktown City FC and APIA Leichhardt Tigers at Lily’s Football Centre.

Blacktown City FC 0 –  APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC 1 at Lily’s Football Centre

APIA Leichhardt Tigers are only one game away from clinching the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Premiership after defeating league leaders Blacktown City 1-0 at Lilly’s Football Centre on Sunday.

A 68th minute Jordan Murray goal was the difference as the visitors took advantage of a rare Blacktown defensive lapse.

Both sides appeared fatigued from midweek FFA Cup matches, but Danial Cummins APIA team found a way to secure the three points during a physical and relentless 90 minutes.

APIA now leads the competition by two points ahead of Blacktown City with the Lambert Park side in pole position to secure the title with only a draw against Rockdale City Suns in the final round required.

Parramatta FC 0 – Sutherland Sharks 0 at Melita Stadium

Parramatta FC has snapped its 14-match losing streak after battling to a 0-0 draw with Sutherland Sharks in a dour PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s contest at Melita Stadium on Saturday evening.

The stalemate is the Eagles’ first competition point gained since a 2-2 draw with competition frontrunners Blacktown City back in round six and although Marshall Soper’s outfit will take significant pride from the result they will perhaps regret not claiming all three after offering their best performance of the former Socceroo’s short reign so far.

Goal scoring opportunities were extremely limited for both sides on a night haunted by the infamous Melita Stadium bounce. Despite some standout performers from the home side this was very much an encounter that underlined the shortcomings of the two most youthful squads in the competition.

The result mathematically confirms a bottom-placed finish for Parramatta while Sutherland move level on points with ninth-placed Bonnyrigg but trail the White Eagles on goal difference.

Sydney FC 3 – Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 at Lambert Park

Sydney FC took all three points from a stirring clash with Bonnyrigg White Eagles on Saturday night to secure a 3-1 victory in the penultimate round of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s regular season.

John Iredale put Sydney FC into the lead midway through the half before Asmir Kadric levelled for the visitors a little over ten minutes later.

However, the hosts would go into the break in front after debutant Jerry Skodatis finished off a remarkable team move, and sealed their win in the 76th minute when Iredale scored his second of the game.

Manly United FC 3 – Sydney United 58 2 at Cromer Park

A GOAL from substitute Travis Cooper in the 85th minute handed Manly United a memorable 3-2 win against Sydney United 58 FC that all but ended the 2016 Premiers hopes of making the 2017 Finals Series on Sunday afternoon at Cromer Park.

It was the third of three second half goals to guide Manly to an incredible come from behind win despite trailing 2-0 with only 30 minutes left on the clock.

Marco Sama and Dejan Pandurevic struck in a five minute flurry before Cooper scored the winner with only five minutes left on the clock.

Sydney United thought they were coasting to victory when Panny Nikas and Former Manly striker Chris Payne gave them a 2-0 lead but it wasn’t to be for Mark Rudan’s side.

Rockdale City Suns 2 – Wollongong Wolves 1 at Ilinden Sports Centre

An Aleks Canak double has all but put an end to the finals hopes of Wollongong Wolves as Rockdale City Suns secured a 2-1 win at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.

Canak’s strikes in the 15th and 65th minutes helped Rockdale to secure a vital three competition points despite a fast finish from Wollongong.

The visitors thought they may have enough momentum to snatch a draw in the final moments of the match after Patrick Antelmi scored in the 81st minute.

“However, it wasn’t to be for Wollongong whose slim finals hopes rest on claiming a comprehensive win against Sydney FC next week and hope Sydney Olympic FC lose by an even bigger margin on the road against Sutherland Sharks.”

Sydney Olympic FC 4 – Hakoah Sydney City East 0 at Lambert Park

Sydney Olympic has kept it’s PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s playoffs hopes alive with a comprehensive 4-0 win against Hakoah Sydney City East at Lambert Park on Sunday.

A double to Will Angel, a goal to Yianni Spyrakis and a Gavin Rae own goal was what it took for the home side to secure all three competition points in what was a strong performance from Gorka Etxeberria’s side.

The result means Olympic control’s their finals fate and must secure at least a draw against Sutherland in the final round to ensure a top five finish.