NPL NSW Men’s 20’s Preliminary Final Preview

It’s come down to this for both Blacktown City and Sutherland Sharks as both will clash this Saturday in a do or die Preliminary Final match at Sydney United Sports Centre.

The pair will face off in Edensor Park for a Grand Final ticket – and who could possibly pick a winner at this stage?

Premiers Blacktown City have been the best team in the competition this season as the regular season table indicates.

While unable to match the firepower of Sydney FC and to a lesser extent Sutherland, City’s streetwise discipline and ability to turn it on when needed proved a winning formula.

But it’s been a nervous start to the finals from John Carnevale’s side, who were defeated 2-0 by Sydney FC in the first week of finals.

They’ll now have to play Sutherland, who they haven’t beaten this season, for a spot in the big dance.

The Sharks enter Saturday’s clash with renewed confidence having beaten Sydney United 58 2-0 at Lambert Park.

That result was just the fourth win Sutherland have had in their last eleven games, and their end of season slide saw key departures and injuries that saw them fall short of another Premiership win.

But the double winners in 2017 are still just one step away from back to back Grand Final appearances.

And although Blacktown City might still be favourites prior to kick off, Sutherland showed the type of resilience last weekend needed to win high-stakes.

Blacktown City v Sutherland Sharks, 5.00pm at Sydney United Sports Centre

-By Jacob Windon