Round 2 Preview – NPL NSW Men’s U20’s

Marconi Stallions begin their season with a match at home to a tricky Rockdale City Suns outfit, while Sutherland Sharks look to pick up their first points of 2019 when they host Hakoah Sydney City East on Saturday afternoon.

Any of Blacktown City, Sydney Olympic or Rockdale could top the table at the end of Round 2, and all will fancy their chances of beginning the season with back-to-back wins.

APIA Leichhardt’s match against Wollongong Wolves is postponed until April.

Match of the Round: Marconi Stallions v Rockdale City Suns, Saturday 5pm at Marconi Stadium

With their Round 1 fixture against APIA Leichhardt postponed until the end of the month, Marconi will get their 2019 season underway against Rockdale City Suns at Marconi Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

They face a Rockdale side on a high following an impressive 1-0 win away over Sydney United 58 last weekend. The visitors have a chance to start the year with two wins from two on the road, before travelling back to Ilinden Sports Centre for their first home match of the season next week.

Rockdale come into this match with both recent and historical form, having won 2-1 at Marconi Stadium in 2018. Marconi will want to hit the ground running in their first fixture of the season or risk being stung by Rockdale again.

Saturday

Sutherland Sharks v Hakoah Sydney City East, 4.30pm at Seymour Shaw

Sutherland Sharks will come into their match against Hakoah Sydney City East on Saturday afternoon eager to make amends for a disappointing loss to Sydney Olympic last weekend.

The reigning champions won this fixture 2-1 in 2018, and will want a result this week to give them confidence of retaining their title this season.

Sharks welcome a difficult Hakoah side to Seymour Shaw; Neil Jablonski’s men eking out a 1-1 draw with Sydney FC in Round 1. With Sutherland set to bring a number of players back from injury, the visitors face another test of their credentials this week.

Mt Druitt Rangers v Sydney Olympic, 5pm at Popondetta Park

Mt Druitt were reminded of the level of the opposition on their return to the competition last weekend. Rangers were dealt a 3-1 defeat by Blacktown City, and come into Round 2 in eleventh place.

They will be keen to make sure they don’t get comfortable at the foot of the ladder, and have a terrific opportunity to make a statement in their first home game of the year when they take on Sydney Olympic at Popondetta Park.

Olympic travel west after stunning Sutherland Sharks at Belmore Sports Ground in the first round; two set pieces leading to a 2-1 win over last season’s champions. A match against newly-promoted Mt Druitt must surely present itself as a golden chance to start the year with six points.

Sunday

Blacktown City v Sydney United 58, 1pm at Lily Homes Stadium

Blacktown City top the table after Round 1, and will be eager to prove that they’re capable of staying there.

They begin 2019 with two matches at home, and welcome Sydney United 58 to Lilys Homes Stadium in Round 2 after a 3-1 win over Mt Druitt Rangers last weekend.

Sydney United face a tough task to avoid suffering another loss this week, having gone down 1-0 to Rockdale last Sunday.

Next week they take on a rested Wollongong Wolves side, with their match against APIA Leichhardt postponed. They will be desperate to pick up points against Blacktown to get a foothold in 2019.

Manly United v Sydney FC, 1.30pm at Cromer Park

Manly won this fixture 4-1 when these two sides met at Cromer Park in 2018, and the hosts will be hoping they’re able to repeat history when Sydney FC visit on Sunday afternoon.

Manly were dealt a 2-0 defeat by Wollongong Wolves last weekend, and will see this match as an ideal opportunity to properly get their season underway.

Sydney FC play their second consecutive match on the road at the start of the 2019 season, and should be satisfied with a result at Cromer Park before travelling back to Lambert Park next weekend.

They picked up a point from a 1-1 draw with Hakoah Sydney City East in Round 1, leaving last season’s losing finalists still looking forward to their first win of the year.

-By Max Grieve