Finals Series Round 3 Preview – NPL NSW Men’s 20’s

Preliminary final: Rockdale City Suns v Sutherland Sharks, Saturday 7pm at Ilinden Sports Centre

Finally, there are no second chances: Rockdale City Suns host Sutherland Sharks with a place in the Grand Final for the winners, and elimination from the competition for the losers.

There can hardly be any surprises in yet another meeting between these two. Rockdale and Sutherland have already played twice in August; this will be their third meeting in just over three weeks.

Rockdale arrive in this preliminary final on the back of a narrow defeat to Blacktown City, who await the winner of this match in the decider next week.

Alexander Malfara put his side in front at Lilys on Tuesday night, but an error from Noah Botic and sloppy defending leaving Emmanuel Gonzalez in space meant Rockdale came away from their major semi with a defeat, but also with another crack at the final.

Sutherland, meanwhile, travel to Ilinden Sports Centre following a 2-0 win over Sydney FC courtesy of goals from James Temelkovski – who else? – and Thomas Papa.

The last two meetings between Rockdale and Sutherland have ended in 1-1 draws, with Rockdale scraping through to a major semi final after a penalty shootout win a week ago.

There is so little to split one side from the other: both deserve a shot at Blacktown City next weekend, even if Saturday’s match will see one of the two end their season before the final hurdle.