Round 5 Preview – NPL NSW Men’s
Round four provided several upsets as the National Premier Leagues NSW competition proved its unpredictability once more.
Here’s the rundown for an exciting round five.
NWS Spirit FC v Central Coast Mariners FC
5:30 pm, Saturday 4 March, Christie Park
NWS Spirit play host to Central Coast Mariners on Saturday at Christie Park in a key match for both teams.
Spirit suffered their first loss of the 2023 campaign going down 1-0 to Sutherland Sharks last Saturday.
While it was a disappointing result for the high-flying Spirit, they remain just three points away from table-topping APIA.
Coach David Perkovic will be hopeful his side can return to winning ways this weekend, however, Central Coast will be up for it, still hunting a first win in 2023.
The Mariners also lost narrowly in round four going down 1-0 to Blacktown City with the side now one of only two teams yet to win.
A slow start to the season has left Central Coast sitting in the bottom two heading into round five and consequently in desperate need of a win.
Newly appointed Mariners coach Abbas Saad knows this competition very well so he will be hyping up his young charges for a big match come Saturday.
It was tight between these teams in the 2022 FNSW League One competition with just a goal across the two meetings.
The teams played out a 0-0 stalemate in round four before Spirit edged out a 1-0 win in round fifteen.
It’s an important game this Saturday with both teams keen to pick up a much-desired win.
St George City FA v Sydney Olympic FC
7:00 pm, Saturday 4 March, Penshurst Park
St George City have another mammoth task on their hands this weekend hosting reigning premiers Sydney Olympic on Saturday at Penshurst Park.
St George pulled off one of the results of the round last Saturday with a 3-2 victory over Marconi Stallions.
Kosta and Maki Petratos found the net, while Marley Peterson also scored in a blistering first half that saw Mirko Jurilj’s team go into halftime 3-1 up.
The side are now unbeaten in the three matches since their opening-round defeat to Rockdale Ilinden.
Goals aren’t a problem at the club as they’ve banged in 12 this year, its stopping them as they’ve conceded 10.
St George will look to carry on from last week’s historic triumph by handing Sydney Olympic their second defeat in a row.
Olympic’s 2-0 defeat to Rockdale Ilinden last Sunday was the side’s first loss of the 2023 season.
Labinot Haliti’s team now sit in second a point behind APIA Leichhardt, so a win this weekend would ensure the side kept pace with the top of the table.
Sydney Olympic will be keen to rectify last Sunday’s defeat with three points in round five against a flying St George City.
Saturday’s match is set up to be an exciting clash between two sides intent on victory to push on their respective ambitions in the competition.
Blacktown City FC v Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 5 March, Landen Stadium
Mount Druitt Town Rangers travel to Landen Stadium on Sunday to take on Blacktown City in the local Western Sydney derby.
Blacktown City responded to their shock defeat against NWS Spirit in round four with a 1-0 win over Central Coast Mariners last weekend.
Jak O’Brien scored for the second week running just before halftime with what proved to be the winning goal.
Blacktown will be keen to build on their round-four victory over the Mariners and go back-to-back for the first time in the 2023 NPL NSW.
The Rangers were unable to add to their first win of the season last Saturday losing 2-0 to APIA Leichhardt.
Stewart Montgomery’s side have now lost three of their first four games this season seeing them positioned in the bottom four.
However, a victory on Sunday would push Mount Druitt to within a point of Blacktown, but to do so, they’ll need to improve on their recent record against last season’s champions.
City went unbeaten against Mount Druitt in 2022 with a 4-2 win in round two before a 1-1 draw later in the campaign.
The teams will be up for it this weekend with a vital three points on the line.
Rockdale Ilinden FC v Sutherland Sharks FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 5 March, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Rockdale Ilinden and Sutherland Sharks will seek to add to positive round-four results on Sunday at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre as the two meet in the local derby.
Rockdale have not looked back since their 6-0 drubbing at the hands of APIA with two wins in a row – most recently a well-earned 2-0 victory over Sydney Olympic last Sunday.
Alec Urosevski proved his irreplaceable value to the side once more picking up a brace early on in the second half to secure the result.
Since being appointed as club captain, Urosevski and his teammates have not turned back with Lachlan Griffiths and Nikola Ujdur in fine form too.
Paul Dee’s team will hope to carry on this positive run against Sutherland, however, the Sharks will be buoyed by their first victory of the campaign last weekend.
Damir Prodanovic’s men edged past NWS Spirit 1-0 with Alexander Brown’s goal just after the half-hour mark proving the difference.
After two defeats to start the year, the Sharks have picked up four points from a possible six since then, and a win this Sunday will further cement the turnaround for the side.
Rockdale got the better of Sutherland in 2022 winning both matches with a 3-0 win at Seymour Shaw and then a 3-2 win at home in the final few weeks of the season.
Urosevski was the star of the show in that round nineteen clash bagging two goals including the winner in the final fifteen minutes of the game.
It’s a crucial matchup for both teams heading into this one as neither will want to concede the momentum accumulated over the past couple of weeks.
Sydney FC v Bulls FC Academy
3:00 pm, Sunday 5 March, Valentine Sports Park
Two A-League Men’s academy sides are involved at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday with Sydney FC and Bulls FC Academy in action.
Sydney FC suffered a late comeback against Manly United in round four with two goals in the final fifteen minutes doing the damage for the young Sky Blues in a 2-1 defeat.
Luka Smyth scored for the second game in a row to give Sydney the lead in the 71st minute, before that late turnaround from their opponents last weekend.
The Bulls were held to a 1-1 draw with Wollongong Wolves last Saturday with exciting winger Sunday Yona scoring the equaliser half an hour in.
Zeljko Kalac’s winless run as coach has consequently been extended to four matches with his team sitting at the foot of the table going into this weekend.
Although, it means the only way is up for the Bulls and a win on Sunday would take them above Sydney FC on the table.
Sydney FC performed strongly against Bulls FC Academy last season racking up nine goals across the two matches.
Jimmy van Weeren’s team won 3-2 on the opening day of the season before getting up in a 6-2 smashing of their opponents in round twelve.
There’s a lot on the line in this game as the sides crave victory after winless runs in recent weeks.
APIA Leichhardt FC v Marconi Stallions FC
4:30 pm, Sunday 5 March, Lambert Park
APIA Leichhardt and Marconi Stallions face off Sunday at Lambert Park in another early clash of NPL NSW titans in the battle labelled the Derby d’ Italia.
APIA Leichhardt extended their unbeaten run in the 2023 competition with a 2-0 win over Mount Druitt Town Rangers in round four.
Dakota Askew sent the side into halftime with a 1-0 lead before Diego Celis added a second early in the second half.
Franco Parisi’s team have now won three in a row conceding just one goal in that time contributing to the team holding the best defensive record in the competition so far.
The Stallions fell to their second defeat of the season in a 3-2 loss to St George City last Saturday.
Jordan Swibel and Liam Youlley picked up goals for Peter Tsekenis’ side, but it wasn’t enough to turn the scoreline around.
This most recent disappointment for Marconi will serve as further motivation for this weekend’s match as a victory would also send them within a point of APIA.
These teams faced off on three occasions in 2022 with Marconi getting up 4-1 in round ten before APIA got their revenge winning later in the regular season and then in the finals series.
It’s a game neither side will want to lose on Sunday, however, three points are essential for both teams.
Wollongong Wolves FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
5:00 pm, Sunday 5 March, WIN Stadium
Wollongong Wolves take on Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday at WIN Stadium with both teams keen to snap winless streaks in the competition.
The Wolves shared the points with Bulls FC Academy over the weekend in a 1-1 draw as Joshua Macdonald got off the mark for the 2023 season with the opening goal.
If the Wolves fail to claim three points this Sunday it will be three matches in a row without a win for the South Coast club.
The Wanderers come into the match in a similar situation after losing their third game in a row over the weekend.
Andrew Christiansen’s team fell to a heart-breaking late 4-3 defeat against Sydney United 58.
Despite leading with twenty minutes to go, the side shipped three goals in what remained of the game to see a much-needed victory slip away.
While Western Sydney have won just one of their first four games, the team have not been short of goals with the fourth-highest scoring record of any side in the competition.
It will be a zealous encounter this Sunday as the teams look to bounce back from a series of disappointing results recently.
Sydney United 58 FC v Manly United FC
5:00 pm, Sunday 5 March, Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 and Manly United go head-to-head on Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre.
Sydney United pulled off a miraculous comeback in round four coming from two goals down to take the points against Western Sydney Wanderers 4-3.
It was another late show from Miro Vlastelica’s team in the NPL NSW with Devante Clut’s goal right at the death of the match proving to be the winner.
Patrick Antelmi also scored a brace, while Christopher Payne carried on his productive scoring form so far this season finding the net too.
The side have now won three of their first four games – seeing them sit within a point of the top of the table.
Manly were also involved in a late comeback last weekend picking up their first win of the season edging past Sydney FC 2-1.
Harry McCarthy and Bruno Mendes found the net in the final 15 minutes to complete a much-needed turnaround for Patrick Zwaanswijk’s side.
The side will hope after a tough start to the campaign, the first win can kick-start their 2023 season, but Sydney United will prove a difficult challenge this weekend.
However, Manly got the better of Sydney United last season winning 1-0 in round 10 and 4-2 in round 21.
It’s set to be a fascinating match on Sunday between two teams intent on maintaining the positivity of last week.
Preview by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
