Round 8 Review – NPL NSW Men’s
Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 8 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0 v Rockdale Ilinden 3 at Popondetta Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
Rockdale Ilinden FC continued their strong start to the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season with a commanding 3-0 win over Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Popondetta Park on Friday night keeping them atop of the Premiership ladder after eight rounds.
It was a disappointing evening for the Rangers.
The hosts have been somewhat of a bogey side for Rockdale Ilinden but were blown away by the visitors play, pace and style.
It was more of the same from the visitors who settled the contest within the hour.
Lochlan Constable opened the scoring with a stunner before who else, but Alec Urosevski found the back of the net alongside a Brendan Cholakian strike in the second half.
Sydney FC 1 v Blacktown City 0 at Valentine Sports Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
Sydney FC continued its recent run of good form knocking off another National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s powerhouse side in 2022 Champions Blacktown City with a dogged 1-0 victory at Valentine Sports Park on Friday evening.
In a fixture which saw two confident defensive sides on show, it was going to take something special to decide this one and that something special came from Sky Blues young gun Alen Harbas with a top class free-kick in the first half.
It was to be the winner as the Sky Blues hung on with a great defensive display led by keeper Adam Pavlesic to give the hosts the three precious points.
Bulls FC Academy 0 v St George City 0 at Sydney United Sports Centre – Full Match Report and Highlights
The Bulls FC Academy and St George City shared the points in a fascinating fixture that saw both sides’ defences come out on top at Sydney United Sports Centre on Saturday afternoon as the final result ended at 0-0.
The first half saw both sides engage in an arm wrestle for possession and chances, with neither outfit unable to crack the solid defensive lines.
The final 45 minutes gave the fans plenty of entertainment with a handful of chances coming in quick succession, leaving the defences into some stellar challenges to keep the scores level.
With the game heading towards an inevitable draw, St George goalkeeper Alex Burke was shown a straight red card for a last-man challenge on Sebastian Hernandez, which left the hosts with the chance to steal the game.
As the following free kick bounced back off the wall, both sides left with a sense that a win was left on the field.
Sutherland Sharks 0 v Sydney United 58 0 at Seymour Shaw Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
The Sutherland Sharks held Sydney United 58 to a goal-less 0-0 draw on a drizzly Saturday autumn evening at Seymour Shaw as both teams shared the spoils.
The first-half was reminiscent of both teams’ season to date, the midfield battle, defence and build up play were all excellent, but the final ball option was sadly lacking.
Mitchell Stamatellis came close again late on with a stinging long-range effort from a corner falling to him outside the box but missing narrowly wide of the framework.
But with neither keeper worked to any extent in the opening half, it remained deadlocked at the break.
Frustration, nerves, and desperation were evident but was there to be a cool-headed moment that would lead to the goal that would, most likely, settle the tie was the question being asked in the stands.
Sharks substitute striker Hamish Lamberton worked on an opening but his long-range effort was saved by Danijel Nizic in what was the United 58 keeper’s real first save of the match.
A flurry of late changes ensued in an attempt to dictate the outcome of this highly tactical and entertaining encounter came to nought as the score remained 0-0 at the final whistle.
Sydney Olympic 2 v NWS Spirit FC 0 at Belmore Sports Ground – Full Match Report and Highlights
Sydney Olympic defeated NWS Spirit 2-0 to bring a run of four losses to an end at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday night.
The home side opened the scoring in the 28th minute.
Fabio Ferreira, who had been threatening throughout, cut inside onto his left foot from the right wing and curled a dangerous cross into the box.
The ball found the head of Darcy Burgess, who made no mistake in converting from close range past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Both had chances to find the back of the net, with Olympic somehow not scoring during a goalmouth scramble and Spirit squandering multiple opportunities, but it was the Sydney side that doubled their advantage to secure the three points.
A good pass from Burgess released Adam Parkhouse in behind, and the winger took a positive first touch into the box from the left flank.
He then found Oliver Puflett with a pinpoint cutback, and the forward made no mistake in converting the ball into the back of the net to ensure victory for Sydney Olympic.
Marconi Stallions 3 v Manly United 1 at Marconi Stadium – Full Match Report and Highlights
The Marconi Stallions returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Manly United at Marconi Stadium on Saturday night.
While Manly United netted the first goal through Brazilian striker Bruno Mendes, the Stallions responded with goals to Domenic Costanzo, one of the goals of the season, and Jordan Swibel, with an own goal from Kieren Paull that sealed the victory for the hosts.
Western Sydney Wanderers 2 v APIA Leichhardt 2 at Wanderers Football Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
The Western Sydney Wanderers and APIA Leichhardt played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Wanderers Football Park on Saturday.
Returning from the Young Socceroos squad, Alessandro Lopane opened the scoring in the 37th minute. APIA Leichhardt forward Diego Celis would follow him on the scoresheet in the 58th minute.
From then on it was all APIA until the final five minutes of the game. Applying continual pressure Franco Farinella would score in the 76th minute after many chances went awry for the visiting side.
Attempting to come back into the game, the Wanderers had three back-to-back-to-back chances which accumulated with Jarrod Carluccio scoring in the 90th minute.
Just when everyone thought the game had come to a conclusion, both clubs would have one more opportunity in injury time. Although it was not to be with the two goalkeepers delivering crucial saves.
Jack Warshawsky saved an attempt by Jack Stewart, which was followed by a miraculous save by APIA’s goalkeeper Ivan Necevski that saw the ball hit the crossbar that kept the scores level at full-time.
Wollongong Wolves 3 v Central Coast Mariners 0 at WIN Stadium – Full Match Report and Highlights
Wollongong Wolves got back to winning ways with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday afternoon at WIN Stadium.
Jake Trew gave the home side a halftime lead, before notching his second just before the hour mark.
Takumi Ofuka added a third in the final ten minutes to round out the win.
