Round 9 Review – NPL NSW Men’s
Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 9 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.
NWS Spirit FC 5 v Wollongong Wolves 4 at Christie Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
It’s been lauded as one of the most entertaining comebacks in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition history, NWS Spirit FC amazingly recorded a 5-4 victory over the Wollongong Wolves at Christie Park in one of the matches of the season played on Saturday.
Trailing by two goals as late as the 90th minute, the hosts remarkably scored three goals via Matthew Cahill, Michael Konestabo and Richard Darko giving David Perkovic’s troops an incredible victory.
This, after Darko and Luiz Lobo scored earlier in the piece.
It was pure heartbreak for the Wolves as the South Coast side thought they’d won the match when Takumi Ofuma slotted his side’s fourth goal, with Lachlan Scott, Jake Trew and Chris McStay scoring earlier – But it wasn’t to be as the NWS Spirit’s never say die attitude lifted them to a memorable win.
Western Sydney Wanderers 0 v Marconi Stallions 4 at Wanderers Football Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
Marconi Stallions recorded back-to-back wins with a dominating 4-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park on Saturday night.
Stallions captain Marko Jesic kicked off the scoring in the eighth minute before a double dose of goals from Jordan Swibel and Kyle Cimenti then a late free-kick from Domenic Costanzo secured the three points.
For the Wanderers, it was a disappointing result after their encouraging draw last weekend. The hosts had chances through Jared Carluccio and George Antonis but were unable to trouble the Stallions who kept a clean sheet on a cool autumn evening.
Sydney Olympic 1 v Bulls FC Academy 0 at Belmore Sports Ground – Full Match Report and Highlights
Sydney Olympic have defeated Bulls FC Academy 1-0 at Belmore Sports Ground to make it two wins from two as they look to continue to push up the table.
Sydney Olympic opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a clever piece of play.
Adam Parkhouse moved wide to receive the ball and played a clever one two with Jakob Cresnar, with the left back making an underlapping run to support.
Parkhouse then drove into the wide space, before finding Oliver Puflett with an accurate cross in the middle – the striker made no mistake in converting with poise and precision.
The home side had multiple opportunities to double their lead, but they couldn’t convert, with Puflett in particular getting into good positions in the box but just not finding the target.
The Bulls remained dangerous, but a red card in the 71st minute to Joel Bertolissio diminished their hopes, and despite their efforts Sydney Olympic took the three points.
Central Coast Mariners 1 v APIA Leichhardt 2 at Industree Group Stadium- Full Match Report and Highlights
APIA Leichhardt have moved to within two points of the top of the ladder with a hard-earned 2-1 victory over the Central Coast Mariners at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford.
The youthful Mariners began the match strongly, but the experience of APIA helped steer them back into control of the tight contest.
APIA took the lead in the 31st minute through defender Joshua Symons after Michael Kouta’s free kick bounced inside the Mariners box and wasn’t dealt with.
The Mariners equalised in the 54th minute through captain Cameron Windust, who glanced a header towards the back post from a Lachlan Bayliss Corner.
A frantic couple of minutes saw chances missed at either end, before APIA took the lead again in the 68th minute through Jack Stewart, who powered his shot into the bottom-right corner.
Rockdale Ilinden 3 v Sydney United 58 1 at Ilinden Sports Centre – Full Match Report and Highlights
Rockdale Ilinden and Sydney United 58 have competed in an intense fiery top-of-the-table clash which included four goals, seven yellow cards and two red cards with the hosts running out 3-1 victors.
Within one minute, Rockdale’s captain Alec Urosevski added another goal to his season tally getting Rockdale to a great start to begin the game.
From then on, it was all Rockdale in the first half. Back-to-back goals from Jaden Casella and Lochlan Constable gave the home side a 3-0 lead heading into the second half.
Unfortunately, things wouldn’t get better for United as they went down to 10 men after Ante Bakmaz was awarded a red card by referee Adrian Arndt.
This wouldn’t be the last time Amdt would reach into his pocket for a red card. After a heavy challenge on Leroy Jennings, Mathieu Cordier was awarded a straight red in the 81st minute.
Despite multiple opportunities to increase their score, they were unable to get past a Man of the Match performance by defender Lachlan Griffiths and David Bradasevic who delivered crucial late saves to keep out Antelmi and Chris Payne.
Manly United 2 v Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0 at Cromer Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
Manly United picked up an important 2-0 win over Mount Druitt Town Rangers on Sunday afternoon at Cromer Park in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men.
It was a worthy spectacle for the ‘Back to Manly Day’ with former members of Manly United as well as the local association gathering to celebrate the club on the day.
After a bright start from the Rangers in the opening minutes, Manly worked their way into the game with Benjamin Koop scoring the opening goal in the 35th minute.
In a dominant second half from United, it took until the 81st minute for the team to score their second as substitute Kristian Santich fired in a stunner to ensure the three points.
Blacktown City 2 v Sutherland Sharks 0 at Landen Stadium – Full Match Report and Highlights
A dank and drizzly afternoon at Landen Stadium didn’t detract from the superlative football produced by Blacktown City and Sutherland Sharks in Round 9 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition with the hosts running out 2-0 winners.
Mario Shabow opened the scoring in the second-half when side-footing home a volley before setting up Jak O’Brien to tap home inside the 6-yard box with fifteen minutes remaining to secure the three points for the hosts.
Sydney FC 2 v St George City 2 at Valentine Sports Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
Sydney FC came back with two late goals to snatch a highly entertaining 2-2 draw against St George City at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday.
The visitors were in control after an early penalty save to deny Adrian Segecic and led by two goals thanks to Brendan Hooper and Kosta Petratos but with five minutes of regular time left on the clock, the young Sky Blues struck.
Firstly it was Nathan Paull who scored followed by Bailey Callaghan who the equalised to add credence to the proverbial saying about the dangers of protecting a two-goal lead in football.
