Round 10 Preview – NPL NSW Men’s

NPL Men's Round Preview 10

Round nine of the National Premier Leagues NSW featured some incredible comebacks and further twists and turns at the top of the table. 

Expect plenty of excitement in Round 10 with a set of high-stakes fixtures as we enter the Easter Long Weekend in style.

Here’s what’s coming up.

Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC v Sydney Olympic FC 

7:45 pm, Thursday 6 April, Popondetta Park

Mount Druitt Town Rangers and Sydney Olympic kick off the round early on Thursday night at Popondetta Park.

The Rangers lost their second game in a row going down 2-0 to Manly United in round nine.

The side were unable to make the most of a positive start against United with the match slipping away as it went on.

With the other teams at the foot of the table also losing, Stewart Montgomery’s men didn’t lose ground on those around them.

After only two wins this season, Mount Druitt could do with three points, especially at home.

The hosts have only featured at Popondetta Park twice in the opening nine rounds and are yet to score their first goal at the home ground in 2023.

Known as their fortress, the Rangers will be banking on Kotaro Katsuta Jackson Bandiera, Stefan Nikolic and skipper Tarek Elrich for inspiration.

Olympic made it back-to-back wins in the competition after edging past Bulls FC Academy 1-0 over the weekend.

Labinot Haliti’s team moved closer to the chasing pack as they continue to get their season back on track after losing four on the bounce.

It was the team’s second clean sheet in a row after conceding 11 goals in that poor run.

Oliver Pufflet has been in good form as has keeper Nick Sorras who is hoping to keep a clean sheet on Thursday.

There’s no doubt they’ll want another victory this Thursday to maintain their assault on the top places of the NPL NSW.

APIA Leichhardt FC v Manly United FC

3:15 pm, Friday 7 April, Lambert Park

APIA Leichhardt host Manly United on Friday afternoon in a fascinating clash at Lambert Park in the first of three Friday night games.

APIA downed Central Coast Mariners 2-1 last Saturday night with Jack Stewart scoring the winner in the second half.

It takes Stewart’s goal tally to four this season with three of those coming in his last four games.

The side remain in second five points behind Rockdale Ilinden after that victory and three points ahead of the teams nearest to them below.

Manly also won over the weekend getting up 2-0 against Mount Druitt Town Rangers.

Benjamin Koop gave the team a halftime lead before Kristian Santich added a second in the final 10 minutes.

The result took United above Wollongong Wolves into ninth and closer to the top teams in the competition.

It will be an important test for Patrick Zwaanswijk’s team against one of the early challengers, however, the team have struggled against the top sides in 2023.

They have already suffered defeats to reigning premiers Sydney Olympic and current league-leaders Rockdale Ilinden in the opening nine rounds.

It’s a huge match on Friday with massive implications for both teams.

NWS Spirit FC v Marconi Stallions FC

5:30 pm, Friday 7 April, Christie Park 

Marconi Stallions and NWS Spirit face off at Christie Park on Friday night.

Marconi continued their recent good form in the competition with a 4-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in round nine.

Marko Jesic scored early in the first half before Jordan Swibel, Kyle Cimenti and Domenic Costanzo blew out the score.

It was Marconi’s fifth clean sheet in 2023 as they remain only three points away from second place.

It’s not just at the back that the Stallions have been excelling.

They have also scored 21 goals – which is the second-highest of any team in the NPL NSW so far.

Spirit pulled off an incredible comeback against Wollongong Wolves coming from 4-2 down in the 90th minute to win 5-4.

Richard Darko bagged a brace, with Matthew Cahill, Michael Konestabo and Luiz Lobo all also scoring.

After scoring just twice since round three, finding the net five times in a game represents a big improvement for the newly-promoted outfit.

David Perkovic’s men moved level on points with the Wolves in tenth with that victory and have a chance to go just two points behind Marconi if they win on the weekend.

It is a fascinating clash on Friday night with both teams keen to carry their recent momentum.

Sydney FC v Wollongong Wolves FC

7:30 pm, Friday 7 April, Valentine Sports Park

Wollongong Wolves travel to face Sydney FC at Valentine Sports Park on Friday night.

A wounded Wolves outfit will take the field on Friday after inexplicably throwing away three points against NWS Spirit.

Wollongong were 4-2 up heading into the 90th minute at Christie Park but shipped three goals in the dying embers to end up losing the game.

The side were, however, boosted by the return of captain and talisman Lachlan Scott up front who netted on his return to David Carney’s team.

The Wolves will be desperate to rectify the devastation of last weekend by grabbing a win this time around to avoid getting stuck in the mid-table.

Wollongong could move two points behind Sydney with a victory on Friday night.

Sydney FC couldn’t make it five successive wins fighting back to draw 2-2 with St George City in round nine.

Jimmy van Weeren’s team staged a late comeback scoring twice in the final four minutes to steal a draw.

Sydney remain in the top five and eight points away from table-toppers Rockdale Ilinden.

These teams provided ample entertainment in 2022 with ten goals in two high-scoring draws.

It was 2-2 in round three at WIN Stadium before a 3-3 draw in round fourteen at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.

With plenty of goals between these teams last season, in addition to being two of the most potent attacks in the competition so far in 2023, sets up an exhilarating match on Friday.

Sydney United 58 FC v Blacktown City FC

3:00 pm, Saturday 8 April, Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United 58 take on Blacktown City at Sydney United Sports Centre in the early kick-off on Saturday.

Sydney United 58 were blown away by a blistering first half from Rockdale Ilinden in round nine going into the sheds at halftime 3-0 down.

Patrick Antelmi pulled a goal back for United in the second half, but the damage had already been done.

Coach Miro Vlastelica will be without Ante Bakmaz for this weekend after he received a red card against Rockdale.

Blacktown claimed a 2-0 win over Sutherland Sharks last Sunday following two goals in a nine-minute period in the second half.

Mario Shabow found the net six minutes after halftime before Jak O’Brien scored his ninth of the season on the hour mark.

The result moves City ahead of Sydney United on goal difference into fourth.

The scores were tight between these two teams last season as they each claimed a narrow win.

Sydney United edged past Blacktown 2-1 in round five, but Blacktown returned fire in round sixteen with a 1-0 victory.

With the teams level on points so far in 2023 and two close scorelines last year, Saturday’s clash is a must-watch.

Bulls FC Academy v Rockdale Ilinden FC WASHED OUT

5:00 pm, Saturday 8 April, Campbelltown Sports Stadium

Bulls FC Academy play host to a red-hot Rockdale Ilinden at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday in a pre-curser to Macarthur FC’s A-League Men’s match later in the day.

The Bulls extended their winless run in the competition to nine games following a 1-0 defeat to Sydney Olympic over the weekend.

Zeljko Kalac’s team conceded an early goal and were unable to get back into the game.

There’s further bad news for the Academy with Joel Bertolissio unavailable for selection following his send-off against Olympic.

Rockdale Ilinden continued their run at the top of the NPL NSW Men’s competition with a 3-1 victory over Sydney United 58.

Alec Urosevski scored within a minute before Jaden Casella and Lochlan Constable also found the net in a phenomenal first half for Ilinden.

Despite yet another successive win, Paul Dee will need to shuffle the pack for this weekend following Mathieu Cordier’s red card.

Cordier has been a star at the back for Rockdale in the first nine rounds and will leave a big hole in the defence in his absence.

Lochlan Constable and Lachie Griffiths have been in great form and will no doubt be ones to look out for as well as Urosevski who leads the Golden Boot charts with 12 for the year.

Given the run Rockdale are on, they’ll be expected to carry that on this weekend against the Bulls.

St George City FA v Central Coast Mariners FC

7:00 pm, Saturday 8 April, Penshurst Park

It’s a 2022 Football NSW League One grand final rematch on Saturday night as St George City take on Central Coast Mariners at Penshurst Park.

City prevailed 2-1 that day after extra time in a match that was indicative of the close clashes between these teams last year.

The teams have had a contrasting form this time around with St George City in seventh, while the Mariners are second last.

St George shared the points in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Sydney FC last round.

The side gave up a two-goal lead from Brendan Hooper and Kosta Petratos in the final four minutes against the Sky Blues.

As a result, they’ve dropped to seventh on the table, but are still only four points away from second.

Central Coast lost their fourth successive game over the weekend going down 2-1 to APIA Leichhardt.

Cameron Windust equalised early in the second half, but they conceded later on to make it their sixth defeat this season.

These sides were part of a hard-fought rivalry in the League One competition last season and while this season they have had different fortunes, this is still a game to watch out for.

Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Sutherland Sharks FC

3:00 pm, Sunday 9 April, Wanderers Football Park 

Western Sydney Wanderers and Sutherland Sharks go head-to-head on Sunday at Wanderers Football Park in an important game for the sides at the bottom.

The Wanderers lost big again last weekend with a 4-0 defeat to Marconi Stallions.

It means they have now conceded 26 goals in the competition – six more than the next highest.

Western Sydney won just one of their last five games making it essential to win against another side amid the battle at the bottom.

In contrast, Sutherland have the worst goalscoring record out of any team so far in the 2023 NPL NSW having scored five goals.

Damir Prodanovic’s team have netted goals in only one of their last five matches which was a 2-0 win against Marconi Stallions.

In round nine, the Sharks lost 2-0 to Blacktown City conceding a quickfire double in the second half.

The teams are separated by only a point heading into this weekend giving a win, either way, increased significance as they looked to break away from the bottom teams.

Preview by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_