Round 12 Preview – NPL NSW Men’s
We were not left disappointed by round 11 with plenty of drama and surprising results.
Round 12 has some important fixtures with the ‘Festival of Football’ battle headlining between APIA Leichhardt v Sydney Olympic with a sprinkling of other key match-ups that will have a huge bearing on the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s table.
This is what’s coming up.
Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
7:30 pm, Friday 21 April, Valentine Sports Park
The round starts off with a hotly contested Sydney derby between the youth sides at Valentine Sports Park on Friday night at Valentine Sports Park.
The Sky Blues suffered defeat in round 11 going down narrowly 1-0 to NWS Spirit.
The result pushed St George City ahead of the side with Sydney FC now in sixth on the table.
This was Jimmy van Weeren’s team’s first defeat since round four in what had been a stellar run in the competition.
Their form greatly contrasts that of their opponents with Western Sydney slumping to the bottom of the table after last weekend.
The Wanderers succumbed to their third successive defeat with a 1-0 loss to Bulls FC Academy.
Despite a strong showing from Andrew Christiansen’s side, they conceded a spectacular free-kick with 10 minutes to play to see the points slip away.
It is also the third game in a row the team have failed to score a goal.
However, a match against their rivals could be the perfect motivation to get a much-needed set of three points.
This is an exciting fixture to get round 12 underway and both teams will be eager to pick up a win.
Bulls FC Academy v Marconi Stallions FC
3:00 pm, Saturday 22 April, Sydney United Sports Centre
Bulls FC Academy take on Marconi Stallions at Sydney United Sports Centre on Saturday afternoon.
The Academy finally won their first game of the 2023 NPL NSW edging past Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 last Sunday.
Rhys Youlley buried a superb free-kick to secure his team a crucial three points in the battle at the bottom.
It lifts the team off the foot of the table, although only on goal difference meaning it is essential that the team continue to pick up results in the coming weeks.
The side have a tough week ahead of them facing Rockdale Ilinden on Wednesday night before taking on another top side in Marconi Stallions on Saturday.
The Stallions earned a mammoth three points over Rockdale in round 11 getting up 3-1.
They were ruthless in the first half with Giorgio Speranza and a brace to Jordan Swibel seeing the side go into halftime with a resounding 3-0 lead.
Marconi remained in third despite that win, but they’ve moved close to the top of the table and if results go their way, the side could sit in first by the end of the weekend.
Peter Tsekenis’ men will be expected to claim victory, however, a rejuvenated Bulls outfit will pose a real threat.
Manly United FC v Wollongong Wolves FC
7:15 pm, Saturday 22 April, Cromer Park
Manly United host Wollongong Wolves on Saturday night at Cromer Park.
United lost their second game in a row last weekend going down 1-0 to Sutherland Sharks.
A goal in the final nine minutes did the damage to Manly as the side continue to linger in the bottom half of the table.
With only four wins all season, last year’s grand finalists will hope to pick up form in the next few games to leap towards the top of the table starting with Wollongong on Saturday.
The Wolves held Sydney United 58 to a 0-0 draw last Sunday ending a two-game losing run for the team.
However, it means David Carney’s team have won only one of their last five games which puts them a point below Manly coming into this weekend.
Wollongong couldn’t beat United in two attempts last season with a 2-0 defeat in round six before a 1-1 draw in round seventeen.
These teams are in desperate need of a victory after struggling for wins so far in this campaign setting up a must-watch encounter on Saturday.
St George City FA v Blacktown City FC
7:00 pm, Saturday 22 April, Penshurst Park
St George City play Blacktown City at Penshurst Park in a defining match for the team on Saturday night.
St George snapped a three-game winless run with a commanding 3-0 victory against Mount Druitt Town Rangers in round 11.
Kosta Petratos, Daniel Alessi and Aiden Mostofi all scored in a strong performance from the team.
They move into fifth with that win and a point off Sydney United 58 in the place above.
Blacktown City were on the end of another difficult scoreline giving away a lead at the break to lose 4-2 to APIA Leichhardt.
Travis Major’s first-half brace proved to be in vain as City dropped to eighth on the table.
With Blacktown currently nine points off the top of the table, a win is essential against St George on Saturday.
Mark Crittenden’s men have had close encounters with the other newly-promoted teams in 2023.
The side played the other three teams in the opening four rounds claiming two narrow victories, but also lost to NWS Spirit.
St George have given everyone they’ve played a tough time so Blacktown will be up against it this weekend.
Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC v Sutherland Sharks FC
7:00 pm, Saturday 22 April, Popondetta Park
Sutherland Sharks travel to face Mount Druitt Town Rangers at Popondetta Park on Saturday night.
The Sharks continued their surge up the table with another gritty 1-0 win in round 11 edging past Manly United.
Hamish Lamberton came off the bench to net the winner in the final nine minutes.
Damir Prodanovic’s team have lost just one in their last five after losing four of their first six in 2023.
Sutherland are now level on points with NWS Spirit in ninth and could go into the top half of the table with a win on Saturday.
They will not want to lose this match as it risks dragging them back into the battle at the bottom that they have just gotten away from.
However, they will have to do it without star defender Nathan Grimaldi who received a red card in last Saturday’s match.
The Rangers lost their seventh game of the season last weekend going down 3-0 to St George City.
Attacker Anthony Frangie will be missing this Saturday after being sent off in stoppage against St George.
Mount Druitt are still in the bottom four, a point ahead of the three teams below them.
This match shapes up as a crucial one for the teams as the result will have a big impact on the fight at the foot of the table.
Rockdale Ilinden FC v Central Coast Mariners FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 23 April, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Rockdale Ilinden host Central Coast Mariners at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday, keen to get back on a winning run.
Ilinden copped a disappointing defeat against Marconi Stallions going down 3-1 last weekend.
Shipping three first-half goals proved too much for Rockdale to overcome as Loic Puyo’s goal after the break proved merely a consolation.
It sees Paul Dee’s team slip into second for now, but a win on Wednesday night against Bulls FC Academy would put them back at the summit.
It will be a difficult task for Rockdale this weekend, with their opponents proving a challenge for the top sides so far in 2023.
The Mariners pushed Olympic all the way in round 11 taking the lead twice in a 2-2 draw.
Miguel Di Pizio and Lachlan Bayliss each found the net to give the side a halftime lead before it slipped away in the second half.
Despite another positive showing from Central Coast, they remain in the bottom places dropping to second-last following Bulls FC Academy’s win.
With bottom teams separated by so few points, it means a win especially against one of the top teams would go a long way to pushing the Mariners away from last.
Rockdale are the favourite for this one, but Central Coast have proven they can spring a surprise.
Sydney United 58 FC v NWS Spirit FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 23 April, Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 play host to NWS Spirit on Sunday afternoon in an intriguing clash at Sydney United Sports Centre.
United played out a 0-0 draw with Wollongong Wolves last Sunday in a frustrating afternoon for the visitors.
The side keep their place in fourth, but St George City are now only a point away in fifth.
Miro Vlastelica’s team have won only one of their last five games, so they’ll be keen to win this weekend and keep pace with the teams above.
NWS Spirit picked up an impressive victory over Sydney FC in round 11 with a 1-0 scoreline.
Matthew Cahill scored his sixth of the season and his fourth in his last four games for Spirit.
Spirit still sit in the bottom half of the table for now, but a win on Sunday could shoot them up into the top places.
With a couple of key wins in the past few weeks, coach David Perkovic will hope his team have turned a corner after a tough run previously.
Both teams could do with the win on Sunday setting up a high-stakes clash.
APIA Leichhardt FC v Sydney Olympic FC
6:00 pm, Sunday 23 April, Lambert Park
The title of ‘best in the inner west’ is on the line on Sunday night as APIA Leichhardt face Sydney Olympic at Lambert Park for the 2023 ‘Festival of Football’ match-up.
APIA moved to the top of the table following a 4-2 win against Blacktown City in round 11.
The side overturned a halftime deficit and powered in three goals in the second half to claim another victory.
Jack Stewart netted two goals making it back-to-back braces after last week’s Australia Cup win, and taking his tally to eight for the season.
APIA will drop to second if Rockdale Ilinden claim victory over Bulls FC Academy in midweek, but Franco Parisi’s team still hold plenty of momentum heading into this weekend.
Olympic failed to win again last Saturday fighting back twice to draw 2-2 with Central Coast Mariners.
Roy O’Donovan scored meaning he now has goals in back-to-back NPL NSW matches for first time since the opening few rounds.
Labinot Haliti’s team now sit in seventh, but three points would be a huge statement against the high-flying APIA.
Each side claimed a win in 2022 with APIA winning convincingly 4-0 before Olympic nicked a 1-0 victory.
It is a highly-anticipated matchup on Sunday night with the result having significant implications at the top of the table.
A huge crowd is expected if you have not already bought your tickets you can do so by clicking here.
Preview by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
