Round 20 Preview – NPL NSW Men’s

NPL Men's Round Preview 20

It was a thrilling round 19 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition with some big scorelines and shock results. 

Round 20 is set to be just as exciting with key battles in the race for the title.

Here’s what’s coming up.

Bulls FC Academy v Sydney FC

3:00 pm, Saturday 17 June, Sydney United Sports Centre

Bulls FC Academy and Sydney FC go head-to-head at Sydney United Sports Centre on Saturday in a clash of academies.

The Bulls’ 2-0 defeat to Wollongong Wolves in round 19 has left the team now seven points adrift at the foot of the table.

Having lost their last eight matches in a row, a win against Sydney FC would be a great way to kick-start a resurgence in the competition.

The Sky Blues earned another important victory edging past Manly United 2-1 last Friday night.

Hayden Matthews gave the team the lead in the first half before Alen Harbas re-established their advantage just after the hour mark.

Harbas’ well-dispatched penalty was his eighth goal of the campaign in what’s been a strong season for the attacker.

They moved eight points away from APIA at the top of the competition for the time being, but they’ll need to keep winning to maintain their position.

Jimmy van Weeren’s team will be expected to win this one, but the Bulls will be more eager than ever to end their losing streak.

 

Sutherland Sharks FC v Rockdale Ilinden FC 

6:30 pm, Saturday 17 June, Seymour Shaw

Sutherland Sharks host Rockdale Ilinden at Seymour Shaw on Saturday night needing to end their winless run in the competition.

The Sharks suffered a late comeback against NWS Spirit last Saturday in another disappointing result for Damir Prodanovic’s team.

Louis Khoury and Hamish Lamberton had Sutherland 2-0 up with eight minutes to go, but they managed to concede twice in what remained to see two points slip away.

It’s now three games without a win for Saturday’s hosts as the teams below them continue to draw closer.

Rockdale ended their three-game winless run with an efficient 3-1 victory over Sydney Olympic last Sunday.

Alec Urosevski gave Ilinden a halftime lead before Bai Antoniou and Isaac Danzo added to it in the second period.

Ilinden moved closer to top spot after that win, and with the two teams ahead of them in action against each other, it’s a chance to make up points for Paul Dee’s men.

Rockdale got up 2-0 against Sutherland earlier in the season with Urosevski bagging a double in the space of five second-half minutes.

 

Marconi Stallions FC v APIA Leichhardt FC

7:00 pm, Saturday 17 June, Marconi Stadium

Marconi Stadium plays host to a vital clash on Saturday in the battle for the title with Marconi Stallions facing APIA Leichhardt.

The Stallions made it four wins on the bounce in round 19 with a 2-0 victory over St George City.

Domenic Costanzo and Kyle Cimenti scored the goals for Marconi to see them draw level on points with APIA at the top of the competition.

APIA couldn’t make up for their defeat in round 18 with their match against Mount Druitt Town Rangers on Saturday being postponed.

It’s not what coach Franco Parisi would have wanted with his team denied the chance to bounce back ahead of this weekend’s tough fixture.

They’d drop off the summit for the first time since the early rounds if they lose on Saturday although they would keep their game in hand on their opponents.

These teams couldn’t be separated in round five playing out a tense 0-0 draw at Lambert Park.

There’s a lot on the line in this match so it’s one to keep an eye on in round 20.

 

Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC v Blacktown City FC 

7:00 pm, Saturday 17 June, Popondetta Park

Mount Druitt Town Rangers take on Blacktown City on Saturday night at Popondetta Park in an important game for the teams.

The Rangers didn’t play last weekend with their game with APIA Leichhardt postponed until a later date.

Western Sydney Wanderers’ win last weekend puts the pressure back on Mount Druitt now just four points clear of the relegation zone.

Blacktown picked up an emphatic 4-1 win against Central Coast Mariners in round 19.

Mario Shabow gave City the lead on the stroke of halftime before goals to Nicholas O’Brien, Charles Mendy and Carlos De Oliveira finished off the job.

Back up to sixth, the side have a chance to move into fifth if St George City fail to win this weekend.

Mark Crittenden’s team earned the points against Mount Druitt earlier in the season with a 4-1 victory in round five and they’ll be keen to do the same this time around.

Both these are coming off some positive results recently, setting up an exciting game this Saturday.

 

Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Wollongong Wolves FC

7:00 pm, Saturday 17 June, Wanderers Football Park

Western Sydney Wanderers seek to build on last weekend’s crucial win up against Wollongong Wolves on Saturday night at Wanderers Football Park.

The Wanderers out-scored Sydney United 58 6-3 which was their first win since round 13.

It was an efficient attacking display from Andrew Christiansen’s team with talented attacker Ariath Piol notching his first goals since round six.

Zachary Sapsford, Nathanael Blair and Teng Kuol all also found the net while Tommy Edmonds scored off the bench.

The result takes them only four points away from safety but they need another victory this weekend to keep the pressure on those above.

Wollongong had a positive week as well downing Bulls FC Academy 2-0 for their second win in their past five matches.

Former Wanderer Lachlan Scott bagged a first-half brace for the Wolves in a victory that put the top half of the table in view.

The goals took the captain’s tally into double digits in all competitions this season going clear as the club’s top goalscorer for 2023.

David Carney’s team have performed well against the academy sides in 2023 and he’ll be keen for his team to earn another vital three points on Saturday night.

 

Manly United FC v Sydney United 58 FC

7:15 pm, Saturday 17 June, Cromer Park

Manly United face another telling game in their battle to stay clear of the relegation places up against Sydney United 58 at Cromer Park on Saturday night.

Manly went into double digits for defeats in 2023 losing 2-1 to Sydney FC last weekend.

Seiya Kambayashi’s free-kick equaliser proved of little consolation as United dropped to just four points clear of the relegation qualification place.

Sydney United had a similarly disappointing round 19 going down to Western Sydney Wanderers 6-3.

While Miro Vlastelica will have some concerns about the defensive work from his team last Saturday, the performance of Glen Trifiro off the bench will give some solace.

Trifiro was instrumental in all three of the team’s goals, scoring two and assisting the other in a sensational display from the experienced attacker.

However, the defeat has sent the side back towards the middle of the table, currently sitting in seventh.

Sydney United took the points against Manly earlier in the season with two goals late on proving the difference.

This is a big game for the teams this weekend and with just six points separating them, it could be tight.

 

Central Coast Mariners FC v NWS Spirit FC

3:00 pm, Sunday 18 June, Pluim Park

Central Coast Mariners play NWS Spirit on Sunday at Pluim Park hoping to get their form back on track in the NPL NSW Men’s.

The Mariners went down 4-1 to Blacktown City over the weekend which made it just two wins in their last five games.

Aydan Hammond scored the consolation for the Mariners which was the forward’s third goal in his last three games.

After a stellar run of form in the competition, Central Coast have only won once in their last four which has seen them slip to only six points above the drop zone.

NWS Spirit contrastingly, are experiencing some of their best form in 2023 with just one loss in their last five.

David Perkovic’s team fought back without another spectacular comeback in round 19, scoring twice in the dying embers to draw 2-2 with Sutherland Sharks.

Matthew Cahill’s brace was the striker’s first goals since round eleven and Perkovic will hope it catalyses a return to form for one of his key attackers.

The Mariners got the better of Spirit back in round five with Lachlan Bayliss’ strike on the stroke of halftime the difference.

 

Sydney Olympic FC v St George City FA

3:00 pm, Sunday 18 June, Belmore Sports Ground

Sydney Olympic face St George City at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday with the team desperately needing a win to steer clear of the bottom places.

Last weekend’s 3-1 loss to Rockdale Ilinden was Labinot Haliti’s men’s fourth successive match without a win and dropped them to just five points clear of fifteenth.

The side have failed to win in nine of their last ten games which has left them in twelfth.

Olympic also must deal with the suspension of Matthew Buettner on Sunday after the defender’s red card against Ilinden.

St George City couldn’t make it three wins in a row in round 19 going down 2-0 to Marconi Stallions.

The side remain inside the top five and but with the teams below them only a few points below, there’s no room for error if they want to stay there.

St George got the win against Olympic in round five with a narrow 1-0 scoreline as Jordan Roberts scored the winner in the final seven minutes.

Preview by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_