Round 8 Review – NPL Men’s NSW
Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 8 of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition.
Sutherland Sharks 0 v APIA Leichhardt 7 at Lambert Park – Match Report and Highlights
APIA Leichhardt secured the three points with an outstanding 7-0 victory over the Sutherland Sharks at Seymour Shaw.
Jordan Segreto opened the scoring with a stunning trviela shot from range, before Edward Caspers doubled the reigning Champions’ lead with a subtly spectacular chest down and volley.
Within the first half, APIA netted twice more – once through a Ben Gibson tap in from a Seiya Kambayashi low cross and again thanks to a clinical Jack Armson turn and finish from inside the box.
Five minutes into the second half, APIA made it five with Gibson earning himself space in the box and thundering a strike into the top left corner, before a corner saw them make it six courtesy of a towering header from Themba Muata-Marlow.
APIA concluded the 7-0 rout with Luigi Ditroia netting courtesy of a strong run and square pass from Gibson.
Sydney Olympic 4 v Wollongong Wolves 3 at Belmore Sports Ground – Match Report and Highlights
A contender for the match of the 2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW season, Sydney Olympic defeated the Wollongong Wolves 4-3 in a highly entertaining round 8 fixture on Easter Saturday at Belmore Sports Ground.
The Blues prevailed after going into the halftime break down 2-0 down thanks to a brace from Wolves ace Takumi Ofuka.
The second half was the type of half that Sydney Olympic will want to make a blueprint of for the season because of the quality of their play and the superb 4-2 outcome.
Wollongong Wolves had managed to crawl ahead 3-2 thanks to an Andre Takami strike before Teng Kuol and Roy O’Donovan scored beyond the 90th minute to send the home side into raptures.
Marconi 2 v Central Coast Mariners 0 at Marconi Stadium – Match Report and Highlights
The Marconi Stallions secured a valuable three points at home, with a 2-0 victory over the Central Coast Mariners on Easter Saturday evening in round 8 of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition at the Palace.
The hard-fought battle saw two goals from two Marconi players returning from injury.
James Temelkovski netted the opener for the Stallions in the 66th minute, while Milislav Popovic sealed the deal for the hosts in the 94th minute.
The victory keeps Marconi near the top of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s ladder, keeping pressure on current leaders, Western Sydney Wanderers FC.
Hills United 2 v Manly United 1 at Landen Stadium – Match Report and Highlights
Hills United recorded an important 2-1 victory over Manly United in Round 8 of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition at Landen Stadium played on Saturday evening.
Anthony Frangie gave the hosts the lead in the 37th minute with a bolter then Thomas Lopez made it 2-0 in the 58th to confirm the points.
That is back-to-back losses for Manly United FC who will be disappointed in their work after a fast start. They did pull a goal back late in the contest through Alen Aganovic in the 88th minute for 2-1.
Western Sydney Wanderers 4 v St George FC 2 at Wanderers Football Park – Match Report and Highlights
Western Sydney Wanderers continued their dream start to the season with another win, beating St George FC 4-2.
The Wanderers were trailing twice early on with two low driven goals from Troy Danaskos and Conor Quilligan.
But the home side showed their character both times by almost immediately responding, with equalisers from Alexander Badolato and Zac Sapsford.
The Wanderers took the lead just before half time with a second from Sapsford, before a goal from their talisman Nathanael Blair sealed St George’s fate in the second half to keep them atop of the NPL Men’s NSW ladder.
Blacktown City 2 v Sydney United 58 at Landen Stadium – Match Report and Highlights
Blacktown City and Sydney United 58 played out an entertaining 2-2 draw on Easter Sunday at Landen Stadium.
Former Blacktown City star Carlos De Oliveira put United 58 ahead in the 20th minute, but Jak O’Brien equalised just before halftime.
Shunta Nakamura put the away side back in front soon after halftime, but Lachlan Campbell’s late goal ensured the points were shared in the end.
Rockdale Ilinden 3 v NWS Spirit FC 1 at Ilinden Sports Centre – Match Report and Highlights
Rockdale Ilinden kept its sights on the 2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW Premiership prize following a 3-1 victory over the NWS Spirit FC at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
Goals came thick and fast in the early stages as the 2023 Player of the Year and Golden Boot award winner, club captain Alec Urosevski opened the scoring for the hosts in the 9th minute thanks to a great ball from Giorgio Speranza.
Four minutes later Jake Chidiac equalised for the visitors and it was game on.
The hosts hit the lead in the 52nd minute as Ante Bakmaz, a hero for Spirit FC last week, handballed in the box which awarded Rockdale a spot-kick.
Up stepped Urosevski and the “Baker” made no mistake as Ilinden hit the lead once more.
Things got a whole lot harder for David Perkovic’s men as Chidiac received his second caution of the game for a foul on Mathieu Cordier after 62′ minutes leaving NWS Spirit with 10-men for the remainder of the match.
Kyah Williams replaced Kyle Shaw but was unfortunate to turn the ball into his own net moments later to extend Rockdale’s lead as it was 3-1 and quite literally game set and match at that stage.
