Round 20 Review – NPL Men’s NSW

Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 20 of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition.
Sydney Olympic 1 v Sutherland Sharks 1 at Belmore Sports Ground – Full Match Report and Highlights
Sydney Olympic and the Sutherland Sharks left Belmore Sports Ground with a flurry of late goals and shared the spoils in what was a gripping 1-1 draw on a chilly Saturday evening.
Teng Kuol scored what appeared to be an electric winner in the 79th minute for Olympic, however, come the 97th minute a spot kick was called, and former Olympic player Mitchell Stamatellis sent Noah James the wrong way to rescue a precious point for the Shire based club.
NWS Spirit FC 1 v Western Sydney Wanderers 0 at Christie Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
NWS Spirit FC bounced back from their midweek match of the round defeat with a 1-0 win over a free-falling Western Sydney Wanderers outfit at Christie Park on Saturday evening.
The hosts second victory at the venue in the space of a week, a Michael Konestabo’s goal in the first half proved enough for David Perkovic’s side to secure the much needed three points.
Wollongong Wolves 2 v Blacktown City 2 at WIN Stadium – Full Match Report and Highlights
Wollongong Wolves and Blacktown City shared the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw at WIN Stadium on Saturday night.
Jake Trew scored his fourth goal in his last three games for Wollongong early on but Nicholas O’Brien quickly equalised for Blacktown.
Tyren Burnie put City in front soon after halftime, before Lachlan Scott restored parity later on for the Wolves to ensure the points were shared.
Hills United 2 v Sydney United 58 3 at Landen Stadium – Full Match Report and Highlights
Sydney United 58 produced a stunning comeback to win 3-2 against Hills United FC at Landen Stadium on Saturday night.
The hosts got off to a flyer and scored two first half goals via Yu Okubo and Anthony Frangie.
The second half saw a totally different United 58 side as they clicked into gear with Carlos De Oliveira scoring straight from the break before Shunta Nakamura kept his great season going adding his name to the scoresheet.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man, Patrick Antelmi was to be United’s hero as he scored a wonderfully worked match winner to gift his side the three points.
St George FC 0 v St George City 2 at Ilinden Sports Centre – Full Match Report and Highlights
In what was a classic backs against the wall performance, St George City defeated arch-rivals St George FC 2-0 albeit playing the entire second half with ten-men following the send off of Presley Ortiz in a great team performance at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Saturday.
Matthew Keremelevski fired City ahead with a net-busting shot from the edge of the area, still rising when it bulged the onion bag, as FC failed to clear the danger from a free-kick, in a blistering opening to the match.
Tarik Ercan was quickest to react and netted a second for the 10-man City side to double the lead on the hour when again a parried free-kick presented the opportunity on a plate for the player to hammer home with some force.
It was a game that promised and delivered fireworks, talking points and super strikes that for the neutral didn’t disappoint.
Rockdale Ilinden 4 v Manly United 0 at Ilinden Sports Centre – Full Match Report and Highlights
Rockdale Ilinden asserted itself at the summit of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW ladder extending its gap to seven points with a match in hand at the top of the table following a comprehensive 4-0 display against Manly United at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
A double to Alec Urosevski who further increased his own gap on the Golden Boot charts and goals to Mathieu Cordier and Blake Ricciuto either side of his double, saw Paul Dee’s men sitting comfortably at the top of the table with a game in hand against Marconi Stallions on Wednesday night away at ‘The Palace’.
Central Coast Mariners 1 v Sydney FC 1 at Pluim Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
It was points-a-piece in the ‘Battle of the Academies’ at Pluim Park, with the Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC playing out a 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon.
After a scoreless first half, a costly turnover at the back from the Mariners handed Sydney FC first blood through birthday boy Tiago Quintal, before an incredible volley strike from Parker Williams ensured the sharing of the points.
APIA Leichhardt 1 v Marconi 4 at Lambert Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
Marconi Stallions have picked up a vital three points with a sensational 4-1 victory over bitter rivals APIA Leichhardt at Lambert Park.
Marko Jesic opened the scoring with a delightful header in the 39th minute, before James Temelkovski doubled the away sides advantage with a strong finish just before the break.
Two minutes into the second half, Marconi found a third through Franco Maya, before Jesic gained his second goal of the game with a powerful, statement strike from range.
APIA gained a consolation goal through Lui Ditroia in the 85th minute, but it was too little too late as Marconi grabbed an important victory.