Round 12 Preview – NPL Men’s NSW

After a blockbuster Round 11, this weekend – headlined by the Derby d’Italia – is set to feature plenty of drama, excitement and entertaining football.

Sydney FC vs Sutherland Sharks FC

 1:30pm, Friday 25 April, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

In another 1:30pm Friday match at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre, Sydney FC will take on Sutherland Sharks.

The Sky Blues suffered a devastating draw last week, with a last-minute equaliser off a goalkeeping error seeing them take away just a point in a strong performance against the Wollongong Wolves.

Nevertheless, the point has taken them four points clear of the bottom two, and they will be looking to turn that performance into momentum when taking on Sutherland Sharks, who are a point below them on the ladder.

The Sharks have lost their last three league matches in a row – with the last two coming as 4-0 and 3-0 defeats to Wollongong and St George City FA respectively, and will be eager to get some points on the board on Friday afternoon to avoid the bottom two.

NWS Spirit FC vs St George FC

5:30pm, Saturday 26 April, Christie Park

NWS Spirit will face off against St George FC in an important Saturday evening battle at Christie Park.

After a stunning start to the season, Spirit are yet to win in four matches, suffering a 3-0 loss in their last match to make it back-to-back defeats.

The home side for this match will be desperate for a win to continue to remain comfortable in the top-six, but will be facing a St George FC side with heavy motivation to take the three points, sitting just two points from finals themselves.

St George’s most recent game saw them go down to Sydney United 58, with Bai Antoniou scoring his seventh goal in seven league matches; he will be key this weekend if the away team are to come away with a result.

St George City FA vs Western Sydney Wanderers FC

7:15pm, Saturday 26 April, Penshurst Park

Later on Saturday, the other St George side will face off against a hurting Western Sydney Wanderers after picking up a vital three points last weekend.

Things haven’t been easy for St George City FA this campaign, having picked up just 11 points from 11 matches – far below their usual standards.

However, a 3-0 win last weekend – featuring a brace from Marc McNulty and a late goal from Jesse Photi – will give them confidence heading into the weekend when taking on the Wanderers in a clash between two bottom-five sides.

Western Sydney will have plenty to prove this weekend, coming off the back of an 8-1 defeat, but they still find themselves just three points behind St George City, and would go level with them if they won this weekend.

APIA Leichhardt FC vs Marconi Stallions FC

3:00pm, Sunday 27 April, Lambert Park

The Derby d’Italia returns to the NPL Men’s NSW competition with a bang in what could be a crucial clash in the eventual Premiership decider.

Marconi Stallions have been in sensational form, with a 3-0 win last weekend meaning they have won their last six league games in a row, and are the only side yet to lose a match this campaign.

However, APIA will be mightily determined to break that record and cut down the gap between them and the league leaders, currently seven points behind in fifth place.

A win for APIA would be major in their campaign, both for bragging rights and in forcing Marconi to experience something they haven’t felt all campaign – defeat.

The match will be chock-full of quality, featuring the likes of Presley Ortiz, Jack Stewart, Marko Jesic and Dominic Costanzo, as APIA strive to become the first side to beat Marconi in the league in 253 days.

Wollongong Wolves FC vs Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC

3:00pm, Sunday 27 April, Macedonia Park

In another of four Sunday 3pm matches, Wollongong Wolves will face off against Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Macedonia Park.

The Wolves have been on a mixed run of form lately, sneaking a point against Sydney FC and thumping Sutherland Sharks in their last two matches, but they experienced defeat in their previous three.

Mt Druitt are the big talking point for this match, however, sitting just outside the bottom two, level on points with the Western Sydney Wanderers.

With losses in their last three games, including a 3-2 derby defeat to Blacktown City last weekend, three points are necessary to keep them away from potentially sliding into the relegation zone.

Central Coast Mariners FC vs Rockdale Ilinden FC

3:00pm, Sunday 27 April, Pluim Park

The Central Coast Mariners will take on an in-form Rockdale Ilinden in an intriguing match at Pluim Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Mariners are sitting bottom of the table, having won just once this campaign, making them outsiders for this clash, particularly when considering Rockdale’s 8-1 win over the Wanderers last weekend.

A 32-minute hat-trick from Ali Auglah was supplemented by doubles from Alec Urosevski and Brae Ovens, as well as a solitary goal from Brendan Cholakian, as the reigning Premiers ran riot at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.

The Mariners will have to be defensively sound this weekend – something they have struggled with so far this campaign – to get anything out of the match, with Rockdale looking to continue to remain in touching distance with Marconi at the top of the ladder.

Blacktown City FC vs Sydney United 58 FC

3:00pm, Sunday 27 April, Landen Stadium

In a mammoth NPL Men’s NSW clash, Blacktown City will take on Sydney United 58 at Landen Stadium.

Blacktown, currently third on the ladder, are on a three-game winning run in the league, with their last couple of matches seeing them prevail 3-2 over St George FC and Mt Druitt Town Rangers respectively.

Sydney United 58, meanwhile, have delivered three wins in their last five matches to bounce back from a difficult start to the campaign, with their last match seeing them prevail 4-2 over St George FC thanks to a Patrick Antelmi hat-trick.

The victory came despite a 31st-minute red card to Carlos De Oliveria, giving the away side confidence to do anything coming into this clash, but United 58 will miss their attacking midfielder as he sits out due to suspension.

It’s set to be a game full of fight and exciting football at Landen Stadium, as both sides look to continue to push for the top six come the end of the campaign.

Sydney Olympic FC vs Manly United FC

5:00pm, Sunday 27 April, Belmore Sports Ground

In the final match of the NPL Men’s NSW weekend, Sydney Olympic will host Manly United at Belmore Sports Ground.

Olympic has entered the top six with a strong run of results, dethroning opponents Manly with an impressive 3-0 win over Spirit thanks to goals from Michael Vakis, Cyrus Dehmie and Teng Kuol.

But they will have to fight hard to retain that spot for Round 12, with Manly United hot on their heels, and with a point to prove as they come in with back-to-back losses to their name.

Both sides feature plenty of quality – namely the likes of Teng Kuol, Jack Armson, Harry Van der Saag and Harry McCarthy – and the teams will be highly motivated to win three points in what looks to be an exhilarating match of football to conclude this weekend.