Wolves no match for top of the table Ilinden
Rockdale Ilinden FC secured a monumental 3-1 victory over the hapless Wollongong Wolves at WIN Stadium on Saturday night.
Ali Auglah opened the scoring in the 37th minute for the visitors, with Moudi Najjar doubling their lead before the half-time break.
Nicholas Olsen gave Wollongong a glimmer of hope in the 57th minute through a converted penalty but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide on the match, with Najjar securing his double in the 64th minute to secure the win.
The three points are crucial for the visitors, keeping Rockdale at the top of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s ladder.
A free kick gave the hosts an opportunity in just the fourth minute, but Nicholas Olsen’s shot was picked up by the defensive wall to stifle their chances.
Rockdale looked dangerous in the 8th minute as Alec Urosevski and Najjar combined to create a chance but Wollongong custodian Daniel Solsky was able to deny.
Jordan Graoroski sent a shot towards the target in the 10th minute but Solsky was again able to comfortably deny.
A Wollongong counter-attack gave the hosts a chance in the 20th minute as Marcus Beattie rushed forward, but he couldn’t get a shot off.
Rockdale had an opportunity in the 22nd minute as Chris McStay sent a free kick into the area, but their attacking line couldn’t get hold of the ball to let off a shot.
The visitors came close in the 35th minute as McStay sent a free kick into the area, meeting the head of a teammate, who headed the ball towards the target.
Woon Sub Sim was however able to intercept and guide the ball over the crossbar to keep Rockdale at bay.
Najjar bolted forward in the 37th minute, sending a shot towards the target with Solsky able to deny.
Auglah was able to pounce on the rebound and send the ball into the back of the netting to secure the opening goal for the visitors.
Raphael Le’ai tried his luck at an equaliser in the 41st minute, but his shot skewed slightly wide of the target.
Rockdale were able to use the momentum to their advantage before the half-time break, taking their lead to two in the 42nd minute through Najjar.
Lachlan Constable’s run down the right flank started the play, and his cross was intercepted by Solsky, who parried it out of contention.
Najjar confidently jumped on the rebound and fired a powerful shot into the netting from close range to double the visitors’ lead.
Alex Masciovecchio sent a shot just wide of the sticks in the 46th minute as the Wolves looked to claw their way back into the game.
A penalty gave Wollongong a fantastic opportunity in the 56th minute as McStay bumped Damon Gray down in the area.
Olsen stepped up to the spot and drove the shot into the bottom right corner to get one on the scoreboard for the hosts in the 57th minute.
A corner in the 60th minute gave Rockdale another opportunity as McStay delivered to Najjar, who headed the ball just over the bar.
The visitors didn’t let the concession dampen their spirit, securing a third goal in the 64th minute.
Urosevski sent a ball forward for Najjar to run onto and Solsky came out to clear the chance.
The ball came straight off the ‘keeper and back in the path of Najjar, who blitzed forward to fire it into an empty net.
The hosts earned a free kick in the 70th minute but Gray’s header flew just wide of the target.
Substitute Sebastian Hernandez fired a shot at the goal in the 77th minute but Nicholas Sorras was able to deny.
Wollongong continued to hunt for another goal in the final stages of the match as Gray sent another shot on target that was well-defended by Sorras as Rockdale held on to their two-goal lead to claim victory at the final whistle.
It was a big win for the visitors who secured it’s 14th of the year as they looked towards tying up its second successive Premiership while it’s been a bitterly disappointing 2025 campaign for the Wolves who suffered its eighth loss of the year after starting the year off so brightly.
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves FC 1 (Olsen 57’)
Rockdale Ilinden FC 3 (Auglah 37’, Najjar 42’, 64’)
Saturday June 21st, 2025
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Referee: Mujtaba Ebrahimi
Assistant Referees: Aaron Bloch and Hayden Michlmayr
Fourth Official: Travis Griffith
Wollongong Wolves FC: 2. Harrison Buesnel, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. James Anagnostopoulos (10. Liam Ball 45’), 7. Woon Sub Sim (9. Damon Gray 45’), 13. Daniel Solsky, 17. Marcus Beattie, 21. Nicholas Olsen, 25. Alex Masciovecchio, 29. Ben Giason, 77. Raphael Le’ai (11. Sebastian Hernandez 69’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Oliver Yates, 8. Ryan Lowe, 15. Dax Kelly
Yellow Cards: Woon Sub Sim 16’
Red Cards: Nil
Rockdale Ilinden FC: 1. Nicholas Sorras. 4. James Nikolovski, 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alec Urosevski (23. Oliver Puflett 88’), 9. Moudi Najjar, 11. Lachlan Constable (45. Jasper Swadling 91’), 18. Jordan Graoroski (17. Brae Ovens 61’), 24. Ali Auglah (16. Michael Marcevski 91’), 88. Christopher McStay, 99. Matthew Keremelevski (14. Brayden Sorge 61’)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Ronan Mulgrew.
Yellow Cards: Giorgio Speranza 27’, Matthew Keremelevski 41’, Isaac Danzo 72’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Moudi Najjar (RI)
2 – Ali Auglah (RI)
1 – Lachlan Constable (RI)
