Round 27 Preview – NPL Men’s NSW
With only four rounds to go in the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition, only six points separate 5th place all the way down to 14th with the final two play-off positions well and truly alive.
UNSW FC v Sydney Olympic
3:30pm, Saturday 8 August – The Village Green
The action kicks off at 3:30pm on Saturday afternoon as UNSW FC take on Sydney Olympic at The Village Green.
It will take something special for UNSW to sneak into finals football but most importantly for them, they are all but safe in the top tier after a successful first season.
They remain one of the best sides at home in the league and will look to keep that going against Olympic. Having gone a goal and a man down, UNSW showed great character to get themselves back in the game but weren’t able to push on.
Olympic are bottom of the league and running out of time to at least secure a play off spot as things are going. In saying that, despite losing to APIA Leichhardt last week, there were some great moments from that game that they can take into this weekend.
Sebastian Kukucka continues to impress for Olympic, the youngster bagging his fourth goal of the season against APIA.
Manly United v Marconi Stallions
5pm, Saturday 8 August – Cromer Park
What a game awaits us at Cromer Park on Saturday evening as Manly United welcome the Marconi Stallions to the northern beaches.
Traditionally, one of the toughest away trips in the competition, something Vlado Knezevic’s team will need to take advantage of. They have seriously defied the odds this season and find themselves in with a real chance of playing finals football.
They picked up a point away to Rockdale which kept their season alive, another difficult test this week but a win could go a long way to securing a finals birth.
Three straight losses for Peter Tsekenis’ team and the Premiership may be slipping away. A month ago the Stallions looked odds on favourites to finish first, but things quickly changed.
The Stallions will be well aware of this and all they can do is go to Cromer Park and win, putting the pressure back on APIA and getting their form back on track and perhaps a late title surge.
SD Raiders v WSW
5pm, Saturday 8 August – Ernie Smith Reserve
Somewhat of a local derby will take place at Ernie Smith Reserve as the SD Raiders face off against the Western Sydney Wanderers.
When you speak about resilience and character, you must think of Goran Ljuboja’s SD Raiders side. Again, they came from behind, this time against a St George FC fighting for their lives and survival.
Jakov Malbasa popped up late off the bench to score the winner, edging his season tally closer to 10 goals. They’ll need him again this week with finals looking a real possibility for the promoted team.
On equal points, but with a better goal difference are the Wanderers. Another hard-fought victory on Saturday, this time against UNSW FC and they sit one point outside the Top 6.
Awan Lual cannot stop scoring and the prolific marksman picked up his 20th goal of the season, keeping him further in front on the scoring charts. He’ll be a headache for the SD Raiders defence and could once more be the difference.
NWS Spirit v Blacktown City
5:30pm, Saturday 8 August – Christie Park
Blacktown City travel to Christie Park on Saturday night as they face off against NWS Spirit.
Spirit’s form in the second half of the season has been disappointing, the weekend’s defeat their seventh defeat in the second half of the season.
The coaching change announcement would not have helped the situation but Spirit are in a position where they can begin planning for 2027 as their safety is all but secured in the top tier.
The run continues for Mark Crittendon’s men, recording their fourth straight victory and making that unlikely finals run still well and truly alive.
Veteran striker Travis Major continues to impress, he scored again on Sunday as Crittenden’s men share the love with four different scorers.
Should Blacktown pick up three points here, they would become favourites to sneak into sixth spot.
Sutherland Sharks v Sydney FC
5:30pm, Saturday 8 August – Seymour Shaw
The red-hot Sutherland Sharks take on Sydney FC at Seymour Shaw on Saturday night.
Sutherland are inching closer to securing that Australian Championship spot and three points here will be a massive leap toward that goal.
One issue the Sharks have faced though is their home form, only winning half of their games at Seymour Shaw this season. Should they secure wins in their remaining home games, and improve that form, they will finish fourth.
Sydney suffered defeat last weekend and are now on a five-match winless run that has allowed the chasing pack to significantly close the gap on them.
Any points in this one for Jimmy Van Weeren’s will be massive in the race for finals football and a Top 6 finish.
St George FC v APIA Leichhardt
6:30pm, Saturday 8 August – Barton Park
At Barton Park on Saturday evening, St George FC take on APIA Leichhardt, two teams at opposite ends of the competition ladder.
St George were on their way to a massive three points last week but collapsed late in the second half and were left empty handed.
They will take anything they can get and with the inform APIA coming to town, even a point could be worth so much in the run home.
A positive for St George is that Jaden Casella and Nikola Skataric have found some form, it’s at the other end where they will need to tighten things up.
Michael Konestabo put on a clinic last week, scoring an emphatic hat-trick and pushing APIA five points clear at the top of the table.
After a poor run of form, Franco Parisi’s men have now made it four wins on the trot and are edging closer to claiming the Premiership.
St George FA v Rockdale Ilinden
7:15pm, Saturday 8 August – Penshurst Park
The final game on Saturday night takes us to Penshurst Park as St George FA take on Rockdale Ilinden.
Just as whispers began circulating that St George could be dragged into a relegation battle, Miki Jurilj’s team put those noises to bed, defeating Sydney United and Marconi in consecutive weeks.
Lucas Bedleg looks a mid-season steal, the Frenchman scoring the winner in each of their last two games.
Rockdale’s hopes of playing in the Australian Championship took another hit last weekend when they were held to a draw by Manly United.
They must take points here with their finals position also brought into question with their last couple of results. Paul Dee’s men have the ability and quality to get the job done.
Wollongong Wolves v Sydney United 58
3pm, Sunday 9 August – Macedonia Park
The final game of round 27 takes us down the coast as Wollongong Wolves welcome Sydney United to Macedonia Park.
The Wolves downward spiral continues, from Premiership contenders to well outside the Top 6 and finals football.
Their poor run of form stretches all the way back to the 24th of May, the last time they tasted victory. Since then, 10 games without a win, and only one draw in that period has seen them drop down to 11th place.
Sydney United bounced back from their loss to St George FA with a workmanlike victory over NWS Spirit on Sunday.
The win keeps their Premiership dream alive but it will be a tough task, they must win their final four games and hope both APIA and Marconi slip up a couple times.
– By Nikola Pozder
