Sydney United snatch stoppage-time win to deepen Wolves’ finals woes
Sydney United 58 secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Wollongong Wolves FC in a thrilling encounter on Sunday afternoon at Macedonia Park.
The Wolves looked on course for a share of the spoils after Kazuya Yamamura’s first-half opener, however Michael Krslovic struck twice, including a stoppage-time winner, to seal all three points for the visitors that sees them rise to second on the NPL Men’s NSW ladder.
Both sides made a bright start with Wolves midfielder Kazuya Yamamura and Sydney United 58 winger Mason Wells both firing shots from distance.
Sydney United 58 striker Kyle Cimenti had the best chance of the opening exchanges when he forced Wolves goalkeeper Max Cunial into a brilliant, low diving save.
Wolves striker Lachlan Scott went close to opening the scoring for the home side in the 12th minute when he found himself unmarked in the box, however his header from a Sebastian Hernandez cross sailed over the bar.
Scott was causing headaches for the Sydney United 58 defence and forced a strong save from goalkeeper Adam Pavlesic with a shot from distance, with the goalkeeper doing well as he dived back across his goal after the shot took a deflection.
The Wollongong midfield started to get a hold of the game and were having some good moments with the ball, however they were failing to create any clear-cut opportunities.
The match started to turn into a tight contest as the first-half continued, with both sides proving to be evenly matched with few chances created.
The Wolves eventually found the breakthrough just before half-time when Yamamura found space on the edge of the box and placed his left foot shot in the bottom right corner following a nice lay off from Yuto Fujita. The goal was the fifth of the season for the Japanese star.
The first-half came to end with the Wolves finishing with eight shots and four on target; while Sydney United 58 had five shots, with two on target.
The Wolves madre a fast start to the second-half with Hernandez forcing a diving save from Pavlesic and Yamamura going close with a free kick that narrowly went over the bar.
Sydney United 58 responded soon after and scored an equalising goal in the 58th minute through Michael Krslovic, with his shot from close range going past a diving Cunial who couldn’t get across his goal quick enough after being left stranded following an earlier shot from Gabriel Tilo that was blocked by the Wolves defence.
The second-half was turning into an end-to-end contest with both sides playing free-flowing, attacking football as they chased goals.
Sydney United 58 went close to taking the lead in the 71st minute with a shot from Mason Wells from close range blazed over the bar, as the away side continued to press the Wolves with intent.
The Wolves had a chance of their own not long after when captain Scott ran at the Sydney United 58 defence with the ball falling to Flynn Madden who got a shot away that bounced down off the crossbar. The rebound fell to Alex Masciovecchio with his acrobat overhead kick falling safely into the hands of Pavlesic.
Wollongong were looking dangerous and again went close only a few moments later when a free-kick from Fujita fell to Yamamura who got a shot away that was cleared off the line.
Both sides continued to push for the winner with Wolves substitute Hugo Cornish going close with a shot that went just wide, and Scott rattling the crossbar with a rocket of a shot from distance.
As the game entered injury-time, Sydney United 58 stunned the Wolves and scored the winning goal through Krslovic as he raced onto a brilliant ball over the top from Anthony Tomelic and calmly slotted the ball past Cunial in a one-on-one situation.
In the end, Sydney United 58 held on for a hard-fought 2-1 win that sees them move up to second on the NPL Men’s NSW ladder, while the Wolves dream of playing finals football slips away following a fifth consecutive loss.
Sydney United 58 now turn their attention to Wednesday night’s Hahn Australia Cup Round of 16 showdown with APIA Leichhardt FC with the winner facing the Melbourne Victory, while the Wolves hit the road and take on Rockdale Ilinden FC on Sunday afternoon in Round 28 of the NPL Men’s NSW competition.
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves FC: 1 (Kazuya Yamamura 40’)
Sydney United 58 FC: 2 (Michael Krslovic 58’, 90+2’)
Sunday August 9, 2026
Macedonia Park
Referee: Noah Moss
Assistant Referees: Benjamin Eisikovich and Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Reece Edwards
Wollongong Wolves FC: 2. Jake Shaked, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 8. Sebastian Duarte, 10. Flynn Madden, 11. Sebastian Hernandez (13. Hugo Cornish 76’), 15. Kristian Butkovic, 18. Kazuya Yamamura, 19. Max Cunial, 24. Lachlan Scott (C) (14. Willem Robaard 87’), 25. Alex Masciovecchio, 44. Yuto Fujita
Substitutes not used: 1. Jacob Hastings, 3. Jude Christie, 16. Oliver Morgan, 21. Liam Ball, 77. Dylan King
Yellow Cards: Yuto Fujita 45’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Adam Pavlesic, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica (C) (5. Anthony Tomelic 61’), 6. Dylan Rose, 8. Tomoki Wada (2. Julian Cop 61’), 9. Kyle Cimenti (19. Michael Krslovic 45’), 12. Gabriel Tilo, 17. Michael Glassock (14. Liam McGing 45’), 21. Koya Nakano, 23. Mason Wells (22. Nicholas Pratezina 79’), 35. Tomislav Ozanic
Substitutes not used: 41. Adrian-Jamie Bazina, 44. Farah Koko
Yellow Cards: Dylan Rose 51’, Julian Cop 72’
Red Cards: Nil
Report by Joel Martelli
