APIA Too Strong For Raiders As Premiership Race Tilts Their Way
APIA Leichhardt are now in an extremely strong position to claim the 2026 NPL Men’s NSW Premiership after a 3-1 victory over SD Raiders on Saturday.
It was a massive contest at Lambert Park given what was at stake and, in the end, APIA claimed all three points thanks to three first-half goals, with Presley Ortiz scoring twice and Cameron Fong adding the other.
The hosts came into the match full of confidence as league leaders, but they knew SD Raiders would be no easy opponent after the visitors had won four successive matches.
Both sides also enjoyed memorable Australia Cup results during the week, with SD Raiders defeating A-League Men’s side Macarthur FC, while APIA overcame Sydney United 58 on penalties.
The game was full of action from the outset.
In the opening minute, APIA pushed forward, with Ortiz getting the final touch on an attack before his effort went just wide and out for a corner.
SD Raiders responded in the 10th minute when Sebastian Malfara tried his luck from just outside the box, with his effort not too far over the crossbar.
APIA then went close at the other end in the 13th minute, with Rory Jordan attempting a long-distance chip that drifted just wide.
The home side stepped up a gear and eventually took the lead in the 28th minute.
A neat move into the penalty area ended with Ortiz producing a composed finish to give APIA a deserved 1-0 advantage.
APIA doubled their lead six minutes later, with Ortiz once again finding the back of the net.
Michael Konestabo played a delightful ball to Jordan Segreto on the right, with the winger delivering a pinpoint cross into the middle for Ortiz to finish clinically.
Ortiz almost completed his hat-trick in the 39th minute, with a clinical effort rebounding off the post.
Just a minute later, the forward was denied again, this time by a brilliant save from SD Raiders goalkeeper Michael Figueira.
APIA’s relentless pressure finally paid off for a third time in the 42nd minute, with Fong completing the first-half rout.
Michael Kouta floated a free-kick into the penalty area, with the SD Raiders defence unable to clear.
Fong was waiting at the far post and made no mistake, finding the back of the net to give APIA a commanding 3-0 lead at half-time.
SD Raiders emerged from the break with significantly more purpose and intent.
In the 51st minute, Ortiz released Segreto down the left, with the winger driving his shot against the post in what could have been APIA’s fourth goal of the evening.
SD Raiders responded eight minutes later when Thomas Santarossa’s cross found Robert Eremugo at the far post.
Eremugo produced a good effort, but APIA goalkeeper Oliver Kalac reacted well to turn the ball away for a corner.
The visitors eventually found the breakthrough they were searching for in the 76th minute.
Noah Chianese received a delightful ball from Lachlan McGrath before unleashing a powerful strike from outside the penalty area to make it 3-1.
It was a deserved goal for SD Raiders following a much-improved second-half performance.
Chianese almost pulled another one back in the 83rd minute when he produced a superb free-kick from just outside the box, but Kalac responded with a magnificent flying save to tip the ball over the crossbar.
APIA had one final opportunity in the 89th minute when Levi Sciuriaga created excellent space down the left before firing across the face of goal.
The final whistle confirmed a massive three points for APIA, who took another significant step towards securing the NPL Men’s NSW Premiership.
Following the match, APIA Leichhardt coach Franco Parisi acknowledged the importance of the victory, particularly given the demanding schedule.
“The three points were critical today,” Parisi said.
“It’s a tough schedule at the moment and both sides out there tonight played 120 minutes during the week, and we both have to play an A-League team again in a few days’ time in the Hahn Australia Cup.
“I am extremely proud of the attitude from our playing group and how we can get through one game at a time and be ready for the next game. I am also inspired by our players and what they can do.”
SD Raiders coach Goran Ljuboja was pleased with aspects of his side’s second-half performance but admitted the damage had been done before the break.
“We thought that APIA might be in a bit of an energy lull in the first half, but they weren’t,” Ljuboja said.
“The second half was a reverse, with us on top, but it was too late because once you give up three goals the game is almost gone.
“We didn’t play well for about 20 minutes in the first half and they were all over us. We were a lot better in the second half after we made some subs which gave us renewed energy.
“I am proud of my team and I know what we are capable of, but today it just wasn’t good enough in some aspects.”
Match Stats
APIA LEICHHARDT: 3 (Ortiz 28’, 34’, Fong 42’)
SD RAIDERS: 1 (Chianese 76’)
Saturday 15th August, 2026
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: Ethan Zvargulis
Assistant referees: Glen Stubbings, Marco Saalmans
Fourth Official: Alexandar Zastavnikovic
APIA LEICHHARDT: 1. Oliver Kalac, 6. Frans Deli, 8. Michael Konestabo ( 26. Ali Saab 46′), 9. Presley Ortiz (34. Joshua Falato 46′), 11. Rory Jordan, 17. Jordan Segreto, 19. Fabian Monge (30. Alex Denmead 46′), 21. Michael Kouta (23. Levi Sciuriaga 62’), 24. Cameron Fong (4. Eijin Kishimoto 67′), 25. Kyle Shaw, 44. Alessandro Piccin.
Substitutes not used: 2. Seiya Kambayashi, 20. Alexander Parkes.
Yellow Cards: Ortiz 28’, Deli 52’, Shaw 83’, Piccin 86’
Red Card: Nil
SD RAIDERS: 1. Michael Figueira, 4. Cooper Hanagan, 5. Jett McCue-Shore, 6. Lachlan Everett (15. Matthew Lee 35’), 7. Michael Marcic, 9. Jakov Malbasa, 10. Luka Knezevic (11. Thomas Santarossa 58’), 12. Lachlan McGrath, 21. Sebastian Malfara (14. Noah Chianese 73′), 37. Robert Eremugo, 47. Ethan Beaven.
Substitutes not used: , 17. Martin Fernandez, 18. Charlie Ragg, 19. Riley Cox-Barlow, 31. Oliver Przydacz
Yellow Cards: Malfara 28’, Eremugo 62’, McGrath 71’
Red Cards: Nil
By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo
