United 58 Rally At Belmore To Keep Premiership Dream Alive
Sydney United 58 held their nerve to secure a vital 2-1 comeback victory over bottom placed Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday evening, significantly strengthening their hopes of a top-two finish while keeping their Premiership aspirations alive.
United 58 produced a clinical second half to claim all three points against Olympic, taking their season tally to 60 points and guaranteeing they will hold second place for another round.
The result also keeps them mathematically within range of Premiership favourites APIA Leichhardt, with the two sides set to meet next week in what promises to be a huge contest.
For Olympic, the result is another blow to their survival hopes.
The Blues remain bottom of the table on 22 points, two behind St George FC, increasing the pressure on their remaining two matches as they fight to avoid direct relegation.
The first half largely belonged to the hosts, although United 58 created the first opportunity of the contest.
Carlos De Oliveira’s free-kick in the 14th minute forced Olympic goalkeeper Filip Kurto into a low save, with the keeper doing well to parry the ball over the crossbar.
The Blues responded three minutes later when Panos Armenakas played Kaan Nizam through on the left.
Nizam carried the ball into the penalty area before releasing an effort that sailed over the crossbar.
Olympic went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 24th minute when Armenakas tried his luck from outside the box.
His curling effort appeared destined for the bottom-left corner, only for the post to deny him.
The hosts continued to create opportunities and came close again just after the half-hour mark.
Zac Zoricich delivered a perfectly weighted cross towards Daniel Wong, but the Olympic attacker could only head over the crossbar.
The pressure finally told in the 34th minute as Olympic opened the scoring on the counter-attack.
Nizam delivered a ball across the face of goal which United 58 goalkeeper Adam Pavlesic managed to get a slight touch to, but the ball fell perfectly for Bailey Callaghan, who made no mistake from close range.
Olympic almost doubled their advantage immediately afterwards.
Armenakas sent an excellent ball over the top to Seth Clark inside the box, but the midfielder’s volley flew wide of the target.
Armenakas then tried his luck himself in the 45th minute with an ambitious free-kick from outside the right side of the penalty area.
Pavlesic was forced into another save, doing well to keep out the effort high to his right.
United 58 came out with greater attacking intent after the break and found their equaliser in the 59th minute.
Mason Wells received the ball on the left side of the penalty area from a low Julian Cop cross before producing a superb finish into the top-right corner to make it 1-1.
The visitors completed the turnaround just six minutes later.
Wells attempted to send another low ball across goal from the right, but the delivery deflected off a defender before ricocheting off the post.
Michael Krslovic was quickest to react, knocking the rebound home from point-blank range to give United 58 a 2-1 lead.
Olympic were unable to find a response as United 58 managed the remainder of the contest to secure a crucial victory.
Following the match, Sydney United 58 goalkeeping coach and former Socceroo Ron Corry was pleased with the result.
“Any win’s a good win,” Corry told Football NSW.
Asked what the victory meant and what message the team would take into their remaining matches as they continue their push for the top two and potentially the Premiership, Corry said the message remained the same.
“The message is the same that it’s been all year: get up the top, do as well as we can,” he said.
“Three points today put a bit more pressure on APIA. We’ve got them next week so we can fix them from there.”
Corry had one final message for the United 58 players ahead of the huge clash with APIA.
“Play better next week.”
The victory ensures United 58 remain firmly in the Premiership conversation, with their meeting against APIA next week now shaping as one of the most important fixtures of the season.
Match Stats
Sydney Olympic 1 (Bailey Callaghan 34’)
Sydney United 58 2 (Mason Wells 59’, Michael Krslovic 65’)
Saturday 15 August 2026
Belmore Sports Ground
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Hayden Kaye and James Chan
Fourth Official: Tom Love
Sydney Olympic: 4. Joshua Hong, 6. Jok Akuien (18. Peter Politis 82’), 7. Seth Clark, 8. Kaan Nizam, 10. Panos Armenakas, 12. Zac Zoricich (35. Peter Grozos 70’), 14. Jacob Tresoglavic, 16. Bailey Callaghan, 20. Filip Kurto, 34. Marcus Fernandez, 58. Daniel Wong (23. Sebastian Kukucka 70’).
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Josip Orlovic, 11. Giorgos Louca, 33. Maxamillion Luburic.
Yellow Cards: Bailey Callaghan 83’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58: 1. Adam Pavlesic, 3. Bailey Rule, 7. Leroy Jennings (12. Gabriel Tilo 61’), 8. Tomoki Wada (35. Tomislav Ozanic 46’), 9. Kyle Cimenti (19. Michael Krslovic 8’, later subbed off for Anthony Tomelic 87’), 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 14. Liam McGing, 15. Julian Cop (44. Farah Koko 61’), 17. Michael Glassock, 21. Koya Nakano, 23. Mason Wells.
Substitutes Not Used: 22. Nicholas Pratezina, 41. Adrian-Jamie Bazina.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
By Dimitri Kallos
