Marconi Stallions Back In Premiership Hunt With Vital Sharks Victory
Marconi Stallions have ensured they remain in the NPL Men’s NSW Premiership race after a crucial 1-0 victory over Sutherland Sharks at Marconi Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Cameron Windust’s first goal of the season proved enough for the Stallions to end their four-game losing run and keep their Premiership hopes alive with just three rounds remaining in the regular season.
Both Marconi and Sutherland entered the Round 28 clash needing three points to strengthen their respective campaigns.
Marconi had failed to win their previous four matches and needed victory to keep their Premiership hopes alive by the slimmest of margins, while the Sharks knew three points could secure them a home elimination final and almost guarantee their place in the 2026 Australian Championship.
The Match of the Round sparked to life after 14 minutes when Sutherland goalkeeper Danijel Nizic produced a fantastic reaction save to keep Marconi at bay.
A Franco Maya free-kick from the edge of the penalty area took a wicked deflection on its way through, but Nizic adjusted his body quickly and got down low to push the effort behind for a corner.
From the resulting corner, however, Marconi took the lead through Windust.
The Stallions centre-back rose highest at the back post and thundered a close-range header into the back of the net, leaving Nizic with no chance this time.
Marconi continued to keep Nizic busy throughout the remainder of the first half, with James Bayliss and Damian Tsekenis both producing efforts that required the Sharks goalkeeper to remain alert.
Sutherland, meanwhile, struggled to create clear opportunities and finished the opening 45 minutes without seriously troubling Marconi goalkeeper Joel Wade.
The opening 15 minutes of the second half illustrated the tense and physical nature of the contest, with both sides battling to gain the upper hand and assert their dominance.
With attacking opportunities limited, Marconi had a golden chance to double their advantage on the counter-attack.
Tyren Burnie led a three-on-one situation with support arriving from Franco Maya and Tsekenis on the right-hand side.
With just one defender to beat, Burnie elected not to use his teammates and, by the time he attempted to get his shot away, Sutherland’s Ryley Hollingdale had recovered brilliantly to produce an important and timely tackle.
The Sharks then produced their best attacking movement of the game with just 11 minutes remaining.
It nearly paid dividends, with Tye McGowan striking the post before Hollingdale then forced an acrobatic save from Wade at the other end.
Sutherland continued to push forward in the closing stages as they searched desperately for an equaliser.
Marconi, however, remained resolute and managed to hold on through the final 10 minutes to secure three vital points, ending their four-game losing streak and keeping them within touching distance of APIA Leichhardt and Sydney United 58 in the closing stages of the season.
Following the match, goalscorer Cameron Windust reflected on an important result for the Stallions.
“We were desperate for a win today after the last four weeks,” Windust said.
“I thought the boys fought well and we’ll hopefully take that onto the finals and the rest of the games.”
The result keeps Marconi’s Premiership hopes alive, while Sutherland still maintain control of their own destiny with two matches remaining.
The Sharks will play both remaining fixtures at home against St George City and SD Raiders, with a positive result in either match putting them in a strong position to secure their best possible finish in the NPL Men’s NSW competition.
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 1 (Cameron Windust 15’)
Sutherland Sharks 0
Sunday 16th August, 2026
Marconi Stadium
Referee: Jake Rose
Assistant Referees: Isaac Riggs and Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Matthew Staples
Marconi Stallions: 1. Joel Wade, 2. Tyren Burnie, 3. Cameron Windust, 5. George Daniel, 7. Franco Maya (16. Luca Pecora 73’), 8. James Bayliss, 9. Damian Tsekenis, 10. Marko Jesic (15. Aleksander Duricic 90+1), 11. Matej Busek (17. Sunday Yona 81’), 14. Jack Armson, 23. Quinten Blair
Substitutes Not Used: 19. Ahmad Elhelou, 20. Oliver Yates, 27. Antonio Marvello, 38. Daniel Osei
Yellow Cards: James Bayliss 55’, Tyren Burnie 89’
Red Cards: Nil
Sutherland Sharks: 1. Danijel Nizic, 3. Yianni Nicolaou (2. Lachlan Macdonald 66’), 4. Thijs Van Amerongen, 5. Jordan Perez, 6. Ryley Hollingdale, 11. Seung-Joo Choi (8. Brendan Gan 57’), 14. Matthew Jurman, 15. Jamie Percevski, 17. Richard Shoueiki (22. Tye McGowan 66’), 19. Diego Bonilla, 21. Nicholas Olsen.
Substitutes Not Used: 12. Samuel Smith, 18. Gian Fiorese, 40. Lukas Webber, 44. Bryce Harrison
Yellow Cards: Ryley Hollingdale 90’
Red Cards: Nil
By Keane McKenna
