Manly United Storm Into Finals With Four-Star Victory

Manly United FC produced a dominant display at Macedonia Park on Sunday afternoon, cruising to a 4-0 victory over Wollongong Wolves FC to secure fifth place and a spot in the 2026 NPL Men’s NSW finals.

Despite a promising opening from the Wolves, Manly soon took control and raced to a three-goal lead before half-time, before a disciplined second-half performance sealed a convincing victory.

The Wolves made a fast start, playing a high-press brand of football and creating an early opportunity in the fifth minute when winger Alex Masciovecchio rattled the crossbar from close range following a cross from Sebastian Hernandez.

Following the early chance, Manly began to settle into the contest and started to control the tempo.

Striker Benjamin Koop went close to opening the scoring when he forced a brilliant save from Wolves goalkeeper Max Cunial, who showed sharp reflexes to flick the ball away from close range.

Both sides continued to create opportunities as the game opened up, with Masciovecchio looking particularly dangerous for the Wolves.

The winger did well to beat his defender and deliver a dangerous cross, with Manly goalkeeper Harry Turner getting a hand to the ball.

It fell to Wollongong centre-back Banri Kanaizumi, who sent his effort well over the bar from inside the six-yard box.

Manly eventually broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute through Ayumu Kimura.

Kakeru Ono did brilliantly to chase down a long ball before delivering a first-time cross from the left, with Kimura producing a low first-time strike from just inside the box that rifled past Cunial.

Manly continued to create chances and doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute.

Another dangerous delivery from Ono, this time an inswinging left-footed corner, caused chaos in the Wolves penalty area.

Cunial managed to parry the ball, but it fell directly into the path of Manly centre-back Aaron O’Driscoll, who fired home from close range.

The visitors were now firmly in control and added a third in the 37th minute from another inswinging left-footed corner by Ono.

O’Driscoll flicked the ball on at the near post, with the delivery falling perfectly for an unmarked Koop at the back post.

The striker had the simple task of heading into an empty net to make it 3-0.

The first half ended with Manly producing an impressive attacking display, finishing the opening 45 minutes with 12 shots, seven of which were on target, while the Wolves managed just one shot on target.

Wollongong coach Luke Wilkshire emptied the bench at half-time, making four substitutions and bringing on young guns Dylan King, Kristian Butkovic, Liam Ball and Jack McClatchie as the home side desperately searched for a way back into the contest and keep their slim finals hopes alive.

The Wolves started the second half with plenty of intent, but struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities.

Manly soaked up the pressure and remained strong defensively as they protected their advantage with one eye firmly on securing their place in the finals.

The visitors almost caught the Wolves on the counter in the 65th minute when Saxon Hillyer got a shot away that was deflected behind for a corner by Wollongong defender Kristian Butkovic.

Despite the Wolves dominating possession, it was Manly who added a fourth in the 82nd minute.

Substitute Monty Peppel made an immediate impact off the bench, placing his effort into the bottom-right corner following a cut-back from Jesse Piriz and a neat lay-off from Kit Harper.

The Wolves went close to finding a consolation goal late on when Liam Ball’s curling, dipping free-kick rattled the crossbar.

Wollongong continued to push numbers forward in search of a goal, but they could not find a way through as Manly remained comfortable to see out a comprehensive 4-0 victory.

The result brings the Wolves’ finals hopes to an end, with Wollongong now turning its attention towards the Australian Championship.

For Manly, it is a huge result that sees them finish the regular season in fifth place and head into the NPL Men’s NSW finals full of confidence.

Match Stats

Wollongong Wolves FC 0
Manly United FC 4 (Ayumu Kimura 23’, Aaron O’Driscoll 32’, Benjamin Koop 37’, Monty Peppel 82’)

Sunday 30 August 2026
Macedonia Park

Referee: Matthew Staples
Assistant Referees: Aaron Bloch and Hayden Kaye
Fourth Official: Brodie Merchant

Wollongong Wolves FC: 2. Jake Shaked, 3. Jude Christie (9. Jack McClatchie 45’), 4. Dylan Ryan (15. Kristian Butkovic 45’), 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 8. Sebastian Duarte, 11. Sebastian Hernandez (77. Dylan King 45’), 17. Marcus Beattie, 19. Max Cunial, 24. Lachlan Scott (C) (13. Max Linton 79’), 25. Alex Masciovecchio, 44. Yuto Fujita (21. Liam Ball 45’)

Substitutes not used: 1. Jacob Hastings, 14. Willem Robaard
Yellow Cards: Jude Christie 28’
Red Cards: Nil

Manly United FC: 4. Jesse Piriz (C), 5. Aaron O’Driscoll, 6. Saxon Hillyer, 7. Stephan De Robillard (31. Monty Peppel 79’), 8. Kakeru Ono (3. Matthew O’Donoghue 54’, 2. Luka Krizan 71’), 9. Benjamin Koop (16. Will Faulder 54’), 11. Ayumu Kimura, 18. Luke Nieuwenhof, 19. Aston Hulme (87. Kit Harper 79’), 21. Harry Turner, 29. Douglas John

Substitutes not used: 14. Max Walker, 20. George Russell
Yellow Cards: Stephan De Robillard 70’
Red Cards: Nil

-By Joel Martelli