Ortiz Double Helps APIA Celebrate Premiership In Style
APIA Leichhardt ensured their coronation day got off to the perfect start with a 4-2 win over St George City at Lambert Park on Sunday afternoon.
Presley Ortiz secured a brace to finish the regular season on 20 goals and end the campaign level in the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW Golden Boot race.
It was coronation day for the newly crowned Premiers of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition for 2026.
Confirmed as champions before the final day of the season, APIA Leichhardt were able to play without the pressure of the chasing pack for the first time this season and celebrate their second Premiership title in four years.
Their opponents, St George City, were playing for the opportunity to continue their season and potentially return to finals football after missing out last season.
Entering the final day in 11th place on the table, City required a victory at Lambert Park while also hoping the five teams above them all failed to win their final games of the regular season.
After neither team was able to generate any meaningful chances during the opening period, the game began to open up, with attacking opportunities presenting themselves at both ends.
Rory Jordan and Ortiz came closest for the home side, while Paolo Mitry missed the game’s best opportunity in the 33rd minute after firing well over the crossbar from just inside the penalty area.
There would finally be a change to the scoreline five minutes before half-time, with Ortiz scoring his 20th goal of the season for the Marronazzuri and dealing a massive blow to City’s finals chances.
Cutting in from the right-hand side, Jack Stewart’s initial shot was blocked by a wall of white shirts.
However, the rebound fell kindly, with Stewart able to thread a pass into the feet of Ortiz, who made no mistake from 10 yards out to put APIA ahead.
Coming out for potentially their final 45 minutes of the 2026 season, City were gifted a way back into the contest just four minutes after the restart.
APIA goalkeeper Oliver Kalac slipped while in possession, allowing Louis Khoury, who was hot on the heels of the goalkeeper, to win the ball.
Khoury played it across to Mitry, who calmly passed the ball into the open net to restore parity and give City hope.
City and Mitry would strike again just seven minutes later, stunning the home side and their supporters.
From the edge of the 18-yard box, City’s number 10 cut the ball onto his left foot before firing his effort into the roof of the net, leaving Kalac with no opportunity to make the save.
However, City’s lead would last just five minutes.
The Premiers responded through Themba Muata-Marlow after an inswinging corner caused problems inside the City penalty area.
Sean Symons flicked his front-post header backwards towards Muata-Marlow, who was waiting at the far side.
His header was met by the strong hand of Jack Kenny, but the St George goalkeeper was unable to keep the effort out, with the ball narrowly crossing the line to bring APIA level.
The momentum of the game began to falter as the season drew towards its conclusion, but APIA would soon begin their Premiership celebrations in earnest.
With eight minutes remaining, Ortiz restored APIA’s lead with his second goal of the afternoon, taking him level in the Golden Boot race.
The forward’s second goal sparked further celebrations at Lambert Park as APIA moved closer to finishing their Premiership-winning regular season with a victory.
The hosts then secured all three points three minutes from full-time, with Ortiz turning provider.
The striker found Cristian Lombardo, who made no mistake with the finish to seal a 4-2 victory for the Premiers.
“We’re really excited for Presley [Ortiz],” APIA head coach Franco Parisi said.
“Business wasn’t done; there was still plenty to play for, but we wanted one of our important players to get the Golden Boot.”
Parisi was already looking towards the Championship Series despite the celebrations.
“We’ll enjoy today, but the reality is that there is a semi-final waiting for us next weekend and we need to be ready for it.”
For St George City, the defeat brings their 2026 season to an end in 12th position, with the club left to reflect on a seven-game winless run through April that ultimately affected their chances of returning to finals football.
For APIA, attention now turns towards the Championship Series and the opportunity to defend their 2025 Championship.
The Premiers will begin their finals campaign next weekend at home against the lowest-ranked winner of the midweek Elimination Finals, with the club now aiming to complete a memorable double.
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt 4 (Presley Ortiz 40’, 82’, Themba Muata-Marlow 60’, Cristian Lombardo 87’)
St George City 2 (Paolo Mitry 48’, 55’)
Sunday 30 August 2026
Lambert Park
Referee: Hayden Langholz
Assistant Referees: Glen Stubbings and Amirhossein Hosnani
Fourth Official: Alexandar Zastavnikovic
APIA Leichhardt: 1. Oliver Kalac, 6. Frans Deli, 7. Jack Stewart (31. Cristian Lombardo 78’), 8. Michael Konestabo (99. Franco Farinella 63’), 9. Presley Ortiz, 11. Rory Jordan (17. Jordan Segreto 70’), 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 16. Sean Symons (4. Eijin Kishimoto 63’), 19. Fabian Monge (23. Levi Sciuriaga 78’), 24. Cameron Fong, 25. Kyle Shaw
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Alexander Parkes, 22. Edward Caspers
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
St George City: 1. Jack Kenny, 3. Benjamin Berry (17. Mason Tatafu 65’), 4. Solomon-John Monahan-Vaiika, 5. Lewis Miccio, 6. Tarik Ercan, 10. Paolo Mitry, 21. Malik Amin, 25. Brodie Clarkson, 33. Louis Khoury, 35. Spencer Webster (44. Hugo McAteer 82’), 47. Bassam Sabbagh (41. Haydar Hijazi 65’, 27. Eduardo Darvas 77’)
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Franklin Jan, 16. Yohn Pederson, 20. Theph Theph
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Keane McKenna
