Fujita’s Stoppage-Time Strike Breaks Rockdale Hearts
Wollongong Wolves kept their slim finals hopes alive in dramatic fashion, defeating an out of sorts Rockdale Ilinden 2-1 at Ilinden Sports Centre with a stoppage-time winner from Yuto Fujita.
Wollongong still had a mathematical chance of reaching finals football, while Rockdale Ilinden, despite having been deducted three points earlier in the campaign, held the better odds heading into the Round 28 clash.
Kristian Butkovic opened the scoring for the Wolves after a quarter of an hour with a superb first-time volley from the edge of the area, before Moudi Najjar equalised within 20 seconds of the second-half whistle.
Just when it appeared the points would be shared, Fujita broke Rockdale hearts in the sixth minute of stoppage time, sliding the ball under goalkeeper Rowan Mulgrew to give Wollongong their first victory since Round 16.
For Rockdale, it was a devastating result in what was considered a must-win fixture for last season’s Grand Finalists as they continued their push to return to the finals.
The hosts showed their intent immediately, with captain Brendan Cholakian presented with a gilt-edged opportunity inside three minutes after some good work down the left.
His tame effort, however, was comfortably gathered by Wollongong goalkeeper Max Cunial.
The Wolves responded at the other end, with Liam Ball producing a diving save from Rowan Mulgrew to turn the ball around the post.
Considering what was at stake, it was an open and entertaining start to the match.
Wollongong then found the breakthrough from their fourth corner.
The ball fell to Butkovic on the edge of the penalty area, and the midfielder connected perfectly with a first-time dipping volley that flew into the back of the net.
With the penalty area crowded, Butkovic had little choice but to strike first time, but he executed the finish superbly to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
It was a moment of class, skill and no small amount of aplomb.
Rockdale responded by increasing the pressure.
Cunial gave the ball away inside his own penalty area, allowing Cholakian an opportunity, but Flynn Madden produced an excellent challenge to deny the Rockdale captain.
The defender needed to time his tackle perfectly to avoid conceding a penalty, but remained composed under pressure to win the ball and clear the danger.
Cunial was again put under pressure moments later, allowing Najjar to fire a shot-cum-cross across the face of goal, but there was no Ilinden player available to provide the final touch.
Rockdale’s high press, with players hunting in numbers, caused a few nervy moments for the Wollongong goalkeeper.
Other than the goal, however, there was little to separate the two sides in a fascinating opening half.
Mulgrew was left thanking his lucky stars shortly before the break when Banri Kanaizumi spotted the goalkeeper off his line and attempted an audacious effort from inside his own half.
The ball beat the goalkeeper but rebounded off the crossbar, leaving Rockdale relieved.
It was a moment that showcased both skill and good fortune in equal measure.
The free-flowing opening half came to an end with Wollongong leading 1-0, but everything still to play for.
Rockdale wasted little time finding their equaliser after the restart.
Najjar, scoring his 15th goal of the season, produced a pinpoint effort that evaded Cunial and found the back of the net within 20 seconds of the second-half whistle.
It was direct, route-one football, and the relief around Ilinden Sports Centre was palpable.
A draw would have been enough to see Rockdale leapfrog both Manly United and SD Raiders into sixth place, the final finals position, with two matches remaining.
The equaliser only increased their urgency, with the hosts pressing forward with renewed energy.
A couple of hard tackles then flew in, with Hunter Elliott and Flynn Madden becoming the main protagonists.
A minor flashpoint in the 53rd minute briefly halted proceedings, with Ball shown a yellow card as the dust settled before Kanaizumi was also cautioned shortly afterwards.
Wollongong coach Luke Wilkshire responded with two attacking changes, bringing on Sebastian Hernandez and Alex Masciovecchio for Willem Robaard and Ball.
Rockdale continued to press, although the visitors briefly thought they had retaken the lead with around 20 minutes remaining, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
The contest became increasingly end-to-end, with both sides desperately searching for the perfect final pass or decisive finish.
Harry van der Saag was shown a yellow card and could consider himself fortunate to remain on the pitch after breaking up a Wolves attack illegally on the edge of the penalty area.
Had he been deemed the last defender, the decision could potentially have been far more severe.
It proved to be another significant moment in a match filled with drama.
Wollongong then stormed back into the contest and began to gain the ascendancy, particularly during the final quarter of the match.
The Wolves created a plethora of chances but were unable to find the finishing touch that could have sealed the victory.
Fujita went close on multiple occasions, with a combination of strong defending and rushed efforts denying him.
Wollongong were finishing by far the stronger of the two sides, with Fujita and Masciovecchio both having efforts blocked in the dying stages.
Kanaizumi then fired over as the Wolves continued to push for a winner that would keep their slim finals hopes alive.
Eventually, their persistence paid off.
In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Fujita cut inside from the left, worked the angles brilliantly and slid his effort underneath Mulgrew to give Wollongong the lead for the second time in the match.
It proved to be the decisive moment.
Fujita’s seventh goal of the campaign delivered Wollongong their first victory since Round 16 and kept their mathematical finals hopes alive.
For Rockdale, the defeat leaves them without points and with their Top Six aspirations hanging by a thread.
It was a heartbreaking conclusion to a match they had fought desperately to win, only for the Wolves to produce one final twist deep into stoppage time.
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden: 1 (Moudi Najjar 46’)
Wollongong Wolves: 2 (Kristian Butkovic 15’, Yuto Fujita 90+6’)
Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale Sunday 16th August 2026
Referee: Rowan Fisher
Assistants: Matthew Harris & Patrick Teleki
Fourth Official: Felix Atkin Bolton
Rockdale Ilinden: 21. Ronan Mulgrew, 2. Hunter Elliott (15. Stefan Simonoski 82’), 8. Jerry Skotadis, 9. Moudi Najjar, 10. Brendan Cholakian (17. James Temelkovski 82’), 11. Lochlan Constable (18.Loucas De Sousa 90’), 14. Dean Pelekanos, 16. Michael Marcevski (19.Dean Jovcevski 90’), 22. Harry McCarthy, 26. Harry van der Saag, 27.Lukas Ribarevski (22. Harry McCarthy 73’), 66. Mathieu Cordier
Subs Not Used: 1. Levi Kaye Yellow Cards: Michael Marcevski 28’, Harry van der Saag 75’
Red Cards: Nil
Wollongong Wolves: 19. Max Cunial, 2. Jake Shaked, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 8. Sebastian Duarte, 10. Flynn Madden, 14. Willem Robaard (11.Sebastian Hernandez 64’), 15. Kristian Butkovic, 18. Kazuya Yamamura (7. Oliver Morgan 89’), 19. Max Cunial, 21. Liam Ball (25. Alex Masciovecchio 64’), 24. Lachlan Scott (77. Dylan King 89’), 44. Yuto Fujita
Subs Not Used: 1. Jacob Hastings, 3. Jude Christie, 9. Jack McClatchie Yellow Cards: Liam Ball 55’, Banri Kanaikumi 60’
Red Cards: Nil
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
