IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 Finals Series Week 1 Review

Bonnyrigg White Eagles turned up the heat with a phenomenal showing against Sutherland Sharks to setup a shot at Sydney United 58 FC next weekend, meanwhile Rockdale City Suns ended the run of reigning champion Marconi Stallions with a thrilling penalty-shootout triumph on Sunday.
Qualifying Final
Sutherland Sharks 2 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 5
Bonnyrigg White Eagles put together a true five-star performance to hand Sutherland Sharks further heartache in week one of finals football.
The Sharks, who were pipped by Sydney United 58 FC on the last weekend of the regular season for top-spot held home ground advantage for this encounter, though a recent drop in-terms of results continued as the side was well-beaten by the White Eagles on Saturday evening.
Bonnyrigg were ruthless from the opening whistle, suffocating Sutherland’s passing out from the back game with great effect.
Robbie Younis netted the opener on 4’ minutes when Aleksander Canak played him in on goal, the striker made no mistake drilling the ball into the roof of the net.
Younis won his side a penalty only moments later and, once again, he netted giving his side a two-goal lead.
Incredibly, Sutherland struggled to get out of its own half as Younis secured his hat-trick before the half-hour mark with a fabulous finish in the top corner after dispossessing Lukas Stergiou.
The Sharks job became an impossible one when influential captain Nick Stavroulakis was shown a straight red card for a high foot challenge on Mitchell Long.
In the second-half, Nathan Elasi showed skill and poise to pull a goal back for Sutherland though Howard Fondyke restore the three-goal margin, drilling home a rebound after Nathan Denham failed to hold on to a shot by Younis.
Bonnyrigg substitute Jordan Crighton made it 5-1 with an equally impressive finish before young Sharks midfielder Jordan Hughes benefitted from Panni Nikas’ marvellous through pass before rounding the goalkeeper and slotting the ball home.
The loss sets up an encounter against Rockdale City Suns for the Sharks, meanwhile Bonnyrigg will get a shot at the newly crowned Premiers, Sydney United 58 FC.
Elimination Final
Rockdale City Suns 1 Marconi Stallions 1 (Rockdale City won 4-2 on penalties)
Rockdale City Suns triumphed after 120’ minutes of football – and a penalty shootout contest – to eliminate the reigning champions, Marconi Stallions, and keep its title aspirations alive.
The Suns, were forced to endure some early pressure from the Stallions who looked dangerous via Shane Webb. The side did play its way into the match and Branko Culina’s men found the opening goal just before half-time when Paul Kohler was on hand to head home a corner from Brendan Gan, after an initial touch by Alec Uroseveski.
In the second-half, the Stallions showed desperation to get back into the contest and the equaliser arrived on 82’ minutes. Jared Lum’s initial shot was blocked by his teammate Tadgh Purcell, though the attacking midfielder did well to bring the ball under control before drilling past Diego Barcena.
Extra-time saw some tiring legs across the park, a task that was made even more arduous for Marconi who went down to ten-men, 10’ minutes from the end, when Damien Travis picked up his second yellow card of the afternoon.
Penalties were required, and it was almost immediately an uphill battle for Marconi as Purcell and Kojiro Hori both missed their spot-kicks as Richard Cardozo and Kohler netted their attempts.
Shane Webb and Umit Tokdogan converted their attempts, though the two successful spot-kicks by Takuya Murayama and Seiya Kawamura for the Suns ensured the side a shot at Sutherland Sharks next weekend. 
-By Joseph Carlucci