Round 2 Review – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s
There was goals, excitement and a little bit of controversy during a rain affected Round 2 of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season.
APIA Leichhardt, Sydney Olympic and Manly United made it two wins from as many weeks while Blacktown City secured three points at home to remain undefeated.
Wollongong Wolves and Hakoah Sydney City East both had a bit of a reality check this week after impressive round one performances. However, both teams are sure to bounce back.
In this week’s match of the round, APIA Leichhardt Tigers continued their strong start to the season with a flurry of goals just before the break enough to get them all three points.
A week of heavy rain forced Rockdale City Suns’ clash with Sydney United 58 and Parramatta FC’s match against Sydney FC to be postponed.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2 – Hakoah Sydney City East 0 at Lambert Park
APIA Leichhardt maintained their flawless start to the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition season with a 2-0 win against Hakoah Sydney City East on Sunday.
Two goals in five minutes just before the break, courtesy of Nathan Millgate and Jordan Murray, were the difference for the home side as they secured their second victory in as many weeks.
It was a tough night at the office for Hakoah who were forced to play the majority of the match with 10 men after Neil Jablonski was sent for an early shower in the 25th minute for a rash challenge.
It wasn’t a perfect display from the home side who also had a player sent off when Paul Galimi recieved a red card in the 69th minute.
Blacktown City 2 – Sutherland Sharks 1 at Lily’s Football Stadium
Daniel Araujo’s brace has helped Blacktown City notch their first PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition win of 2017 with a gritty 2-1 victory against Sutherland Sharks.
The former Sydney FC man struck shortly before the interval at Lily’s Football Stadium, and then again fifteen minutes before full-time, to claim the three points for the reigning champions who overpowered Sutherland in a dominant second-half.
Although Carlos Villazon’s side forced an excellent equaliser through Tomihiro Kajyiama, Blacktown’s failure to capitalise on there chances held back the home side. Sharks goalkeeper Nathan Denham was in fine form with a string of fine saves to hold City at bay.
Instead, Sutherland were made to pay for allowing Araujo, who had earlier opened the scoring by hammering home a loose ball in the area, to drift into the penalty box unmarked late in the second half and guide Danny Choi’s cross into the ground and over Denham for the winner.
Sydney Olympic 3 – Wollongong Wolves 1 at Belmore Sports Ground
Sydney Olympic has maintained their winning start to the 2017 PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition with a comfortable 3-1 win over Wollongong Wolves on Sunday.
A first half strike from William Angel and second half finishes from Nikolas Tsattalios and Jason Madonis clinched the three points for Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground.
Wolves were rarely an attacking threat throughout the match but found a late consolation goal through former Japan international Yuzo Tashiro.
It was one way traffic for the majority of the game with Olympic in control of the match from the opening whistle. Olympic could have scored even more goals such was their dominance.
Manly United 5 – Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3 at Cromer Park
MANLY United is flying high in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition, this time beating Bonnyrigg 5-3 on Sunday afternoon at Cromer Park.
In what was a pulsating encounter on the northern beaches, Warren Grieve’s men had to come from behind early in the second half to secure back to back victories in a great start to their 2017 campaign.
Brendan Cholakian scored a double for Manly while Nikola Taneski, Dylan Macallister and Jamie Lobb also hit the back of the net for the home side.
Bonnyrigg’s Greg Kondek opened the scoring and Troy Danaskos and Sam Gallaway also scored for the White Eagles, but it wasn’t enough in a game with plenty of goals to keep the crowd entertained.