Round 20 Review – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 20s
Sutherland Sharks are Premiers elect after beating Sydney FC on Saturday, while Sydney United 58’s revival continued with a big win over Sydney Olympic.
Match of the Round
Sutherland Sharks v Sydney FC, Saturday 4.30pm at Seymour Shaw
Sutherland Sharks have a firm grasp on the 2017 premiership after defeating Sydney FC 3-1 at Seymour Shaw on Saturday afternoon.
A deflected effort from Jake Borromeo put the Sharks ahead in the opening stanza while Lachlan Everett’s strike and a wonder-goal from Matias Da Silva Santos cancelled out an early second half equalizer from Finn Ballard-Mcbride.
Substitute Andrija Mandic’s late penalty miss did little to dampen the triumph for Sutherland who now need a single point from their remaining two fixtures to seal the premiership.
Nick Dimovski’s side have led the competition outright all season and look certain to cement their title when they arrive at Melita Stadium to play Parramatta next Saturday afternoon.
The would-be premiers dominated large parts of the game but benefitted from a hefty slice of fortune in taking the lead when the perpetually evasive Borromeo took a shot that clipped Sydney defender Thomas Perry and looped over goalkeeper Thomas Heward-Belle.
The winger’s seventh goal of the campaign eased nerves around Seymour Shaw following a slew of early missed opportunities that fell to forward Daniel Krkovski who failed to test Heward-Belle on both occasions.
Krkovski did force the Sky Blues stopper into a strong stop to palm a curling effort past late in the half with Harry Sutherland seeing his header clawed off the line from the resulting corner.
Sydney’s premiership hopes were fading but the visitors equalized two minutes into the second half when a superb cross from Thomas Fay was missed by Sutherland gloveman Nathan Denham and tapped home by Ballard-Mcbride.
Any chances of a revival were cut short when Everett slammed home Borromeo’s cutback at the back post ten minutes later, and Sutherland made sure of the points shortly after when Santos whipped a sensational first time volley into the top right-hand corner.
Sutherland custodian Dimovski was keen to praise his side’s character and coolness under pressure after responding so well to Sydney’s equalizer early in the second half.
“We showed courage under fire again and I think for the boys to come back so quickly and win the game shows how many more gears we have left.
“We’re in a position now where we can dare to dream – we can feel the minor premiership and that’s been our long term goal.
“But there’s no doubt in my mind that Sydney FC will still have a part to play this season, they’ll be back stronger and we have to be ready for them.”
Dimovski also lauded another superb showing from Matias Da Silva Santos who underlined his potential as a first team player with his second-half effort.
“Matias has been doing that kind of thing all year, it was a sublime finish – it was up where the spiders live, and he deserves big credit because he took it so well.”
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 3 (Borromeo 27’, Everett 57’, Da Silva Santos 64’)
Sydney FC 1 (Ballard-Mcbride 47’)
Saturday 29th of July 2017
Seymour Shaw, Miranda
Sutherland Sharks: 1. Nathan Denham, 36. Matthew Stewart, 24. Adam Massoud (27. Harrison Quirk 75’), 26. Harry Sutherland, 17. Claudio Fabiano, 33. Thomas Papa (18. Dean Krkovski 85’), 8. Christopher McStay, 30. Lachlan Everett, 34. Jake Borromeo, 5. Matias Da Silva Santos (37. Christian Torrelli 79’), 29. Daniel Krkovski (4. Andrija Mandic 53’)
Substitutes Not Used: 14. Angelo Parashis
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Sydney FC: 28. Finn Ballard Mcbride (13. Aaron Avery 68’), 36. Daniel Blachura, 31. Paolo Bonanni, 27. Cooper Coskerie, 35. Thomas Fay, 30. Thomas Heward-Belle, 29. William Mutch (26. Phillip Cancar 42’), 25. Jerry Skotadis (32. Benjamin Koop 68’), 24. Jack Stewart, 34. Thomas Perry, 33. Guiseppe Tilio
Substitutes Not Used: 51. David Malishev, 68. Marco Tilio
Yellow Cards: 34. Thomas Perry 37’
Red Cards: N/A
Saturday
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2-0 Wollongong Wolves, 5.00pm at Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Bonnyrigg kept their finals hopes alive with a routine 2-0 victory over Wollongong Wolves at Bonnyrigg Sports Club on Saturday afternoon.
The White Eagles struck through Michael Guse and Harrison Bagot to win their first three points in three games and move within three points of fifth-placed Sydney United 58.
Bonnyrigg will need to win their remaining two fixtures against Sydney FC and Parramatta to stand any chance of finishing in the top five while also hoping results elsewhere go their way.
Wollongong on the other hand can only hope to finish as high as 10th with the Wolves handed their 11thdefeat of the campaign. The south coast outfit will visit Rockdale City Suns next Sunday looking to snap a four game winless run.
Hakoah Sydney City East 11-0 Parramatta, 5.00pm at Hensley Athletic Field
Hakoah Sydney City East boosted their top five hopes after defeating league strugglers Parramatta 11-0 at Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts became the first side to reach double figures this campaign with goals from Robert Ezekiel, Harry Jones, Satchel Kolt, Samuel Mehmet, Nathan Roberts and a brace apiece to Connor Eldridge, Julian Rinaldi and Jordan Makridopolus giving Paul Hubbard’s side a hefty goal difference advantage with two weekends remaining.
The defeat for Parramatta is their 15th consecutive and surpasses their 8-0 loss to Blacktown City round 17 as the heaviest defeat of the season.
Parramatta face an almighty challenge in avoiding a 16th when they welcome champions elect Sutherland to Melita Stadium in a week’s time.
Hakoah travel to Belmore Sports Ground to take on Sydney Olympic on Sunday with a spot in the top five on the line for both sides.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2-1 Manly United, 5.45pm at Lambert Park
APIA Leichhardt Tigers remain on course for the finals after edging Manly United 2-1 in a close contest at Lambert Park on Saturday evening.
Aedon Kyra’s 15th goal of the campaign and a Jordan Morfitis strike were enough for the hosts to cancel out Jamie Glover’s effort for Manly and secure a vital three points.
Franco Consentino’s side will still feel they have work to do to consolidate a position in the top five especially with two fixtures against Blacktown City and Rockdale City Suns remaining.
It was another frustrating night for the reigning champions Manly who are consigned to a bottom three finish as a result of their 11th defeat of the campaign.
Sunday
Blacktown City 2-2 Rockdale City Suns, 1.00pm at Lilys Football Centre
Blacktown City’s premiership claim has run out of steam after John Carnevale’s side drew 2-2 with in-form Rockdale City Suns on Sunday afternoon.
Adolph Koudakpo netted a brace for his first two goals of the season but the visitors were able to reply through a James Temelkovski double and keep their finals hopes on track.
The result leaves City resigned to second-placed finish with leaders Sutherland only needing a point to secure top spot.
Despite winning six of their last eight matches Rockdale drop out of the top five with the draw and Sydney United 58’s victory over Sydney Olympic.
Stamati Glaros’ side will hope to reclaim a finals position when they welcome Wollongong Wolves to Illinden Sports Centre next weekend.
Sydney United 58 6-1 Sydney Olympic, 2.00pm at Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 ended the top five aspirations of Sydney Olympic and reclaimed fifth spot thanks to a 6-1 hammering of the Blues at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Liam Ivancic, Anthony Poljak, Emilio Manos, Lawrence Hanna, Sam Perre and Samuel De Oliveira made it four wins on the bounce for the United 58 who can further their finals prospects with a win against Manly next Sunday.
The visitors netted a consolation through Ishmail Hares but saw their faint top five credentials swept away by another excellent showing from the Reds.
Olympic will entertain Hakoah Sydney City East this Sunday searching for their first victory since a round 15 win over Parramatta.
-By Jacob Windon
