2023 Playoff Preview: Mounties Wanderers v Nepean FC (2nd Leg)
Nepean FC hold the upper-hand over Mounties Wanderers FC as the two sides fight for a place in the 2024 League One Men’s competition – the League Two Men’s side will hope to hold their lead away from home in the second leg.
Nepean took out a 3-2 victory following a fiery first leg and know how great the challenge will be away from home as they seek promotion to League One Men’s for 2024.
For the Wanderers, they see themselves behind despite a first-leg display with plenty of character and will hope to create more clear-cut chances in this second leg.
If the match ends level, there will be an additional 30 minutes of extra-time played (15 minutes each way).
If the match ends level following that, a penalty shootout will be used to determine the winner – a reminder that away goals do not count for double in this playoff.
The match will be shown live and exclusive on NPL.TV, with commentary from Nikola Pozder.
Here is what to look out for in the do-or-die second leg:
Saturday, September 9th 2023
League One Men’s Relegation/League Two Men’s Promotion Second Leg: Mounties Wanderers FC vs Nepean FC, 7pm @ Cook Park (Mt Pritchard)
(Nepean FC lead 3-2 on aggregate)
Nepean FC and Mounties Wanderers FC both remain in contention for promotion and safety, respectively, following the first leg and both sides will be confident and hopeful of coming out as overall winners in the second leg at the home of Mounties – Cook Park in Mt Pritchard.
For Mounties, they were left shocked by the power of Nepean to play in behind them and work their way deep into their penalty area and will need to ensure they win those one-on-one duels with the Nepean attacking midfield and forwards to lessen their threat as they chase down their one-goal deficit.
Despite causing Nepean problems with their high press, which allowed Nepean little space on the ball in their backline unlike they were used to, Mounties will hope to turn that ball-winning into more chances at home this week.
Look for Shun Maeta and one of last week’s goal scorers in Kuon Maliet to provide plenty of threat out wide, particularly against a reshuffled Nepean defence, while fellow goal scorer Andre Schroeder will hope to support them well from midfield.
In midfield, they will hope to win the physical battle and progress quickly through the thirds to unsettle the Nepean defence, which looked relatively untroubled for periods of the match last week.
In defence, Mounties will know the trouble they will be up against given the sudden burst of speed from multiple Nepean players they were unable to deal with last week; expect much more composure in that third of the field for them.
They are a goal down and will fight until the end in this clash, no matter what happens; expect to see Mounties press and attack from the first whistle to the last as they chase safety at home.
For Nepean, they will be happy with their overall performance to limit Mounties’ chances but will know they need to eliminate the uncharacteristic mistakes they produced in defence last week if they are to capitalise on their one-goal advantage in the tie.
They survived a few scares with chances for Mounties throughout the match for Schroeder and Tong Muorwal, so they will know they also rode their luck at times last week but will be focused to take on the Mounties attack this week.
On a surface played on grass and not a synthetic pitch, they will hope to still play to their strengths with a pacey attack in behind, as well as players throughout the midfield who can both patrol the defence in Kye Soares, as well as drive down the field through Lachlan Sepping.
With Paolo Laxamana out suspended following his red card last week, expect Richard Stewart to switch to left fullback and for Nepean to replace him on the other flank.
Nepean will hope to use their pace up front as they launch long balls through Mitchell King and Mason Ingram from the back, while their threat out wide from the fullbacks may be further countered through suspension and the press of Mounties.
Expect them to put in 100% effort though as they chase promotion to League One Men’s for the first time in their history.
The final match for the year, for both sides’ seasons, will see neither team hold back as Mounties Wanderers FC chase safety and Nepean FC chase promotion – in a battle of survival versus success, will the lead prove too much, or will the home ground advantage play its part?
Do not forget – this match will be shown live and exclusive on NPL.TV, with commentary from Nikola Pozder.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
