Round 25 Review – League Two Men’s
Hurstville Zagreb FC was crowned 2025 Football NSW League Two Men’s Premiers following Round 25 of the competition.
The Match of the Round this week was the match which confirmed that status for Hurstville, when Granville Rage held Prospect United SC to a draw, with Prospect mathematically out of the race for the league title following the result.
Saturday, 26th July 2025
Match of the Round: Granville Rage 1-1 Prospect United SC
Granville Rage held Prospect United SC to a 1-1 draw in a result which not only further shook up the race for 2nd this season but also confirmed Hurstville as the league’s Premiers for 2025.
Following a tight opening to the match, the deadlock was broken in the 24th minute with the first shot on target of the night when Anthony Gallo passed the ball on the right to Timothy Borg-Williams outside the box; he used the space he had and lined up a shot with his right foot, the ball flying into the back of the net from range to give Granville a big 1-0 lead early.
A big chance for Prospect in the first half came in the 38th minute following strong build-up play which saw Praneet Singh receive the ball inside the box; he lined up a shot on goal which just went wide right of the target.
Following a first half where chances were at a premium, Granville made the most of their big chance to take a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Just 30 seconds into the second half, Prospect levelled the match when strong play down the right saw the ball played to Singh; he used the space he had outside the box and fired the ball into the back of the net down the right with his right foot to level the match for Prospect with a crucial goal for their promotion hopes.
The tussle in the match continued, with both sides looking to nullify each other in the midfield and play long on what was a bumpy surface.
In the 82nd minute, Granville’s Ante Tomic had a shot on target which was just blocked by the Prospect defence in their first big chance of the second half.
Two minutes later, Prospect’s Jakob Petterson put in a big defensive header to deny Granville from a header off a free kick as the hosts fought to take all three points.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Prospect had a chance to steal the three points on the counter, but the final ball was just missing as the ball was played into the box.
Two minutes later, at the other end, Prospect’s Shaan Birring put in a strong tackle to deny Granville’s Jad Moussa on the counter to also deny them a chance at grabbing the three points.
In the end, neither team was able to find a winner, with both sides settling for a point each in the 1-1 draw in a result which had big implications for 2nd this season.
Speaking post-match, Granville head coach Daniel Bortolazzo was happy with the performance, despite not having the win to show for their efforts.
“It is disappointing we did not get the three points, but I am very happy for the boys with the performance they put in.”
Bortolazzo also gave praise to Prospect for the way they defended in that match.
“They are a very hard team to break down, they are not sitting in 2nd for no reason, they are a very difficult team to beat.”
Prospect head coach Darren Camilleri, meanwhile, was proud of his side from coming behind to grab a point from the match.
“We have not gone a goal behind in a while, which was a big character test for the guys.”
Camilleri is happy with where his squad is sitting with five rounds to go in the season.
“If you had told me in pre-season that we would be three points clear in 2nd, I would have said ‘where do I sign?’”
The draw for Granville saw them stay in 5th, six points behind Prospect in 2nd, while the draw for Prospect kept them in 2nd but saw their lead to 3rd-placed South Coast Flame FC and 4th-placed Bankstown United FC drop to three points.
Granville will hope to continue to fight among the promotion-battling group when travel to take on 13th-placed Sydney University SFC, while Prospect will hope to maintain their position in 2nd when they host 7th-placed Parramatta FC.
Granville Rage 1 (Timothy Borg-Williams 24’)
Prospect United SC 1 (Praneet Singh 46’)
Central Coast United FC 1-4 Bankstown United FC
Bankstown United FC continued their late-season surge for 2nd spot with a comeback 4-1 away win over Central Coast United FC, with a hat-trick hero making a big difference.
Central Coast started the match strongly with a goal to Michael Singh in the 4th minute when he got on the end of an interchange of passes fired a shot from distance, finding the back of the net for a 1-0 Central Coast lead.
Bankstown was awarded a penalty in the 17th minute for a foul just inside the box, with Mitchell Cross on hand to slot the ball home from the spot to level the contest at 1-1.
Following that, both teams were forced to make changes due to injury, with Harry Stavris coming off for Bankstown and Connor Gallen making way for Central Coast in the 30th and 32nd minutes, respectively.
Mitchell Cross had his second goal of the match in the 33rd minute when he found the back of the net to give Bankstown a 2-1 lead.
In the 42nd minute, Cross completed his hat-trick to give Bankstown a 3-1 lead at half-time.
After the break, the Pirates pushed for a way back into the match but were undone in the 78th minute when they turned the ball over in the middle third to Marie Gauthier, who played a one-two pass and found the back of the net to give Bankstown a 4-1 away win.
The loss for Central Coast saw them lose a third-straight match as they fell from 13th down to 14th place, while the win for Bankstown was their sixth-straight as they stayed in 4th, but closed the gap to 2nd-placed Prospect United SC to just three points.
Central Coast will hope to respond when they host 12th-placed Nepean FC next week, while Bankstown will hunt a seventh-straight win when they take on the Premiers, Hurstville Zagreb FC.
Central Coast United FC 1 (Michael Singh 4’)
Bankstown United FC 4 (Mitchell Cross 17’ pen, 33’, 42’; Marie Gauthier 78’)
Sydney University SFC 2-1 Dunbar Rovers FC
Sydney University SFC continued their late-season run of good form with a 2-1 comeback win over Dunbar Rovers FC.
Dunbar made the most of their early possession in the match and found the lead in the 8th minute when good build-up play saw Aoba Forsyth cross the ball from the left to Paul Gautier in the middle, who slotted the ball home to give Dunbar a 1-0 lead.
University fought their way back into the match and scored the equaliser in the 30th minute when a cross into the box by the students was palmed by Dunbar goalkeeper Benjamin Wrigley into the path of Alistair Colvin, who slotted the ball home to level the contest at 1-1 at half-time.
In the second half, University goalkeeper Jasper Sarkies made a big one-on-one save to deny a big Dunbar chance on the counter.
Both sides battled but could not test the opposing goalkeeper following that as the match drew on.
University grabbed the late winner in the 88th minute when Joseph Roddy got to the ball ahead of Wrigley and squared the ball back for Sam York, who made no mistake as he found the back of the net to give University a 2-1 comeback win.
The win for University was their fourth from their past five matches as they moved up from 14th to 13th on the ladder, while the loss for Dunbar saw them go five matches without a win as they stayed in 8th.
University will hope to continue their late-season good form when they host 5th-placed Granville Rage, while Dunbar will hope to end their winless run when they host 10th-placed Inner West Hawks FC.
Sydney University SFC 2 (Alistair Colvin 30’; Sam York 89’)
Dunbar Rovers FC 1 (Paul Gautier 8’)
Gladesville Ryde Magic 1-2 Fraser Park FC
Ten-man Fraser Park FC scored a stoppage time winner to complete the league double over Gladesville Ryde Magic in what was an arm wrestle of a match, winning 2-1.
Fraser Park started the match on the front foot and after creating early half chances for Paul Apostolopoulos and Christian Dos Santos, it was Matthew Lecce who gave Fraser Park a penalty in the 18th minute when he was fouled in the box; captain Alexis Wenzel scored from the spot to give the visitors the 1-0 lead at the break.
In the second half, Gladesville pressed for the equaliser and found it in the 63rd minute when Fraser Park failed to clear their lines from a set piece, with the ball falling to Kyle Bennett inside the box; he scored with a volley to level the match for the Magic at 1-1.
Fraser Park was reduced to ten men in the 76th minute when Jacob Sebayang was shown a red card for retaliating to a foul against one of his teammates.
Gladesville made changes and pressed for the winner with the extra man advantage however, Fraser Park took the lead in the first minute of stoppage time when Gregory Ehiozee found Dos Santos in behind; Dos Santos lobbed Gladesville goalkeeper Lucas Mazereeuw in a one-on-one to give Fraser Park a 2-1 lead late.
Fraser Park defended the final two minute of stoppage time to see out the 2-1 away win.
The loss for Gladesville saw them go five home matches without a win as they fell from 10th to 11th, while the win for Fraser Park saw them stay in 9th.
Gladesville will hope to respond after their Round 26 bye, while Fraser Park will hunt back-to-back wins when they host 6th-placed Hawkesbury City FC.
Gladesville Ryde Magic 1 (Kyle Bennett 63’)
Fraser Park FC 2 (Alexis Wenzel 19’ pen; Christian Dos Santos 90+1’; Jacob Sebayang 76’ red card)
Hurstville Zagreb FC 2-1 Hawkesbury City FC
Hurstville Zagreb FC was crowned 2025 Football NSW League Two Men’s premiers following their 2-1 home win over Hawkesbury City FC, with the team’s glory confirmed following Granville Rage’s home draw to Prospect United SC later in the day.
In an even start, Hawkesbury looked dangerous on transition and the match turned 20 minutes in when the Hawks identified an injury to Hurstville’s Derek Daly and so drove Hurstville back, playing for flick-ons and getting runners in behind which Hurstville struggled to deal with.
Hawkesbury had a big chance to take the lead in the 30th minute when a corner fell to Michael Streeter at the back post, but he missed the target.
Both teams had shots from distance but Hawkesbury took the lead in the first minute of stoppage time when a flick-on saw Stuart Gosling run in behind unchecked; he cut back a cross from wide to Duncan Stewart in the middle, who scored with a first-time finish to the far post to give Hawkesbury a 1-0 half-time lead.
Playing with nerves at home, Hurstville looked to start the second half with a different intensity, while the Hawks also fought hard.
Hurstville grabbed the equaliser in the 52nd minute when Joshua Lazzaro cut inside and struck the ball with his left foot from 25 yards; the ball took a slight deflection off the Hawkesbury defence and found the back of the net to level the match at 1-1.
Hurstville had further shots from there through Paul Gagro, Alessandro Lacalandra and Nicola Todoroski but were unable to find a second goal yet.
Hurstville found the winner in the 72nd minute when Daniel Sramek, off the bench, whipped in a cross to Alessandro Lacalandra, also off the bench; Lacalandra scored to the elation of the home crowd to give Hurstville a 2-1 lead.
Hawkesbury had a chance late with a volley to Harrison Fox, but the ball went just over the bar.
In the end, Hurstville saw out the rest of the match to secure the all-important 2-1 home win, a win which ultimately led to their confirmed premiership status in 2025 and secured their spot in the League One Men’s competition for 2026.
The win for Hurstville saw them move to 62 points for the season, an unassailable 17 points ahead of 2nd-placed Prospect United SC with five round left in the season, while the loss for Hawkesbury saw them go four matches without a win as they stayed in 6th.
Hurstville will hope to keep their premiership celebrations going and have their say on the fight for 2nd when they travel to take on 4th-placed Bankstown United FC next week, while Hawkesbury will hope to get back into form when they travel to take on 9th-placed Fraser Park FC.
Hurstville Zagreb FC 2 (Joshua Lazzaro 52’; Alessandro Lacalandra 72’)
Hawkesbury City FC 1 (Duncan Stewart 45+1’)
South Coast Flame FC 4-3 Parramatta FC
South Coast Flame FC managed a stoppage time winner to give their hopes of promotion a big boost in a 4-3 home win over Parramatta FC in a contest where they came from behind twice to win.
Early press by Parramatta saw a turnover by the Flame defence in their own defensive third; that was capitalised on by Jahnbek Bulut, who played the ball to Marco Sama, Sama scoring with a clinical finish to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the 1st minute.
In the 18th minute, the Flame levelled the scores when a ball over the top from Alexander Alston to Adam Timpano-Voloder saw the latter get onto the ball and spot Parramatta goalkeeper Harry Aquilina just off his line; Timpano-Voloder chipped the keeper from range to level the match at 1-1.
The Flame took the lead in the 37th minute when a swift Flame counterattack saw Alston and Timpano-Voloder link up on the edge of the box; Alston shot and following a few deflections off Aquilina and Alston, rebounded off Alston and into the back of the net for a 2-1 Flame lead.
Parramatta levelled the match just three minutes later when Travis Oughtred found Bulut over the top; he beat his defender and played the ball to Sama, who completed his double to level the contest at 2-2.
The Eagles took a 3-2 lead into half-time when they scored a third goal in the first minute of stoppage time; a long throw found Oughtred, who flicked the ball on for Sama, who in turn played in Bulut who found the back of the net aiming at the far post.
In the 56th minute, the Flame levelled the contest once again when a turnover in the Parramatta midfield saw the Flame receive the ball through Samuel Alston; his ball rebounded to Daniel Merola on the edge of the box, Merola finding the back of the net to level the match at 3-3.
From there, both sides had attempts on goal, with Parramatta’s Kerrar Alkhazaaly and Ethan Oliver missing the ball and heading wide, respectively, while at the other end the Flame’s Thomas Dunn and Alexander Alston hit the side netting, with Takayuki Kayano also hitting the crossbar late.
Parramatta’s biggest chance to take all three points came late when Faraz Rahimi found Oughtred with a through ball, who in turn squared the ball; Flame goalkeeper Nenad Vekic got a hand to the ball before it fell to Oliver, who missed from inside the six-yard box.
Oughtred also delivered a ball in for Oliver again, but one more the header from close range missed the target.
With the match heading towards a draw, there was late drama when a Parramatta turnover saw Dylan Caton receive the ball; he beat his defender and whipped a cross into the box which saw the ball attacked from all angles by both sets of players, with Parramatta’s Oughtred getting the unfortunate final touch into the back of his own net to give the Flame a late 4-3 home win.
The win for the Flame saw them close the gap to just three points in the fight for 2nd as they stayed in 3rd, while the loss for Parramatta saw them stay in 7th.
The Flame will hope to pick up a big win in their pursuit of 2nd when they travel to take on last-placed Camden Tigers FC next week, while Parramatta will hope to bounce back from this tough loss when they travel to take on 2nd-placed Prospect United SC.
South Coast Flame FC 4 (Adam Timpano-Voloder 18’; Alexander Alston 37’; Daniel Merola 56’; Travis Oughtred 90+3’ own goal)
Parramatta FC 3 (Marco Sama 1’, 40’; Jahnbek Bulut 45+1’)
Inner West Hawks FC 2-1 Camden Tigers FC
Inner West Hawks FC continued the trend of comeback wins in Round 25 with a big home win over Camden Tigers FC.
Camden opened the scoring in the 9th minute when Bailey Simpson dispossessed Hawks’ goalkeeper Gene Marantos of the ball and scored into an empty net to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Alexander Nicolosi had a few one-on-one chances following that but was denied both times by Camden goalkeeper Joshua Glasson, while the Tigers also had a few more chances as they took a 1-0 lead into the break.
In the second half, the Hawks levelled the match through James Reed, who chipped the ball into the top corner for the Hawks in the 54th minute.
The Hawks completed the comeback in the 78th minute through Hesan Soufi, who got on the end of a Lawrence Claxton through ball and slotted the ball into the bottom corner to give the hosts a 2-1 win.
The win for the Hawks saw them rise two spots from 12th into 10th on the ladder, while the loss for the Tigers saw them stay in last place.
Inner West will hope to win a third-straight match when they travel to take on 8th-placed Dunbar Rovers FC, while Camden will hope to bounce back when they host 3rd-placed South Coast Flame FC.
Inner West Hawks FC 2 (James Reed 54’; Hesan Soufi 78’)
Camden Tigers FC 1 (Bailey Simpson 9’)
Nepean FC had a bye in Round 25 and fell from 11th to 12th.
By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa
