Round 3 Preview – League One Men’s

With three teams taking maximum points and another three yet to register a point — including the competition favourite — over the opening two rounds, Round Three of the FNSW League One Men’s competition looms as teams begin to gain or lose momentum.

Match of the Round: Hurstville Zagreb FC v Inter Lions
Friday 20 February, 8pm, Penshurst Park

Two sides yet to get off the mark from a winning perspective face off as Hurstville Zagreb host Inter Lions at Penshurst Park.

That’s about where the similarities end, though, with Hurstville Zagreb making an encouraging start to the campaign, securing two draws against fancied opponents in Newcastle Jets (R1) and Rydalmere Lions last week. On the back of that, there will be confidence that they can compete this season.

Central to their hopes this weekend will be the final third, where they could improve in taking their chances. Their defence, led by Matthew Nikolovski in goal and Luke Vlastelica, looks set to give them a firm foundation for the season ahead.

It hasn’t been a good start for Inter Lions in 2026. Two losses in as many starts against teams you would expect them to challenge, plus a long-term injury to Gianni Di Pizio, means they have work to do heading into this game.

Last weekend they conceded five goals at home against Canterbury Bankstown in a game where they controlled parts of the contest but were undone by defensive lapses come full-time. Taking lessons from their opening couple of rounds, look out for Harry Rushton and Owen Duke to lead them going forward.

You can watch this one on the Football NSW YouTube page under the live tab this Friday night.

Elsewhere

Blacktown Spartans v Hakoah FC
Friday 20 February, 8:15pm, Blacktown Football Park

Blacktown Spartans continued their perfect start to the season with a 1-0 win over Western City Rangers last weekend. There was a lot to like about their approach, with Abbas Reda scoring the crucial goal. Other notable performances came from Austen Booth at the heart of defence and Alexander Casella, who grabbed an assist.

They face a Hakoah FC side who will also be confident. After claiming a 3-1 win over Bankstown City, it’s the type of result that can kickstart a season. Captain Connor Shaddock was the standout in that performance, alongside Valentin Cuny at the other end. Another positive result here could well throw them into contention.

Macarthur Rams v Rydalmere Lions
Saturday 21 February, 4:30pm, Lynwood Park

Macarthur Rams paid a heavy price for a sluggish start to the second half against Central Coast Mariners. Leading by a goal after a strong first-half performance, there were definite positives to take — including another goal from Chan Yelchan. Maintaining their level across the full ninety minutes will be the focus here.

After the high of their Round One win over Bankstown City, Rydalmere Lions couldn’t quite back it up in Round Two against Hurstville Zagreb. They started positively through an Isaac Cunningham goal but were fortunate to hold onto a point after a Dimitri Kostopoulos red card. Goalkeeper Steven Kriezis has much to be thanked for after making multiple saves.

Prospect United v Newcastle Jets
Saturday 21 February, 7pm, Blacktown Football Park

The result they needed to have? Prospect United endured a tough outing at North Turramurra last weekend. They had moments where they competed well but ultimately fell short in a three-goal defeat to the Tigers. Still, it’s far from time to panic, and they will focus on making adjustments to gain more from their efforts.

The Newcastle Jets academy side are yet to take flight, picking up just one point from two fixtures. Last weekend they were second best against Bulls FC Academy, with coach Chris Zoricich admitting there is work to do ahead of this fixture.

Northern Tigers v Bankstown City
Saturday 21 February, 7pm, North Turramurra Recreation Area

The pick of Saturday’s games sees Northern Tigers host their third straight home match. Two wins from two so far, they looked even more convincing in their victory over Prospect United last weekend. Sebastian Cerecedo took the plaudits with a brace, with positive signs in both attack and defence. Bankstown City should provide a tougher test this weekend.

Speaking of Bankstown, not many would have predicted them to be winless heading into this clash. Yet here we are after consecutive home defeats to Rydalmere Lions and Hakoah FC. Perhaps a trip away will be just what the doctor ordered, though there is work to do in both attack and defence. They haven’t lost at this venue in their last three meetings with the Tigers.

Bulls FC Academy v Hills United
Saturday 21 February, 7pm, Sydney United Sports Centre

Bulls FC Academy have made a strong start with back-to-back wins over Inter Lions and Newcastle Jets. Against the Jets, they were too good across the park, with coach Nicolai Muller crediting his side’s attack in the first half and defence in the second — truly an all-round team performance.

Hills United bounced back from a disappointing Round One loss with a Round Two win over Dulwich Hill. It was very much a game where they had to earn the three points, with Lachlan Sepping and Kaito Satori finding the net. Cam Philp and goalkeeper Emlyn Cross also earned praise for their contributions to the win.

Canterbury Bankstown v Western City Rangers
Saturday 21 February, 7pm, Jensen Park

Canterbury Bankstown have come out firing this season, scoring seven goals in their opening two games. A narrow loss to Northern Tigers was followed by a 5-2 win over Inter Lions last weekend. Yeojun Seo and Taketo Ochiai led the attack in the first half, and there’s every reason to turn up to their family day this weekend.

One thing apparent early this season is that it may take time for Western City Rangers to reach their potential. Last weekend they were not far away from taking something against Blacktown Spartans but came up short. They look dangerous in transition, while goalkeeper Dylan Niski will play a key role at the back.

Central Coast Mariners v Dulwich Hill
Sunday 22 February, 3pm, Pluim Park

Central Coast Mariners received a much-needed confidence boost with a 2-1 win over Macarthur Rams last weekend. After a tough few weeks, they overcame adversity, trailing at half-time before taking control after the break. Ahmad El Helou scored the equaliser before an own goal handed them the lead.

They face a Dulwich Hill side determined to respond after a loss to Hills United. Under pressure from the outset, it told in the second half. Positives came from their fighting spirit in the final half hour, with Micaiah Te Rata, Mark Younes and Marcus Lal credited for their performances.

By Justin Smith