Sydney Olympic is top of the table, but only on goal difference, after round 9 of the PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1. APIA-Leichhardt Tigers have pulled alongside them after their win against Parramatta FC, while Blacktown City are lurking only a point back, and with a game in hand.
ROUND 9 REVIEW
Sutherland Sharks 1-2 Marconi Stallions, at Seymour Shaw Park
Could this be the turning point for Marconi Stallions?
They will certainly hope so after two late goals gave them victory over Sutherland Sharks, in new coach Jeff Suzor’s first game in charge.
For a long time it looked as if Jacob Tratt’s first half goal would be enough for the Sharks to take home all three points.
But an 88th minute goal by Robbie Shields levelled the scores, and a stoppage time winner for Milorad Simonovic saw the Stallions turn this game on its head and take home the win.
Parramatta FC 2-4 APIA Leichhardt Tigers, at Melita Stadium
APIA raced out of the blocks, were pegged back, and eventually had goal scoring machine Blake Powell to thank for securing another win.
The Tigers went ahead thanks to a Josh Symons own goal, before Nick Olsen’s first goal for his new club doubled the lead before even ten minutes had been played.
Parramatta FC went about their salvage operation with aplomb and Matthew Clowes’ goal halved the deficit, before Tomislav Cirjak netted from long range to equalise in the shadow of half time.
But Powell had scored in each of the eight previous rounds and was determined to do so here. Not only did he score, but he did so twice, in the 80th and 88th minutes, to wrap up the win.
Powell’s 12th and 13th goals of the season see him well clear at the top of the golden boot standings.
Blacktown Spartans 3-5 Bonnyrigg White Eagles, at Blacktown Football Park
Defence went out the window as Blacktown Spartans and Bonnyrigg White Eagles scored eight goals between them.
Unfortunately for Spartans, the White Eagles scored the lions share of them.
Luka Dukic and Jordan Crighton found the back of the net to give Spartans a 2-0 lead at the break.
All hell broke loose in the second half though, as Tynan Diaz, Robbie Younis and Adam Jenner put the White Eagles 3-2 up. Former Bonnyrigg striker Mitchell Long made it 3-3 with ten minutes to go, but that wasn’t the end of it.
Younis added goals in the 85th and 87th minutes to complete a hat trick and ensure his side came away with a spectacular win.
Blacktown City 4-2 Sydney Olympic, at Lilys Football Centre
Blacktown City punished understrength Sydney Olympic in the Match of the Round, winning comfortably.
Olympic rested a host of first team players, so it was no surprise when Blacktown City took the lead early on through Danny Choi.
A penalty apiece from Blacktown City’s Joe Gibbs and Olympic’s Michael Gaitatzis meant the home side took a 2-1 lead into the break.
Gibbs’ second made it 3-1, before a superb free kick by substitute Scott Balderson dragged Olympic back into the contest.
Sasa Macura snuffed out any hope of a comeback though, adding the fourth in stoppage time.
Sydney United 58 FC 3-5 Manly United, at Sydney United Sports Centre
Another eight goal thriller saw Manly United move up to sixth on the ladder by beating Sydney United 58 FC.
The much fancied Reds took the lead through Richie Cardozo, but the lively Brendan Cholakian drew Manly level a minute before the half hour.
Panni Nikas put United 58 ahead a minute before half time, only for Cholakian to level again in stoppage time to make the score 2-2 at the break.
It was a sign of things to come, as another four goals followed in the second stanza.
Cholakian completed his hat trick a minute after the break, but his side was only ahead for six minutes, before Cardozo made it 3-3 in the 52nd minute.
That lead didn’t last long either, as Manly midfield Bastian Beuchat made it 4-3 to Manly six minutes later, and Jamie Lobb iced the cake 21′ minutes from time with Manly’s fifth.
South Coast Wolves 0-1 Rockdale City Suns, at WIN Stadium
Rockdale City made it two wins in the past week with a 1-0 win over South Coast Wolves.
Marko Jesic scored the only goal of the game, as the Suns celebrated a win and a clean sheet.
The win moves Rockdale City above Wolves, Parramatta and Marconi, and leaves them in ninth place, only two points behind Blacktown Spartans and Sutherland Sharks, and five points adrift of fifth placed Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Sydney FC take on English Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur in a football classic at ANZ Stadium on Saturday 30 May. Purchase your tickets today for this not to be missed football event!
