APIA Leichhardt Tigers has reclaimed top spot of the National Premier Leagues NSW ladder after a weekend of exciting Round 5 action.
Two wins in four days has helped Billy McColl’s side back to the summit but only goal difference separates them from second placed Sydney Olympic.
A last minute equaliser from Manly United helped them snatch a point at Blacktown City which has seen City drop to third in the standings.
Impressive wins for Wollongong Wolves and Sydney United 58 keeps them in contention going into week 6 of the competition.
Sutherland Sharks 0 – Sydney United 58 3 at Seymour Shaw
Sydney United 58 overcame Sutherland Sharks by a 3-0 scoreline in a scintillating clash at Seymour Shaw on Saturday evening.
The match was riddled with audacious shots, brilliant goalkeeping, tricks, flicks, and a spot of controversy in what was a highly entertaining affair for the healthy crowd of spectators in attendance.
Patrick Antelmi opened the scoring for the visitors late in the first half before a Chris Payne spot kick and yet another goal from the in-form Pani Nikas put the game beyond doubt in the second half.
The triumph was United’s third in a single week with their midweek FFA Cup win sandwiched in between last weekend’s victory over the Young Sky Blues and tonight’s clash.
Jason Culina’s well-drilled side got the job done once again on the night while Grant Lee’s boys can hold their heads high after well and truly keeping themselves in the match before a late capitulation put the match beyond their reach.
Rockdale City Suns 0 – APIA Leichhardt Tigers 5 at Ilinden Sports Centre
A brace and an assist from the scintillating Tasuku Sekiya set APIA Leichhardt Tigers up for a stunning 5-0 against Rockdale City Suns at Ilinden Sports Centre on Saturday.
APIA were at their very best as they bounced back from last round’s defeat at the hands of Blacktown City to notch their fourth win of the campaign.
Sekiya started the rout in the 26th minute before adding his second eight minutes later with APIA heading to the half-time break two goals to the good. Josh Symons netted the third midway through the second stanza in a quite bizarre fashion before a delightful pass by Sekiya on the resumption set skipper Sean Symons in for the fourth with Corey Biczo wrapping up the result at the death.
For Rockdale it was another below par performance with Paul Reid’s side paying the price for poor discipline in defence. The result was the Suns third defeat in four games dropping them outside the top five.
Blacktown City FC 1 – Manly United 1 at Lily Homes Stadium
Dylan Macallister rescued a point for Manly United in their round five clash with Blacktown City after striking an injury-time equalizer to claim a 1-1 draw at Lily’s Football Centre.
The veteran striker arrived off the bench midway through the second half and fired home a scrappy 91st minute effort to earn the reigning champions a valuable point away from home.
Blacktown looked set for their fourth win on the trot and fifth consecutive shutout after a brilliant first half opener from Mitch Mallia but were punished by Macallister at the death after failing to capitalize on a series of late chances.
As a result Mark Crittenden’s side lose hold of the early competition lead with Sydney Olympic and APIA Leichhardt Tigers registering victories over Marconi Stallions and Rockdale City Suns in Saturday night’s other fixtures.
Marconi Stallions 0 – Sydney Olympic FC 2 at Marconi Stadium
Sydney Olympic’s has notched their fourth straight win after defeating Marconi Stallions 2-0 at Marconi Stadium on Saturday.
It wasn’t Marconi’s night with injuries and missed chances costing the Stallions the game in what ended with the exact same scoreline as the famous 1990 NSL Grand Final between these two great clubs.
Goals to Alejandro Sanchez-Lopez and Jason Madonis were the difference as Olympic’s impressive run of form continued.
The defeat was Marconi’s second of the week with the newly promoted side desperate to break free of their early season struggles.
Sydney FC 3 – Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3 at Lambert Park
A 90th minute Sam McIllhatton strike has rescued a dramatic 3-3 draw for Sydney FC as they fought back three times against Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Lambert Park on Saturday.
Trailing 3-2 with time running out, the Sydney FC captain blasted into the back of the net to secure an unlikely point for his side after a topsy turvy clash.
Bonnyrigg opened the scoring as Aaron Peterson claimed a first half double to give the White Eagles a 2-1 lead at the Interval. Hassan Jalloh and Patrick Flottman fired back for they Young Sky Blues before Bonnyrigg’s Jewook Woo had Brian Brown’s side on the cusp of a much needed victory.
However, twice in two weeks Bonnyrigg has dropped points at the death with McIllhatton inflicting further injury on a struggling White Eagles outfit.
Hakoah Sydney City East 1 – Wollongong Wolves 2 at Hensley Athletic Field
A Peter Simonoski strike in the final minute has given Wollongong Wolves a dramatic 2-1 win against Hakoah Sydney City East at Hensley Athletic Field on Sunday.
It was an incredible ending to the match with the Wolves seemingly destined to settle for a draw after surviving a late Hakoah flurry.
After taking the lead in the 5th minute through Simonoski, Wollongong were forced on the back foot for nearly 60 minutes as the home side pushed hard for an equaliser.
When Harry Jones struck for Hakoah in the 79th minute the match, Jacob Timpano’s side looked out on their feet but Simonoski was ready to take his chance and fired past the keeper for his second of the match and more importantly the match winner.
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