Round 20 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s did not disappoint with lots of drama in the battle at the top of the table.
With it so tight at the summit and the transfer window reopening, round 21 has high stakes for those teams looking to take out the title.
Sydney Olympic FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
4:00 pm, Saturday 24 June, Belmore Sports Ground
This could be a make or break match for Sydney Olympic as they play Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday at Belmore Sports Ground in a crucial game for the side to avoid getting into a relegation battle.
Labinot Haliti’s team shared the points with St George City in round 20 in a 0-0 draw which was just their second point in their last five games.
Olympic’s winless run has left them just five points above the Wanderers heading into this weekend.
The Wanderers have been on the up in the past couple of games earning four valuable points.
Most recently, the team gave up a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Wollongong Wolves.
Ariath Piol and Zachary Sapsford both continued their strong form each finding the net in the first half.
It was another spectacular goal for Sapsford who has now picked up five goals in 2023 which have all come in the talented attacker’s last seven fixtures.
Andrew Christiansen’s team managed to beat Olympic in round six getting up 3-2.
This is a vital match for Olympic as a defeat would drag them into a fight at the bottom of the table heading into the final rounds.
NWS Spirit FC v Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC
5:30 pm, Saturday 24 June, Christie Park
NWS Spirit host Mount Druitt Town Rangers needing to re-establish their better form in the competition.
David Perkovic’s men went down 4-2 to Central Coast Mariners last weekend coming back from 2-0 down by the hour mark but then conceding twice more to end up losing.
Mitchell Davidson and Luiz Lobo were the goalscorers for Spirit in what was only their second defeat in their past six games.
It also continues Davidson’s good form in the competition scoring his fourth in his previous seven games.
It’s seen the team drop down to 11th on the table with Mount Druitt capable of going to a couple of points behind Spirit if they win.
The Rangers also went down last weekend conceding twice in the dying embers against Blacktown City to lose 2-0.
Stewart Montgomery’s team have a game in hand on the rest of the bottom sides, but for the time being, they are only three points clear of the relegation zone.
These teams couldn’t be separated in round six with a 0-0 draw at Popondetta Park and another close game can be expected this time.
APIA Leichhardt FC v Sutherland Sharks FC
5:45 pm, Saturday 24 June, Lambert Park
APIA Leichhardt take on Sutherland Sharks at Lambert Park eager to earn their first victory since round 17.
Last Saturday, the side rescued a 1-1 with Marconi Stallions in a tense top-of-the-table clash.
Jack Stewart snatched a stoppage-time equaliser to keep the team at the summit.
With Franco Parisi’s team tied at the top with two others, there is no margin for error this Saturday.
Stewart scored a late winner when the teams met earlier in the season as the league leaders edged out their opponents 1-0.
Sutherland extended their winless run in the competition to four matches following a 1-0 defeat to Rockdale Ilinden.
The team couldn’t capitalise on a man advantage after the 39th minute, conceding in the second half.
Damir Prodanovic will be without Jonty Busch for round 21 as well after he was sent off in the space of eight second-half minutes.
With the Sharks slipping back into the bottom half of the table, it makes this APIA clash a crucial one for them.
Both teams could really do with the points on Saturday night, setting up a must-watch clash.
St George City FA v Manly United FC
7:00 pm, Saturday 24 June, Penshurst Park
St George City face Manly United at Penshurst Park on Saturday night looking end a two-game winless streak.
The side drew 0-0 with Sydney Olympic last weekend which was their seventh draw of the campaign.
It saw Mirko Jurilj’s men drop down to sixth, but they could go up to fourth with a win in round 21.
Manly United ground out a vital 2-1 victory against Sydney United 58 last weekend that sent the side six points clear of the relegation places.
Seiya Kambayashi’s brace was the difference for United as they secured their seventh win of the 2023 season.
Kambayashi has been one of United’s standouts this season and has picked up three goals in his last three games.
With just one defeat in the last five, Manly can start looking back towards the middle of the table and three points this weekend could see them into the top half.
Manly beat St George 2-0 back in round six with a goal in each half doing the damage.
These teams will be eager to claim the points this weekend to continue to push back up the table.
Central Coast Mariners FC v Sydney FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 25 June, Pluim Park
Central Coast Mariners host Sydney FC at Pluim Park on Sunday as the two form academy sides are in action.
The Mariners got back to winnings way in round 20 downing NWS Spirit 4-2.
Aydan Hammond and George Daniel had the team 2-0 up before they conceded two goals by the hour mark.
Lachlan Bayliss bagged a big brace to notch a meaningful victory for the Mariners.
Bayliss has been a shining light in attack for Central Coast having scored eight goals for the side in 2023.
The Mariners moved into eighth following that win and could rise further up the table with three points this time around.
The Sky Blues were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom side Bulls FC Academy last Saturday.
Oscar Fryer’s early goal was quickly cancelled out in a frustrating afternoon for Sydney.
Sydney remain in the top four but are still eight points away from the three title challengers.
The side were convincing winners back in round five against Central Coast earning a 4-1 victory.
There will be plenty of exciting talent involved at Pluim Park on Saturday setting up a fascinating encounter.
Blacktown City FC v Marconi Stallions FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 25 June, Landen Stadium
Blacktown City host Marconi Stallions at Landen Stadium intent on making it three wins on the bounce.
The side fired home two goals in the final moments to get past Mount Druitt Town Rangers in round twenty.
Jak O’Brien and Mario Shabow both scored in a tight match for the reigning champions.
Shabow now has goals in back-to-back games as he proves his value in Mark Crittenden’s attack.
They’ve moved up to fifth and could go into fourth with another win this weekend.
Marconi were denied a monumental win against APIA by a stoppage-time equaliser last weekend.
Jordan Swibel had the team in front heading into the final seconds before conceding a gut-wrenching late goal.
The Stallions remain level on points with APIA at the top, but the latter have a game in hand.
The team got the win against Blacktown in round six with a solid 2-0 scoreline.
These two sides both need the points this weekend and have the quality to put on a spectacle.
Rockdale Ilinden FC v Wollongong Wolves FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 25 June, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Wollongong Wolves travel to Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre hoping to move up into the top half of the table against Rockdale Ilinden.
The Wolves fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Western Sydney Wanderers in a characterful display from the team.
Takumi Ofuka put a high-quality display in attack for Wollongong providing a vital link in the team.
The result pushed them up into tenth and kept them seven points away from the relegation places.
Rockdale secured a clutch 1-0 result against Sutherland Sharks last Saturday to maintain their title challenge.
After their star forward Alec Urosevski was sent off, Ilinden battled to stay in the game before Bai Antoniou netted the winner.
It means Urosevski who has been so important for Paul Dee’s men in finding the net will be missing for this weekend.
Rockdale are one of three teams at the top of the competition with equal points meaning they need to keep winning to stay in contention.
It was a phenomenal performance from Rockdale against the Wolves earlier in the season, so they’ll be keen to replicate that on Sunday.
Sydney United 58 FC v Bulls FC Academy
3:00 pm, Sunday 25 June, Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 play host to Bulls FC Academy at Sydney United Sports Centre with both teams needing to pick up form.
Sydney United lost their second match in a row going down 2-1 to Manly United in round 20.
It means they have won only one of their last five games which was against league-leading APIA Leichhardt.
They remain in seventh, but they could drop into the bottom half of the table with another defeat this weekend.
Bulls FC Academy ended their eight-game losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Sydney FC.
Sunday Yona scored the equalising goal for the side which was the exciting winger’s third of the season.
The Bulls still sit at the foot of the table and are 10 points away from guaranteed safety.
Zeljko Kalac’s team were edged out by United earlier in the season losing 1-0, conceding a goal in the final half-hour of the game.
With these teams struggling for points currently, they’ll be desperate to turn their fortunes around this weekend.