The attention in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s turns to the relegation battle with a series of decisive fixtures at the bottom in round 25.
Sydney Olympic FC v Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC
4:00 pm, Saturday 22 July, Belmore Sports Ground
Sydney Olympic will seek to continue their better form in the competition up against Mount Druitt Town Rangers on Saturday at Belmore Sports Ground.
Olympic have earned a few important results in the past weeks which has seen the side push 10 points clear of the relegation places.
Last weekend, Labinot Haliti’s team fought back from a goal down to defeat Bulls FC Academy 3-1.
Roy O’Donovan quickly equalised late in the first half before Darcy Burgess and Fabio Ferreira secured the result in the second period.
With just one defeat in their last five games, Olympic could rise as high as seventh with another good result this Saturday.
The Rangers are in a perilous position heading into the final six games just a single point above the relegation playoff place.
Another successive narrow defeat to Manly United last Saturday leaves the Rangers looking over their shoulder at Western Sydney Wanderers.
It is imperative that Mount Druitt get the points this weekend to steer clear of the drop zone come season’s end.
These teams drew 1-1 back in round 10 in a tight game at Popondetta Park and the same can be expected this time around.
Sutherland Sharks FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
6:30 pm, Saturday 22 July, Seymour Shaw
Sutherland Sharks host Western Sydney Wanderers in another crucial battle at the bottom at Seymour Shaw on Saturday night.
The Sharks failed to win again in round 24 being edged out 1-0 by Blacktown City.
The side are currently seven points clear of the Wanderers in the relegation zone, but a loss here would narrow the gap to an uncomfortable margin.
It was another frustrating match for the Wanderers in round 24 as they took the lead three times against Marconi but didn’t win.
Nicolas Milanovic notched a brace while Alexander Badolato also got on the scoresheet.
Milanovic has had a great start to his time in the Wanderers team with three goals in his first three matches.
While Western Sydney are struggling to win, their single points have added up heading into the final stanza of the campaign.
They are just a point behind the Rangers who are in 14th meaning even a point this weekend could lift them out of the danger zone.
This is a big game in the relegation battle making it a must-watch on Saturday.
Marconi Stallions FC v NWS Spirit FC
7:00 pm, Saturday 22 July, Wanderers Football Park
Marconi Stallions take on NWS Spirit at Wanderers Football Park desperate to end a barren run in the competition.
The Stallions are winless in their last five games which has seen them fall 12 points below the top.
The side drew their third match in a row over the weekend with an enthralling 3-3 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers.
They fought back from a goal down on three occasions, but they couldn’t find a winner they needed to stay in the hunt for the title.
Kyle Cimenti, Hiroaki Aoyama and Martin Fernandez were the goalscorers in what was the first time the team had scored at least two goals in a game since round 19.
Spirit lost their 10th game of the season in round 24 going down 2-1 to Wollongong Wolves.
Jordan Gomez had the team in the lead by the 18th minute, however, they couldn’t hold on succumbing to defeat in the end.
It leaves David Perkovic’s team in 10th on the table, but they are still capable of leaping into the top half if they win this weekend.
Marconi claimed a 2-0 victory earlier in the year and will be expected to do the same again on Saturday to get back to winning ways.
Manly United FC v APIA Leichhardt FC
7:15 pm, Saturday 22 July, Cromer Park
Manly United take on APIA Leichhardt at Cromer Park on Saturday night following a monumental win against Mount Druitt Town Rangers in round 24.
Connor Rose and Harry McCarthy scored second-half goals as Patrick Zwaanswijk’s team moved nine points clear of potential relegation.
It’s been an impressive couple of weeks for former A-Leagues prospect McCarthy whose goals in back-to-back games have won four valuable points for United.
APIA extended their lead at the top of the competition to 10 points getting up 1-0 against Central Coast Mariners last Saturday.
Fabian Monge scored the decisive goal in the final moments of the match in another meaningful result for Franco Parisi’s men.
With only eighteen points left up for grabs in 2023, the next few weeks will likely confirm APIA’s premiership.
With that in mind, this Saturday’s game is one of vital importance for the hosts as they edge ever closer to glory.
APIA took the points earlier in the season with a 3-1 victory at Lambert Park and will consequently be eager to pick up the points again.
Central Coast Mariners FC v St George City FA
3:00 pm, Sunday 23 July, Pluim Park
St George City travel to Central Coast Mariners in an intriguing clash at Pluim Park on Sunday afternoon.
St George fell to defeat last weekend in a thrilling 4-3 deficit to Sydney FC.
Straight after scoring an own goal, Kosta Petratos made up for it with the equaliser, however, the side conceded soon after, going into halftime 2-1 down.
Matthew Keremelvski and Presley Ortiz’s goals in the second period proved merely a consolation as St George dropped to sixth on the table.
Despite the result, Petratos and Ortiz again proved their value to the team’s attack both taking their tallies to eight for 2023.
The Mariners also lost last weekend, going down 1-0 to league-leading APIA Leichhardt.
Sitting five points below City heading into this one, this game presents a great opportunity to close the gap to the top six.
It was tight between these teams in round 10 as they were forced to share the points in a 1-1 draw and it’s set to be also be close on Sunday.
Rockdale Ilinden FC v Bulls FC Academy
3:00 pm, Sunday 23 July, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Rockdale Ilinden face Bulls FC Academy on Sunday at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre needing a victory at the top of the competition.
Ilinden collapsed against Sydney United 58 last weekend, giving away a three-goal lead to draw 3-3.
The side found themselves 3-0 up just seven minutes into the game but they conceded three goals in the space of fourteen second-half minutes to see precious points slip away.
Now 10 points adrift of the summit, the is no margin for error for Paul Dee’s men in the final six games if they want any chance of silverware.
The same can be said for their opponents, as the gap to potential safety stretched to eight points last weekend.
Despite taking an early lead, the Bulls lost 3-1 to Sydney Olympic in round 24 making it three defeats in a row.
The Bulls have won only two games this season, but one of those was against Rockdale earlier in the campaign.
There’s no better time for the struggling Academy to pull off another shock win as their chances of survival begin to diminish.
Wollongong Wolves FC v Sydney FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 23 July, WIN Stadium
Wollongong Wolves play Sydney FC at WIN Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the KidsWish Charity Match for the South Coast club.
The Wolves battled to an impressive 2-1 victory against NWS Spirit as they moved to eighth on the table last weekend.
Technical winger Takumi Ofuka bagged both goals for the Wolves making it seven goals for the Japanese this season.
Sitting on thirty-two points, the Wolves are only three points away from twelfth, but a win against Sydney would take them just four points behind the top five.
This demonstrates that the success of this season is still hanging in the balance for David Carney’s team.
Sydney FC picked up a similarly huge result by downing St George City 4-3 last Saturday.
Jimmy van Weeren’s team shared the goals around with Oscar Fryer, Lachlan Middleton and Kealey Adamson all finding the net.
The young Sky Blues moved into the top five after that result now only seven points away from second.
With the potential for a statement finish in the competition, FC have plenty of motivation heading into this one.
Sydney snatched a very late win against the Wolves when they met in round 10, scoring in the third minute of stoppage time.
Match of the Round – Blacktown City FC v Sydney United 58 FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 23 July, Landen Stadium
Blacktown City and Sydney United 58 go head-to-head at Landen Stadium on Sunday afternoon in a fierce battle between two NPL NSW Men’s giants.
The City bandwagon continued to roll on as they won their sixth game in a row over the weekend.
Jak O’Brien bagged the winner midway through the first half as the side went just three points behind second.
O’Brien has been immense for Mark Crittenden’s team scoring 16 goals, the second-highest in the competition.
Sydney United were involved in an enthralling 3-3 draw with Rockdale Ilinden in round 24 fighting back from three goals down.
Miro Vlastelica’s team went into the sheds 3-0 down, but they put on an incredible turnaround to get the scores level in the match by fulltime.
The point keeps the side in the mid-table locked in proximity with a couple of teams above and below them.
Sydney United snatched a win against Blacktown earlier in the year and will look to maintain their momentum in the competition with another on Sunday.
However, Blacktown are in their best form of the season, and will be firmly fancied to win this one.