The National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition returned with a bang with 26 goals scored across the opening round of action. Check out the full Round One recap below.
Wollongong Wolves 2-2 APIA Leichhardt
Friday, February 3
WIN Stadium
APIA Leichhardt came from two goals to snatch a point against Wollongong Wolves in a 2-2 draw on an entertaining Friday night at WIN Stadium to start the season.
Goals from Takumi Ofuka and Mirza Muratovic inside the first 20 minutes sent the Wolves into halftime 2-0 up before Rory Jordan pulled a goal back for APIA in the 57th minute to make it a tense final half-an-hour.
Yianni Nicolaou headed home a late equaliser for APIA to see the points shared.
NWS Spirit FC 2-0 Bulls Academy FC
Saturday, February 4
Christie Park
New boys NWS Spirit FC claimed a maiden National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s victory with a 2-0 result over Bulls FC Academy at Christie Park on a balmy Saturday.
After being under the pump for a large portion of the first half, the hosts took the lead through a Matthew Cahill goal early before Michael Konestabo doubled the advantage in injury time.
St George City 3-4 Rockdale Ilinden
Saturday, February 4
Penshurst Park
A goal-fest took centre stage at Penshurst Park as Rockdale Ilinden defeated newly promoted side St George City 4-3 in a fiery derby that had it all.
The visitors took the lead via the lethal Alec Urosevski before St George fired home two goals via some quality finishes from Pedro Da Silva and Maki Petratos.
Bai Antoniou levelled the scores with a neat header before Urosevski added his second only minutes before the half-time break to give his side a 3-2 lead.
Jaden Casella then notched up a quality goal to make it 4-2 in the second half before a Kosta Petratos penalty made things interesting – but it was Rockdale who hung on to claim the three points and derby spoils.
Sydney Olympic 3-0 Sutherland Sharks
Sunday, February 5
Belmore Sports Ground
The scoreline may have not reflected how the match unfolded but defending NPL NSW Men’s Premiers Sydney Olympic proved too clinical for a slick Sutherland Sharks outfit winning 3-0 on a hot summer’s day at the Belmore Sports Ground.
Sutherland was left to rue missed chances in this fixture despite creating a multitude of chances, while Olympic were deadly in the conversion of their opportunities.
Goals from Nick Fitzgerald, Roy O’Donovan and Oli Pufflet all but gave Labinot Haliti a winning start to his coaching regime at the Blues.
Blacktown City 1-1 Manly United
Sunday, February 5
Landen Stadium
The 2022 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Grand Final rematch between Blacktown City and Manly United did not disappoint as the ‘Match of the Round’ had it all, but the points were shared with the game ending 1-1 on a hot Sydney summer Sunday afternoon at Landen Stadium.
It took a special goal from City’s Jak O’Brien to open the scoring in the first half before Manly United substitute Harry McCarthy made his mark when he equalised after coming on for Ashton to restore parity – but with no further addition to the scoreboard, it remained a tight and tense battle against two quality sides.
Sydney United 58 3-1 Marconi Stallions
Sunday, February 4
Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 secured a 3-1 victory over local rivals Marconi Stallions at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday evening sending a message to the rest of the competition that they mean business in 2023.
A double to new signing Leroy Jennings and one to Japanese import Taisei Kaneko was more than enough to cancel out a goal from Marko Jesic to secure an early three points for the hosts.
Sydney FC 4-2 Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Sunday, February 4
Valentine Sports Park
Sydney FC kicked off their 2023 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s campaign in style with a 4-2 win over Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Sky Blues were in fabulous form in the first 45 minutes with a trio of goals to stride out to a 3-0 lead. Defender Nathan Paull thumped home the opener before Jaiden Kucharski and Alexander Parsons made it three. Adrian Segecic fired home a fourth to confirm the three points.
For Mt Druitt Town Rangers, it wasn’t exactly new year, new them with a defeat in their first game. The visitors did pull it back to 3-1 just before half-time through Nikola Skataric while Nikola Djordjevic added a consolation late in the piece but were unable to make any further inroads.
Image: Football NSW