Four teams are left in the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Finals Series and championship glory is in reach.
It’s semi-final time with Manly United to take on Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Sydney United 58 hosting Blacktown City.
Two big nights of finals series football is on the menu with Sutherland’s Seymour Shaw Park the venue for Saturday nights elimination semi-final before the action moves to Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The stakes are high with everything to play for as the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s Finals series heats up in week two.
Manly United v Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Saturday 7.30pm at Seymour Shaw Park
It’s do or die for Manly United and Bonnyrigg White Eagles as they face off in a sudden death semi-final at Seymour Shaw.
After going 11 games unbeaten, Manly United were humbled in emphatic fashion last week by Blacktown City.
Paul Dee’s side were caught off guard by a Blacktown attacking onslaught early in the match and never truly found their feet.
This week the Northern Beaches outfit must rediscover their incredible form from the second half of the season built around a potent front third.
New Wellington Phoenix acquisition Adam Parkhouse has been given the all clear from his A-League club to complete the finals series alongside his Manly teammates and his contributions will prove vital to United chances of finals glory.
Winger Parkhouse scored Manly’s only goal against Blacktown and was a constant threat out wide. Look for the speedster to once again be a major factor against Bonnyrigg.
Brian Brown’s Bonnyrigg White Eagles are hitting form at the right time and go into Saturday’s match at the peak of their powers.
A spluttering regular season had many doubting the White Eagles chances of defending their 2015 PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s Championship title but recent performances have silenced the doubters.
An enthralling 4-2 victory in last week’s Elimination Final ended Rockdale’s season with Bonnyrigg scoring two late goals to hold off a fast finishing Suns team.
Asmir Kadric is a young player on the rise and will hope to continue his PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s Finals series scoring after netting the opener in week 1 for Bonnyrigg.
Manly will hope to take advantage of a Bonnyrigg side who played in a hard fought FFA Cup match mid-week while Bonnyrigg will be out to put Manly to the sword early.
Sydney United 58 v Blacktown City, Sunday 4pm at Sydney United Sports Centre
A PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s Grand Final berth goes on the line on Sunday as the competition’s top two sides Sydney United 58 and Blacktown City go head to head.
After a week of rest albeit playing a friendly closed match with the Western Sydney Wanderers in keeping up with its preparations, Mark Rudan’s United will be refreshed and fired up to resume their campaign for rare a Premiership, Waratah Cup and Championship treble.
The reds stormed to the Premiership with few hiccups and will rely on that form to help get them over the line in the finals.
Panni Nikas, Chris Payne, Glen Trifiro and Nick Stavroulakis will be the go to men for United, however they wouldn’t have made it this far without the incredible form of Sydney United 58’s defence.
While Sydney United 58 FC go into the match well rested, Blacktown City will be playing their third match in seven days after an FFA Cup clash on Wednesday night against Bonnyrigg.
Mark Crittenden has been carefully managing his squad through the busy schedule but might need to call on all his fire power to get past Sydney United 58 on Sunday.
Blacktown’s attack has been one of the competition’s best for the past three seasons and it was on full display against Manly last week.
Danny Choi’s stock has been on the rise ever since he joined Blacktown in 2014 and recent performances for the Seven Hills based side has only added to his standing as a true star of the competition.
However, Blacktown are anything but a one-man team and the star studded front line of Mitch Mallia, Travis Major, Joey Gibbs and impact player Patrick Antelmi will all be needed if Blacktown are to win the title this season.
Sydney United 58 and Blacktown City have shared the spoils this season with one win each in their two matches this season.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them facing off again on grand final day.