Round 19 of PlayStation®4 NPL NSW is upon us with another six big fixtures scheduled.
The battle for the last finals spot is tightly contested with five teams still in with a shot of a playoffs berth. This week’s Match of the Round features Blacktown City hosting Rockdale City Suns.
Match of the Round
Blacktown City FC v Rockdale City Suns, Sunday 3pm at Lily’s Football Stadium
Blacktown City will be out to make up for its 3-2 loss to Rockdale in Round 8 as the Suns come to Lily’s Football Centre on Sunday.
City has been one of the competition’s front runners all season and has not dropped below second spot.
Paul Reid’s Rockdale side has dropped out of the top three and is in desperate need of a win after collecting only one point from their last three fixtures.
Travis Major was in fine form last round to earn a spot in the Round 18 Team of the Round and will be out for another big display.
Rockdale will look to Toufic Alameddine to coordinate their attack while Blake Ricciuto will be another player to keep an eye on.
Both sides like to attack so fans could be in for a shootout.
Sutherland Sharks v Wollongong Wolves, Saturday 6.30pm at Seymour Shaw
It’s all coming together for Carlos Villazon's Sharks team.
Sutherland notched yet another win last week with a 1-0 victory against Hakoah Sydney City East as Tomihiro Kajiyama tucked away the only goal of the match.
Back at home this week, the Sharks will be out to make it two on the trot against Wollongong.
The Wolves pushed Blacktown City last week but couldn’t get the job done going down 3-2.
With a big Westfield FFA Cup clash with Sydney FC under a month away, Jacob Timpano’s Wollongong outfit will be determined to find its top form.
Although both teams are out of the finals race, there is plenty to play for on Saturday night.
Parramatta FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Saturday 7pm at Melita Stadium
Parramatta continues to cling onto hope of a finals berth but without a win against Bonnyrigg on Sunday any post season dreams can be forgotten.
Franco Consentino’s team sits only one point behind fifth placed Sydney Olympic as part of a five team battle for the final playoff spot.
They have felt the loss of attacking star Gosue Sama, but brother Marco will need to be at his best to hit home against his former club.
Reigning PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s competition Champions Bonnyrigg White Eagles are another one of those teams scrapping for fifth spot.
It is crunch time for Brian Brown’s team to prove they deserve to still be in the running after the regular season comes to a close.
Defeat last week has the confidence levels down in Bonnyrigg but Brown will have his players inspired for a Saturday night’s crunch Melita Stadium clash.
The stakes are high and Saturday’s result could make or break either team’s season.
Sydney Olympic FC v Hakoah Sydney City East FC, Sunday 3pm at Belmore Sports Ground
Expected to not be in the running for finals football at the start of the season after a major player exodus at the end of last season, Sydney Olympic has been one of the big surprise packets in 2016.
Grant Lee’s team has been tough opposition all year and is on the cusp of a finals berth.
All three points is a must for the home side against Hakoah Sydney City East if they are to keep their finals dreams alive.
Hakoah has been another side which has exceeded expectations this season and despite being out of the finals race will be determined to end their season on a high.
It is sure to be a tough and gritty clash between two sides that have proven they can grind out a victory.
Manly United FC v Blacktown Spartans, Sunday 3pm at Cromer Park
Blacktown Spartans shocked APIA last round to end a losing streak which dated back to April 3.
It was an impressive performance from Ben De Haan’s men and was a vital confidence booster after what has been a tough season.
The Spartans will dream of two wins in a row ahead of their clash with Manly United but they will need to bring nothing short of their best performance of the season to defeat Paul Dee’s high flying side.
Manly have moved into third place on the ladder and have become a real dark horse to take out thePlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s competition title this season.
The Cromer Park faithful will be hoping for another showing of their side’s ruthless attack and it could be one way traffic if Blacktown isn’t careful.
Sydney United 58 FC v APIA Leichhardt FC, Sunday 4pm at Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 is all but home and hosed in the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s competition with a nine point lead at the top of the table with only four rounds two go.
This week they host APIA Leichhardt who is reeling after a shock loss to cellar dwellers Blacktown Spartans last round.
Sydney United 58 has found another gear since winning the Waratah Cup and will be fierce opposition for Danial Cummin’s APIA team.
Glen Trifiro was a member of the Round 18 Team of the Week after staring in United 58’s win against Parramatta FC and will be out to stake his claim as his side’s go to man.
APIA is a team full of potential and on their day can push any team in the league. However, the question remains, will it be APIA’s day.